Educators' Evolving Perspectives on Play and Math in Kindergarten

• In Event: Values of Play in Interdisciplinary Context

Abstract

Collaboration with children in play is promoted as an effective method for supporting young children’s early mathematics development. Yet, many kindergarten educators hold onto a traditional view of play to support children’s social development and foster academic learning through teacher-directed forms of instruction instead. Despite this common perspective, several educators are successfully integrating the constructs of play and math learning in kindergarten and espouse more modern views of play for the purpose of academic learning alongside social development. Through qualitative inquiry, this study will dive deeply into the perspectives of these educators to gain a deeper understanding of their process for evolving, and integrating, the constructs of play and math learning in kindergarten.

Authors

• Hanna Wickstrom, University of Toronto
  Presenting Author

• Angela Pyle, University of Toronto - OISE
  Non-Presenting Author