Understanding Mathematics for Young Children: A Guide for Foundation Stage and Lower Primary Teachers

This is a fully revised and updated edition of the authors' successful and much-used book, Understanding Mathematics in the Lower Primary Years: A Guide for Teachers of Children 3 - 8.

It is written for those who teach mathematics, for those who are preparing to teach mathematics to children aged 3 to 8 years, as well as for those who wish to have a clearer understanding of the mathematical ideas behind the material they use in the classroom. This book also shows how children can be helped to develop an understanding of mathematics for themselves.

The revisions introduced in the third Edition reflect recent changes such as the Early Learning Goals for the Foundation Stage and the particular emphasis of The National Numeracy Strategy. Sections on addition and subtraction, multiplication and division have been revised, and the book includes coverage of mental calculation strategies.

This is an essential student text and professional reference work for teachers of children aged 3 to 8 years.

Derek Haylock is an education consultant and writer in the field of mathematics education. He is a Senior Fellow in Education at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, where he worked for over 30 years in primary teacher training and in education research. He is a major author in education, with a large number of published books and chapters in books. His best-selling Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers (Sage) has been the leader in the field for many years, with a fourth edition published in 2010. Derek’s work is characterized by a commitment to explain mathematics in simple and accessible ways and to enable the subject to be taught and learnt with understanding and confidence. He is married, with two grown-up daughters and three grandsons. Outside of mathematics, he is a Free Church elder, plays the trumpet, and is passionate about classical music, cricket, walking (quickly) and cycling (slowly).

Derek Haylock has a website at: http://derek-haylock.blogspot.com/

Professor Anne Cockburn is Professor in Early Years' Education. Her research interests focus on mathematics education in the primary school and teacher well being, recruitment and retention. She is currently working on 5th edition of Understanding Mathematics for Young Children with Derek Haylock (Sage Publications) and writing a book with the working title, Primary Head Teachers Talking: reflections on the challenges and complexities of educational leadership. She has completed a range of research projects including - Understanding the Primary Mathematics Classroom Part 2 (Economic and Social Research Council Award, RES-000-22-0851) with Paola Iannone (2004-2005); Communicating our Strategies in Primary School Mathematics (Socrates-Comenius 2.1) with colleagues from across the European Union (2003-2006) and Mathematical Misconceptions in the Primary Years (British Academy, LRG-42447) with international partners (2006-2007). She is currently disseminating the findings of her most project - Challenging Colleagues: primary head teachers managing mediocre practitioners – which was funded by the Nuffield Foundation (# 39039). Professor Cockburn chaired the International Meeting of the Psychology of Mathematics Education Group in 2002 and was a member of the International Committee (2001 -2005). She was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Educators (2007-2012) and was an external examiner for the Economic and Social Research Council student awards (2002-2006). She currently teaches research methods at masters’ level and supervises 4 doctoral students.