Early Childhood Math: Use Progress Monitoring to Build on What Children Know (REL Central)

Summary

This video emphasizes the importance of progress monitoring in early math education. It discusses how teachers can assess children's existing knowledge through activities, observations, and assessments to tailor instruction to individual developmental levels. Teachers are encouraged to use introductory activities, observations, and formal assessments to determine each child's skills and then adjust instruction to meet their needs. The video also highlights the need for ongoing progress monitoring through curriculum-embedded assessments and checklists to continuously adapt instruction and improve learning outcomes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Progress monitoring is essential for targeting instruction to a child's individual developmental level in math.
• 😀 Teachers need to understand what each child already knows to effectively support their learning in math.
• 😀 Introductory activities, observations, and assessments help teachers determine a child's existing math knowledge.
• 😀 Manipulatives, like shapes or counters, are useful tools for both assessing and teaching math concepts to young children.
• 😀 Teachers can observe how children solve problems with manipulatives to gain insight into their understanding and thinking processes.
• 😀 Asking children to describe their problem-solving strategies aloud can provide valuable insights into their level of understanding.
• 😀 Formal assessments, such as standardized tests, help identify learning goals but should be complemented by ongoing progress monitoring.
• 😀 Tailoring instruction to each child's needs, based on observation and assessment, is a key part of effective teaching.
• 😀 Learning trajectories help guide teachers in selecting tasks and activities appropriate for each child's developmental level.
• 😀 It is important to create activities that challenge but don't frustrate children, focusing on levels just above their current abilities.
• 😀 Regular progress monitoring, through curriculum-embedded assessments and checklists, helps track and adjust instructional goals as needed.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Recommendation 3 in the practice guide?

Recommendation 3 focuses on the importance of progress monitoring to effectively target math instruction to a child's individual developmental level.

Why is progress monitoring crucial in early math education?

Progress monitoring helps teachers identify where children are along the progression of math learning, enabling them to tailor instruction to each child's specific developmental needs.

What role do introductory activities play in assessing children's math knowledge?

Introductory activities help teachers assess children's understanding of new concepts and determine what they can do independently, offering insights into their current math skills.

How can manipulatives be used to assess a child's understanding of math concepts?

Manipulatives allow children to engage in hands-on exploration, providing teachers the opportunity to observe their problem-solving skills and mathematical thinking.

What is the purpose of using formal assessments, such as standardized tests, in progress monitoring?

Formal assessments help identify learning goals and provide feedback on children's performance, which allows teachers to adjust instruction based on these insights.

How can teachers tailor instruction based on a child's developmental level?

Teachers can use observations and assessments to design activities that target the next developmental level of thinking, ensuring that tasks are not too difficult or frustrating for the child.

What is the significance of learning trajectories in teaching math to young children?

Learning trajectories guide teachers in determining the child's current developmental stage and designing instruction that supports progression to the next level of understanding in math.

Why is it important to connect new learning with children's existing knowledge?

Connecting new learning with what children already know helps them build on their prior understanding and ensures that new concepts are meaningful and relatable.

What is an example of using small group activities to tailor math instruction?

In small group activities, teachers can adjust tasks, such as using a simplified version of a game like Candy Land with custom dice, to match the developmental level of each child.

How can progress monitoring be integrated into the regular classroom routine?

Progress monitoring can be integrated through curriculum-embedded assessments, such as informal observations and checklists, which allow teachers to track children's progress on a continuous basis.