Three for One: Supporting Social, Emotional, and Mathematical Development

Mathematically supportive environments Classrooms that foster children's mathematical development have engaging physical features, such as student-created number walls (similar to letter walls, except with numerals and sets of objects or pictures), a variety of mathematical tools (e.g., balance scales), manipulatives, jigsaw and geometric puzzles, blocks, pattern and shape activities, games with dice and spinners, books that promote number sense, and pretend play areas that include numerically rich materials. When children participate in activities based on their interests, they often show more sustained engagement and positive interactions with other children. Because they want to continue this engagement, children try to self-regulate their interactions with both the materials and the other children (Robson 2016). Classrooms that provide engaging and mathematically rich environments, abundant and meaningful opportunities for math talk, and carefully chosen math activities that support initiative, self-regulation, and collaboration will result in children gaining mathematical knowledge and developing important social and emotional skills. For activities or environments that limit the number of children who can participate (for instance, the dramatic play area) or have limited resources, counting or using a timer are excellent ways of ensuring fairness while supporting mathematical concepts.