At Learn From Play, we are advocates for a literacy-first approach to education and the benefits this method of instruction can provide across all curriculum areas, including numeracy. By intertwining numeracy with literacy children are able to effortlessly grasp mathematical concepts as they are presented from within the realm of storytelling.
Using literacy as a gateway to introduce numerical concepts is a game-changer for educators. By leveraging the familiarity and engagement of storytelling, the foundations are laid for understanding complex mathematical ideas. Storytelling becomes the conduit for introducing intricate numerical concepts, such as area or pi, sparking curiosity and fostering deep understanding among learners of all ages.
For our youngest learners, this approach sets the stage for a lifelong love affair with numbers. Take, for instance, the book "A Place for Zero," which introduces young children to the concept of zero as both the symbol for nothing and a placeholder in the 10s column. Our Learn From Play activities for this book make learning interactive, with simple addition and multiplication activities that mimic the book's whimsical number machine. To turn this into a more physically active lessons children could collect numbers from around the room or roll dice to create numbers for their calculations thus adding an increased element of engagement and playfulness to these lessons.
For those starting school the Learn From Play original books featuring Suzie are a great way to introduce the ideas of asking and answering questions in Mathematics, Why we need numbers and the relationship between addition and subtractions. These stories are a perfect segway into the Learn From Play Maths ‘N’ Movement and Bloomsmath activities which can be found on the Learn from Play website.
But this approach isn't limited to little ones. Older students also benefit from using stories to unravel the mysteries of math. Consider Cindy Neuschwander’s "Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi." Through the exploits of Sir Cumference and his son Radius, children can grasp complex concepts like pi and its relationship to the circumference of a circle, all wrapped in an epic adventure.
A literacy-first approach bridges the gap between subjects, enabling educators to teach more in less time while aiding students' comprehension and retention of difficult concepts. By embedding numeracy within literacy, a seamless learning experience is created, nurturing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. From interactive activities to lively discussions, learning becomes an immersive journey where every number and numerical concept has a story to tell.
By blending stories with numbers, we're not just educating minds—we're shaping future thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers. When literacy meets numeracy, the possibilities are endless.
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