Being and Becoming Mathematicians

This being Maths Week and coinciding with Budget Week, the children from Cottage Kids Playschool in Tyrellstown, Lusk presented their book “Being and Becoming Mathematicians Through Play” to the Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan today.  In the photos are Ryan Zezima (5) and Carly Kirwin (4) and Mandy Corcoran, manager of The Cottage Kids Playschool in Tyrellstown, Lusk along with Minister O’Sullivan. 

According to Early Childhood Ireland, co-authors and publishers, “This book is exceptional in that it has been written by the children for parents, highlighting the children’s knowledge and thinking about everyday maths as a language that helps us communicate.” The book is available on through the Early Childhood Ireland shop for €25 (€15 for members of Early Childhood Ireland).   

Meeting the children, the Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan said today, “I want to congratulate Mandy and the children from Cottage Kids Playschool for writing this book, along with Early Childhood Ireland.  This is a timely reminder for both parents and politicians about the benefit of early years’ education and the rich play curriculum which unlocks children’s curiosity and understanding of the world around them.  The best learning can be fun and playful, but the lessons learnt through this maths lens will have long term and very positive benefits for the children at the centre of this curriculum.  I hope this is a best seller and we all have something to learn from it.”

According to Dr. Carmel Brennan who has written the introduction to the book, “It looks at children’s play with a ‘maths’ lens, making visible the wonderfully enjoyable and rich process of young children being and becoming mathematicians through play.  It is wonderfully illustrated with children experiencing and exploring the world around them and developing a genuine understanding of maths in their bodies, hearts and minds.  They are ably helped by dedicated educators who encourage, support and extend their learning as they play together.  Roles are reversed as parents become the learners and children become the teachers.  At the same time, the book is a resource to other educators – they can see the maths learning that is made possible in everyday play opportunities in early childhood settings.”