Mathematics in the Early Years

Book excerpt: The Clemsons' clear and readable book takes the reader from debates about how children learn and what children know and can do when they start school; through to a discussion of how mathematics can be managed, assessed and evaluated in the school and classroom. Linking these two parts of the book is a section on the subject of mathematics itself, from which the non-specialist reader can gain a view of what mathematics is, what needs to be thought about in planning and offering a curriculum and the special dilemmas faced in teaching and learning mathematics as a subject. A bank of case studies offers an opportunity to see mathematics in action in a variety of classrooms.