What is Finland’s Elementary Math Technique?

Finland’s education system is currently considered one of the most successful in the world. Finland, like most of the Nordic countries, has a very child-centered approach to teaching. Especially in primary grades, Finland schools have a strong focus on providing a safe and comfortable environment for learning and promoting students' growth, not just in the classroom but also in general (Anderson, 2010). They are also a huge proponent of learning through play in young grades.

Finland has in-depth teaching guidelines for teachers starting with preschool and moving forward. The Early Childhood Education and Care Guidelines detail the goals expected of pre-primary, preschool, aged children enrolled in early childhood education, as well as the values that schools want to develop in these students. This includes descriptions on building meaningful experiences, creating the learning environment, and how the educator can assist. For primary grades, these guidelines are outlined in the National Core Curricula which was updated in 2014 and began implementation in 2016. This outlines specific objectives and content to be taught in each subject, as well as goals for special learners