Comparing Turkish Early Childhood Education Curriculum with Respect to Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

Abstract

Increasing recognition of mathematics in society and its effects in development of children takes attention to early childhood education and as a result early childhood curriculum. Although children have informal mathematical knowledge before they begin formal schooling, a qualified mathematics education during early childhood will enrich and prevent learning difficulties in further years. For this purpose, the aim of the study was to compare Turkish Early Childhood Education Curriculum (TECEC) objectives with respect to kindergarten level Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). The study carried out as a document analysis method. Results are presented under five domains of CCSSM; counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in base ten, measurement and data, and geometry. Results of the study indicate that TECEC and CCSSM for kindergarten level have both similarities and differences. While CCSSM dedicate more time numbers than other topics, TECEC gives significance to many mathematical skills not specifically the numbers like geometry, measurement, etc. About numbers topic in CCSSM have in depth expectations from children. Some other differences are also seen in patterning topic in TECEC and in place value topic in CCSSM. More similarities are found in geometry domain in both TECEC and CCSSM.