Purposeful problem-solving practices in Te Kākano

Mathematical learning is an integral part of early childhood education (ECE). In Aotearoa New Zealand there is a range of valuable curriculum resources including Te Kākano, a “living, evolving” framework of purposeful activities, to assist teachers to notice and respond to mathematics learning. This article aims to contribute towards this evolution by suggesting mathematical problem solving become more explicitly embedded within Te Kākano. This would be one way of keeping mathematical practices at the forefront of early childhood mathematics education supporting children to be creative mathematical problem solvers as they develop early understandings of mathematics symbol systems and technologies.