Math Education in Japan with Kiyomi Akita

Kiyomi Akita describes the current climate of math education in Japan.

Kiyomi Akita is a professor in the Department of Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning Environments at the Graduate School of Education at Tokyo University, where she also serves as director of the Center for School Education. She also serves as President of the Japan Reading Association and the Japan Society of Research on Early Childhood Care and Education.

The Early Math Collaborative, supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, held international symposia in 2009 and 2010. The two events brought experts from around the world to share approaches to early mathematics education with teachers, administrators, policy-makers, and other education professionals. The goal was to generate globally-informed ideas and recommendations for improving math instruction in the early childhood classroom. In breakout discussions and plenary sessions, participants brainstormed ideas, identified issues, and recommended actions.