This unit will scaffold students' understandings, attitudes towards and skills in early childhood numeracy and mathematics. They will gain conceptual and pedagogical knowledge of early years numeracy and mathematics teaching and learning, including play-based pedagogies for teaching numeracy and mathematics. Students will create learning experiences that align with the Early Years Learning Framework and develop children's positive dispositions towards numeracy and mathematics learning. They will also learn how to support families to promote numeracy and mathematical learning at home.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Critically analyse the difference between and the importance of numeracy and mathematics in early childhood education;
2. Demonstrate how to engage with families, using effective communication strategies (written, oral, visual, interactive), to enable them to support numeracy and mathematical learning in the home and in everyday activities;
3. Plan and document a range of play-based learning experiences in numeracy and mathematics align with the Early Years Learning Framework and develop children's learning dispositions; and
4. Demonstrate content knowledge and skills in early years mathematics based on evidence based research with a focus on mathematical thinking.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware

Prerequisites

Must have passed 24 credit points and be enrolled in an early childhood education undergraduate course.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.