Rigorous early childhood math education is vital for students’ future academic and lifelong success, yet many preschool children lack opportunities to engage in math learning.
In 2022, Washington University’s Institute for School Partnership (ISP) and a district-based Early Childhood Center formed the Early Childhood Mathematics Research Practice Partnership (ECMRPP), a two-year pilot to focus specifically on early mathematics learning.
This research-practice partnership took a systems approach to develop a professional learning program that yielded increases in positive math mindsets and teacher confidence, more intentional, frequent, and varied math instruction in the classroom and increased student learning.
ISP Evaluation Director Maia Elkana and Zoe Lehmann, a Washington University graduate research assistant have co-authored Early Childhood Mathematics: Findings from a professional learning pilot project, a report that describes the research-practice partnership and provides key recommendations for educational leaders who aim to provide high-quality, equitable mathematics instruction for early childhood learners in their schools and/or districts.
For more information, contact mjelkana@wustl.edu.