“Senso-Math†Mathematical Facilitators in Preschools: Training, Integration and Professional Contribution

Abstract

The “Senso-Math†program promotes early childhood mathematical knowledge in preschools. This paper reports on the rationale behind the development of the program, gives a description of the activities and process of the program, and describes the training of special facilitators who visit preschools to present the program to the children and foster a love and knowledge of basic mathematical concepts.

This paper then gives a report of a five-year study that followed 500 “Senso-Math†facilitators during their training and subsequent teaching experience in the preschool alongside the regular preschool teachers. These 500 facilitators activated 10,000 three-to-six-year-old children in various demographic sectors (Jewish Orthodox, Jewish immigrants from the Caucasus, and Druze). Forty-nine were interviewed in depth to examine their professional development, including their change in attitude to mathematical education in preschool, and to assess the contribution the program makes to preschool mathematics education. The results of the study indicate that, overall, the program effected a positive trend in their attitude regarding preschool mathematics education, although there were significant differences in attitude among the various demographic sectors studied.