Matematik med kroppen som verktyg : En kvalitativ studie om förskollärares erfarenheter av matematik och arbete med matematiska begrepp med de yngsta barnen

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to focus on toddlers' mathematical learning by capturing preschool teachers' different thoughts about it and how they work. The study aims to shed light on preschool teachers' thoughts about and work with mathematical concepts in teaching with the toddlers. According to the curriculum for the preschool (Skolverket, 2018), the preschool must create opportunities for the children to encounter both spontaneous and planned mathematical teaching. The study is based on variation theory, which means that it focuses on variations of pre-school teachers' theory and practice in the work of promoting the toddlers' mathematical learning. Our methods for collecting data are qualitative interviews and observations where preschool teachers' theory and practice are captured. A total of nine preschool teachers were interviewed, of which four were also observed. The interviews took place both on site and over the phone, and the observations took place in the respective preschool teacher's department. In the selection, the informants were required to be trained preschool teachers with experience of working with toddlers. The results revealed the toddlers need to experience mathematical concepts in different ways using the body as a tool. There is also an uncertainty in how the mathematical work can be carried out with the toddlers.