Above / Located at 301 N. Washington St., DuPage Children’s Museum will offer two days of inspiration to empower everyone with children in their lives to teach math…everywhere! (PN File Photo)
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is hosting an adult program about how to recognize opportunities for learning in everyday life, and how to playfully and confidently engage young children in math. This program set for May 19 and 20 is for parents, educators, daycare providers, or anyone who lives with or works with children ages 2-5 years old.
The enriching and educational event, titled Everywhere Math, will feature inspirational and empowering speakers and presenters; offer participants support, guidance, tools, and motivation, furthering their students’ or child’s education; and include activities that teach parents and educators how to use play to teach math as well as how music can help children understand math.
“Current research demonstrates that the foundation of later math achievement is laid long before adolescents. What this confirms is that high quality early math experiences are closely linked to success in math later in life,” said Alix Tonsgard, DCM’s Early Learning Specialist.
This two-day event features Doctoral Research Fellow Yinna Zhang; the Children’s Music Program Manager from Old Town School of Folk Music, Erin Flynn; and as Keynote Speaker, architect and owner of Architecture is Fun, Peter Exley. Each presenter will guide participants through activities, instruct them on teaching math using play, and present information in an engaging and instructive manner. The symposium will include breakout sessions where the participants will be divided into groups and receive more in-depth instruction.
5:30PM to 8PM Friday, May 19
The event begins on Friday, May 19, 5:30PM – 8PM, with light refreshments and Keynote Speaker Peter Exley, Director of Architecture at Architecture is Fun. Peter will tell engaging stories and comment on his experiences in designing DCM in 2001 and re-designing it in 2015. In addition, he will explain how children already use math and engineering fundamentals in their play and how adults can help their children find fun in learning fundamentals needed for architecture.
8:30AM to 2PM Saturday, May 20
Saturday’s event is from 8:30AM – 2PM, starting with a continental breakfast. Presenters include Erin Flynn, Children’s Music Program Manager, Old Town School of Folk Music; and Yinna Zhang, Doctoral Research Fellow, Erikson Institute. The presentation will be about bridging math and music in the early years. DuPage Children’s Museum will facilitate three breakout sessions: Math with Loose Parts, The Math Around Us, and Math at Home. A box lunch will be served.
$25 for Friday session, $50 for Saturday, $75 both days
Attend just one day or both days. The cost for just the Friday session is $25 per person. The cost for just the Saturday session is $50 per person. The cost for both sessions is $70 per person. Educators can earn up to 5.5 CEUs for participating.
Scholarships to attend the event at a reduced cost are available for a select number of home daycare providers. Please contact Alix Tonsgard at (630) 637-8000 x6220 for more details.
This event would not be possible without the generous support of individuals and corporations. DCM thanks our funders Robert R. McCormick Foundation as well as the Dover Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dover Corporation.
To register today, visit dupagechildrens.org/math. For more information, contact Alix Tonsgard, DCM Early Learning Specialist, atonsgard@dupagechildrensmuseum.org or (630) 637-8000 x6220.
Story submitted by Dee Dee McDevitt, Director of Marketing and Sales, for DuPage Children’s Museum.
