Welcome to the Team, Bella!
Bella Gomez attends Washington University in St. Louis, where she majors in Global Studies and Latin American Studies, with a minor in Educational Studies and concentrations in public health and human development. She has experience in a variety of fields including student teaching, research, and programming. She works in the WashU Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and volunteers her time with the Boys and Girls Club and as a grant writer for the non-profits East Side Aligned and Thirst Project.
ThinkPlayful Expands Testing Nationwide
ThinkPlayful™ beta testing has expanded to include early childhood organizations and the families they serve throughout the USA.
Children are Natural Scientists
From birth, infants explore their environments and look to their caregivers to learn about their world. Spontaneous play further develops their scientific inquiry and experimentation skills. When science education intersects with play and imagination, children develop their understanding of scientific concepts through their creativity.
Math Anxiety Sneaks In
Have you ever said “I am not a math person” or “I’m not good at math”? It’s so common to hear! Unfortunately, comments like these influence children’s perception of their own math ability … and consequently hinders their future math skills too.
Welcome to the Team, Magdalene!
Magdalene Aideyan attends Washington University in St. Louis, where she majors in both Educational Studies and in Economics and Strategy. She has a passion for educational advocacy and has worked in many areas of education, including voice lesson instruction, curriculum development, school policy, and teaching. She acts in WashU’s Black performing arts group, Black Anthology; serves on the College Council; and sings in her university’s gospel choir.
Welcome to the Team, Aisha!
Aisha Adedayo attends Washington University in St. Louis, where she majors in Educational Studies and minors in Global Black Studies and Business of Social Impact. She has a background in and passion for educational equity as well as experience with startups and entrepreneurship. She also serves in the Army National Guard and owns a photography business, Narative Portraits LLC.
Math Learning with Guided Play
Learning through guided play has a more positive effect on younger children’s acquisition of important early math skills than traditional, direct instruction.
Early Math Skills Are Crucial
Many parents spend time and energy reading stories to their preschool child, studies show that mathematical reasoning ability may be even more crucial as a building block for success in school and beyond than reading readiness. That’s why the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics urges high-quality math instruction for 3- to 6-year-olds.
The Brain Grows Dramatically By Age 5
The preschool years represent a time of some of the most dynamic and elaborate developmental changes and brain growth.