As early childhood leaders, familiarity with recent education research helps us ensure that our school's teaching practices and learning experiences are cutting edge; with this knowledge we can also better talk with parents, coach teachers, and lead faculty meetings. In this session, school leaders will explore research on early childhood math education, especially the role that math anxiety plays for teachers. We will explore ways to overcome the barriers of this anxiety by using the whole teacher approach and activities such as math rich storybooks, games, and routines.
Facilitated by Lauren Solarski
Dr. Solarski began her career in the classroom and has taught children in preschool through grade 2. She now teaches adults in university courses and professional development workshops. She earned a PhD in Child Development from Erikson Institute in conjunction with Loyola University, and a Masters in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. Her research focuses on helping early childhood educators improve their math instruction. Dr. Solarski was a 2014 Illinois State Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She was also a founding co-facilitator of NAEYC’s Early Math Interest Forum. Her work has been published in Young Children and she is a frequent presenter at local and national conferences.