Nurture Creative, Exploratory Math Learning

Discover what math teaching and learning looks like in the playful, emergent environment of the early childhood classroom. Every day, children explore math concepts in their conversations and interactions. You can build on that natural curiosity by engaging children in meaningful, complex math learning opportunities that are grounded in their observations and questions.

Based on the experiences in her own classroom, author Deanna Pecaski McLennan helps you reflect on your curriculum through a mathematical lens and see the potential for math teaching and learning everywhere. Each chapter of this engaging, easy-to-read book is packed with practical strategies and ideas for fostering hands-on, collaborative, integrated math explorations and inquiries with preschoolers and kindergartners.

With the information and guidance in this resource, you will develop a math-rich classroom while increasing children’s interest, confidence, and success in mathematics.

Deanna Pecaski McLennan's profile page

Deanna Pecaski McLennan , PhD, is a passionate early childhood educator, researcher, and writer from Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, who has spent over 20 years working with young children. She is the recipient of the 2020 Prime Minister Award for Excellence in Teaching STEM, highest award in Canadian education.

As a teacher in Ontario’s full-day kindergarten program (equivalent to US prekindergarten) and a university instructor, she devotes her research and practice to exploring the potential for rich mathematics learning through playful inquiry and exploration. She appreciates looking at life through a mathematical lens and recognizes opportunities for authentic, complex engagement in all experiences children have. She is a passionate advocate who feels deeply that the investments we make in the lives of young children benefit our society tremendously over time.

Deanna is also a mom to three children and knows firsthand the importance of supporting and improving their confidence, fluency, and accuracy in mathematics. She considers herself a lifelong learner and has spent the last several years transforming her classroom into a safe, supportive space where children can take risks without the use of rigid programming, rote practice, or worksheets. Deanna believes that educators benefit from sharing their journeys with one another and actively uses reflective writing, technology, and social media to connect with others from around the world. Part of her journey has involved writing extensively for NAEYC and publishing articles in the organization’s magazine, Teaching Young Children, and peer-reviewed journal, Young Children. Deanna uses her writing and large social media following to provoke conversations about the role math plays in emergent programs and how educators can cultivate children’s mathematical mindset while still honoring their interests, strengths, and needs. You can learn more by visiting her website at www.mrsmclennan.blogspot.com or following her on Twitter and Instagram @McLennan1977.

This is just the resource I need to bring my math instruction to the next level. My students and I will definitely be exploring, learning, and having fun with math this upcoming school year! — William Breeman, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, San José Unified School District

Pecaski McLennan openly acknowledges how her own mathematical identity impacted that of her students. She shows readers that by embracing math and seeing it everywhere, we can provide children with rich opportunities for mathematics teaching and learning. — Toni Galassini, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Chicago Public Schools Office of Early Childhood Education

Math is everywhere, and the earlier young children see its power in their daily lives, the more likely they are to explore it instead of fear it. This book shows us how to raise our next generation to embrace and excel at math. — Laura Overdeck, Founder and President, Bedtime Math

Embracing Math is a valuable resource to help teachers find and use the math that is all around us in their early childhood classrooms. Not only does it include many specific examples, it also provides a strong conceptual framework about exploring and embedding math through questions, conversations, and inquiries. — Mary Hynes-Berry, Coauthor of Where’s the Math? and Faculty, Erikson Institute and Early Math Collaborative

Pecaski McLennan draws from many sources of inspiration and includes a wide range of meaningful activities for children’s engagement with mathematics, from interactions with natural objects to the foundations of computer coding. Each chapter includes ways to encourage and leverage children’s natural curiosity by assisting them in making connections to mathematics in the world around them in structured and unstructured ways. This book supports emerging mathematicians in an age-appropriate and effective manner. — Andrew M. Tyminski, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Clemson University

This book offers a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to exploring mathematics with young children that integrates mathematics with science, literacy, and art. Pecaski McLennan’s suggestions for engaging in meaningful, story-based precoding activities to support computational thinking, spatial reasoning, and number sense are particularly noteworthy and relevant! — Ashley Lewis Presser, Research Scientist, Education Development Center