Teachers or student teachers in nurseries and primary schools need a secure understanding of the mathematical ideas behind the material they will use in the classroom. And to help young children develop their understanding of mathematics, teachers need to develop their own understanding of how mathematics is learnt. In this book, the authors help trainee and practising teachers to understand mathematical concepts and how children come to understand them, and show how to develop their own confidence with mathematical activities. Each chapter of this book includes: -real-life examples and illustrations from children and teachers in the classroom; -the research behind some of the concepts and teaching approaches discussed; -pauses to reflect and discuss their own mathematical knowledge and experience; -age-appropriate classroom activities to try with their class or group. This is an essential student text and professional reference work for teachers of children aged 3 to 8 years.