PSYC 337: Math and Children’s Learning

Students will be introduced to the psychological study of children’s mathematical thinking and learning through a variety of theoretical and experimental readings from laboratory–and school-based studies. Students will also review selected sections of grade-school mathematics textbooks from commonly used curricula to identify connections between particular theoretical viewpoints and their curricular implementations. The course will be presented in a combination lecture/discussion/service-learning format. Students will be required to observe mathematics instruction sessions for kindergarten and elementary school children and to assist children during their in-class work for two hours per week. Course work includes an integrative project in which students will draw connections among a specific theoretical position in research on mathematical cognition, its curricular implementation, and its application in practice.