Chapter 1: Learning Trajectories: Foundations for Effective, Research-based Education

Approaches to standards, curriculum development, and pedagogy are remarkably diverse; however, recent years have seen a growing movement to base each of these on learning trajectories. In this chapter, we discuss and compare the various terms and conceptions of this construct, present our own definition, differentiate between our conception and that of others, and briefly review the current evidentiary base in our area, early childhood mathematics.