Early Childhood Math Group

The Cambridge Early Math Group is a partnership of organizations who care about math as a civil right.

Together we work to support Cambridge families and young children around math literacy.  Our goal is that all children (birth to eight years) and their families will engage in joyful math play. This is one of the paths to developing a positive math mindset and becoming a life-long math learner.

Our partners include:

Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, based at the Cambridge Public Health Department, is an early literacy program supporting parents and caregivers of children, birth to 8 years, through three programs: Let’s Talk!, Cambridge Dads and Pathways to Family Success.  Early math is interwoven with early literacy for young children so supporting early math is a key goal.

Cambridge Office of Early Childhood believes that every child and family in Cambridge should have access to high-quality early care and education experiences. As a result, all children enter school ready to thrive academically, physically, socially, and emotionally, and continue to do so through third grade and beyond. Through the Cambridge Preschool Program and our Program Quality Initiatives, we support educators, children, and families/caregivers in promoting high-quality everyday math learning experiences from birth through Kindergarten. 

Cambridge Public Library welcomes all, inspires minds, and empowers community. We strive to provide a diverse collection and programming that meets the recreational, educational, and cultural needs of our community and reflects the world in which we all live. Youth Services staff are dedicated to promoting literacy for children and teens, connecting youth and their caregivers with community resources, and fostering a lifelong love of libraries and learning - including early math skills! 

Cambridge Public Schools Preschools create a collaborative and reflective environment of exploration and inquiry that builds relationships and empowers students. Each program follows the school calendar and uses the Focus on 4’s curriculum to prepare young learners for success, supported by a dedicated team of professionals.

Cambridge STEAM Initiative works to ensure that Cambridge residents most affected by systemic inequities have access to high-quality STEAM programs and learning opportunities — and we approach all of our work through a racial justice lens. A key focus area is math equity, starting in early childhood. We partner with organizations focused on early childhood education, support math-focused community organizations, and bring people together across the city — all to help caregivers and young people see that math is everywhere, and that it belongs to everyone.

Department of Human Service Programs Preschools are committed to supporting children’s healthy growth and development through play-based curriculum. We believe play is the primary way in which a young child learns. Our preschools are open to all Cambridge 3 and 4-year-olds. All our preschool classrooms provide children and their families with a high-quality, nurturing, and educational preschool experience. Mathematics is one of the eight learning domains we assess through the COR Advantage (HighScope) assessment system.

MathTalk creates community-based resources that engage children and families in joyful, everyday math experiences and build confidence and demand for math learning. Talking about math isn’t something that comes easily to everyone. MathTalk helps to facilitate those conversations by creating regular opportunities for families to discover and interact with math in their daily lives, wherever they are!