Building a Foundation of Number Sense PK-2 with Suzanne Bazak

Suzanne Bazak is one of the best educators that I know. I worked with her when I was a principal in Roanoke City Public Schools where she was then an excellent support person for teachers and principals in the use of technology. Math instruction is so difficult and at the same time of such importance that, as an educator, I am extremely sensitive to what is provided as training in the teaching of mathematics at our Charlotte Mason Education Conference. Suzanne is the person I would trust. She has convinced teachers to follow good developmental practices for the teaching of math in order to get the results they seek for state testing, rather than, bowing to teaching to the test. She is an excellent math instructor while at the same time a fun and enjoyable person. If you are concerned about the teaching of mathematics to your young child(ren), you will want to attend this session. If you have math phobia yourself, but do not want to pass it on to your children, you will want to attend this session. And, most importantly, you will want to get to know Suzanne.     ~Carroll Smith

From pre-kinderleben through second grade, children develop a mathematical foundation by building beliefs about what mathematics is and developing a strong understanding of numbers and their relationship to one another. Effective mathematics instruction begins with effective teaching. This workshop will provide classroom teachers and parents with rich experiences and proven classroom resources needed to insure that all children develop a strong sense of number. An early foundation in number sense is critical for continued success in mathematics throughout a child’s life. Emphasis will be placed on the idea of “playing” with numbers through the use of games and manipulatives.

Suzanne Bazak is an Elementary Math Specialist with Roanoke City Public Schools in Roanoke, VA. She has taught all levels of mathematics, K-12, as well as undergraduate and graduate level courses in Elemenatry math Methods, Middle and High School Topics in Mathematics and a variety of instructional technology courses. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. Suzanne believes that the best way to build an early foundation of number sense (numeracy) is to engage young children while “playing” with numbers; ranging from the use of board and dice games to mathematical manipulatives and real-world experiences.