Blocks Math Institute

This year’s Blocks Math Institute will have two cohorts - one for teachers of 2 and 3 year olds and one for Kindergarten teachers. These cohorts bring teachers together to develop a rich, full-year math curriculum. All concepts are rooted in one of the most dynamic, ubiquitous preschool materials ever created — wooden unit blocks.

Cohort Session Dates

Each cohort will meet for seven in-person work sessions in addition to the Zoom orientation meeting. The dates below represent a draft schedule. The final schedule will be determined during the initial orientation meeting based, as much as possible, on cohort member schedules. Each cohort session will last from 4:30 - 6:30pm on Tuesdays throughout the school year. The only exception is the first meeting, which will take place via Zoom and will last approximately one hour.

  • September 30, 2025 at 4:30 pm (Zoom orientation with both cohorts)

  • 2s and 3s cohort

    • October 14

    • December 2

    • January 13

    • February 10

    • March 10

    • April 21

    • May 19

  • Kindergarten cohort

    • October 7

    • November 18

    • January 6

    • February 3

    • March 3

    • April 14

    • May 12

Many educators develop math lessons centered on unit blocks, especially those where unit blocks are a core part of their classrooms. Until now, no one has collected those lessons to make a fulsome math curriculum that can be used in a wide variety of educational settings. We will make that a reality! 

Our central goal in creating this project is to bring together a cohort of educators to share what they already do with math and unit blocks. We will create new lessons and explorations at each meeting. In doing that sharing and creating, along with some facilitation and guidance from the Caroline Pratt Center facilitators, we intend to create a unit blocks based math curriculum that dynamically integrates all math concepts with unit block work. Participants will gain valuable mathematics and blocks knowledge and share expertise all in a supportive inquiry-based cohort.

Beyond the benefits for all the participants of using what’s learned and shared in their own practice, we intend to put together the cohort’s work into a book that can be shared with educators and schools across the country.

We are interested in educators from all educational settings — public, private, charter, standalone preschools and home-based programs. Please join us!

We require that participants commit to attending all, or nearly all, sessions. Participants will be credited for any relevant work if it becomes part of the published curriculum and paid a $750 stipend for their participation.

How to Apply

If you have at least two years experience working with children and unit blocks and would be excited to work in collaboration with other educators to bring this exciting project to life, then we hope you will apply. You must be available for all, or nearly all, of the sessions. Apply by September 5th. Participants will be notified if their applications have been accepted or not by September 12th.

If you have any questions, email info@carolineprattcenter.com