Early Years Mathematics Teaching

This course deals with childrens's development of number sense and development of concepts in the multilingual classroom. The significanse classroom conversations has for learning, and children's multimodal mathematical expressions are central topics. The course emphasizes learning processes that are exploratory.

Knowledge
The candidate
- has thorough theoretical knowledge about children's development of concepts and language
- has thorough knowledge about the significance of semiotic representations for learning mathematical concepts
- has thorough knowledge about language identity, Norwegian as a second language and multilingual practice in the early years mathematics
- has thorough knowledge about children's different multimodal expressions in mathematics
- has thorough knowledge about concersation culture and the significance conversations have for learning and meaning-making in early years mathematics
- has thorough knowledge about the historic development of different aspects of the number concept
- has advanced knowledge about creativity and aesthetic dimensions in mathematics teaching

Skills
The candidate
- can analyse and use theory based knowledge when working with children's multimodal expressions in mathematics
- can facilitate development of concepts in a diverse and multilingual group of pupils based on theory and research
- can work with developing young pupils number sense based on theory, and prevent mathematics difficulties
- can assess unexpected responses from pupils and make well-founded choices about how to respond
- can facilitate interdisciplinary and explorative forms of work that enhances the pupils' wondering, creaticity and ability to cooperate and work systematically

General competence
The candidate
- can analyse and critically assess relevant problems in early mathematics teaching
- can use insights from updated research in mathematics education in areas relevant for the course
- can facilitate aesthetic learning processes

The forms of work in the course alternates between lectures, work on tasks (individually and in groups), discussions, interaction with pupils and oral and written presentations by the students. Parts of the teaching might be in English.

Text seminars, discussions and other interactions are important forms of work and learning, and the students are expected to participate actively. Such activities are a foundation to learn the course material, and it is important to participate in the organised teaching.


Some of the sessions may be joint with MGLU4102 - Linguistic and Esthetic Approaches to Early Literacy