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News

Professor tunes TV to math for kids

By Tina Marie Macias
Senior Staff Writer

Math and science has consistently taken a back seat to literacy in children's creative learning, but a UH education professor is helping integrate the subjects into television programming.

"Math is important, and it's become a big deal the last couple years," Junita Copley, chairwoman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, said. "The earlier children do it, the better they'll be at it."

Copley has become a regular consultant for the Public Broadcasting System, reviewing scripts that integrate math and science into children's programming. She is working with Curious George adventures, but has also found math and science in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

"We just looked at Mr. Rogers' old favorites," Copley said. "He always liked to visit and travel to new places, and there's math there."

With a Curious George movie on tap from Universal Studios, Copley said PBS started airing the programs right on time. PBS plans to show Curious George in 2006 and highlight the way the inquisitive primate uses math and science in his adventures.

"Curious George is by nature curious, so there's a lot of science that goes in there," Copley said. "He's always finding something new."

In one of his adventures, Copley said, Curious George may try to ride a roller coaster and find that he is too short, and by using simple math he may try to make himself grow -- by eating and stretching -- to meet the requirements.

Copley is a national expert and advocate for early childhood math literacy, and her observations of the programs will be included in learning materials for teachers and parents. The effort is part of a national push among educators to promote math education among young children, particularly those between ages 4 and 6.

"(Children) are interested (in math)," Copley said. "Kids love to count, they love to make patterns, they do all kinds of things that are very mathematical."
 

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