The 7th POEM conference (A Mathematics Education Perspective on early Mathematics Learning between the Poles of Instruction and Construction) will take place in Heidelberg, Germany 28-29 May 2026.
It is a conference for researchers within early childhood mathematics education, emphasizing issues concerning in which way – and how much – should children be ‘educated’ in mathematics before entering primary school? In a working atmosphere and in order to maintain a research network in early mathematics learning, researchers have met at POEM conferences in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (2012), Malmö, Sweden (2014), Karlsruhe, Germany (2016), Kristiansand, Norway (2018) , Gothenburg, Sweden (2022), Bari, Italy (2024) and 2026 in Heidelberg, Germany.
Various empirical studies show that early mathematical education can essentially be described in terms of three different design approaches: (1) mathematical learning in natural, i.e., everyday situations, (2) play-integrated mathematical learning, and (3) targeted work with training programs. To date, little research has been conducted on what exactly determines these approaches to early mathematical education. Possible influencing factors include educational curricula and legal requirements at the socio-political level, epistemological beliefs and subject-specific knowledge of early childhood educators at the professional level, as well as the parental expectations they perceive, i.e., external demands.
These questions are addressed in an exploratory study from German-speaking Switzerland, which has had a binding curriculum for early mathematics education since 2001. The study examines how early childhood education educators (N = 152) describe their early mathematics education and to what extent this is related to their beliefs, their competencies, and their perceived parental expectations.
Information will be provided later.
- Ruthi Barkai (Kibbutzim College of Education and Tel Aviv University, Israel)
- Christiane Benz (University of Education Karlsruhe, Germany)
- Martin Carlsen (University of Agder, Norway)
- Jill Cheeseman (Monash University, Australia)
- Priska Sprenger (University of Education Heidelberg, Germany)
To promote constructive discussions in line with the traditions of the POEM community and to raise awareness of the current research trends and ongoing projects, we hereby invite you to contribute with a paper to be presented at the conference.
We welcome research-based papers (8-10 pages) on the topics focusing on, but not limited to:
Mathematics learning, development, teaching, instruction and education in the early years;
- Early Childhood Education and Care practices and contexts for mathematics learning;
- Early childhood teachers’ professional development;
- Children’s perspective and the role of play in early mathematics education;
- Theoretical perspectives on early mathematics education;
- Methodological views in research on early mathematics education.
When preparing your paper, please use the
The Scientific Board will review the papers to ensure they are suitable for the conference.
After the conference, we aim to publish the papers using a peer-review process. Authors are expected to act as reviewers.
Contributions can be submitted
The deadline for submissions is April 10, 2026.
University of Education Heidelberg
Keplerstraße 87
D-69120 Heidelberg
On-Site Orientation
- The building may be accessed via the entrances on Quinkestraße and Keplerstraße.
- Conference rooms will be clearly signposted for the duration of the event.
Arrival Information
- As on-site parking is restricted to a maximum duration of two hours, we recommend using public transportation.
- For those arriving by public transport, the Blumenthalstraße stop (approximately a 5-minute walk) and the Neuenheim Technologiepark stop (approximately a 6-minute walk) provide convenient access.
6:30 p.m.: Get-together (at your own cost)
9:00 a.m.: Opening
Evening: Social dinner
1:00 p.m.: Closing
- Hotel Anlage Heidelberg
- Address:
(2,3 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Central location near the old town
- 24-hour reception
- Elevator
- Private parking available at the hotel (€12/day)
- Breakfast €12,50
- Address:
- Hotel Heidelberger Hof
- Address:
(2 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Central location near the old town
- Reception (7:30-20:00)
- Elevator
- Private parking available nearby (€20/day)
- Breakfast €20,00
- Address:
- ibis Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof
- Address:
(2,3 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Located near the main train station
- 24-hour reception
- Elevator
- Private parking available at the hotel (€12/day)
- Breakfast €17,00
- Address:
- GuestHouse Heidelberg
- Address:
(2 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Central location near the old town
- Reception (9:00-12:00)
- Private check-in/check-out
- Elevator
- No hotel parking
- No breakfast
- Address:
- Auerstein Hotels
- Address:
(1,4 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Location in Handschuhsheim (to the north of HSE)
- Reception is staffed only during limited hours
- Private check-in/check-out with key box
- No elevator
- Limited private parking available at the hotel (€9/day)
- No breakfast
- Address:
- Midori - The Green Guesthouse
- Address:
(3,5 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Located in the municipality of Dossenheim, to the north of Heidelberg
- Reception is staffed only during limited hours (3rd floor)
- Self-check-in possible via computer at the entrance
- Elevator
- Private parking spaces available free of charge at the hotel
- Breakfast €17,00
- Address:
- Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg
- Address:
(5 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Located on the outskirts of Heidelberg
- 24-hour reception
- Elevator
- Private parking available at the hotel (€8/day)
- Breakfast €17,00
- Address:
- Hotel B54 Heidelberg City Center
- Address:
(3 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Central location near the old town
- Reception is staffed only during limited hours
- Self-check-in possible via computer at the entrance
- Elevator
- No hotel parking
- No breakfast
- Address:
- Zur Turmstube
- Address:
(4,7 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Located in the municipality of Dossenheim, to the north of Heidelberg
- No elevator
- Free parking
- Breakfast €8,00
- Address:
- Hotel Krone
- Address:
(11 km from Heidelberg University of Education) - Located in the municipality of Hirschberg, to the north of Heidelberg
- 24-hour reception
- Elevator
- Free parking
- Breakfast available
- Address:
Registration is open from December 15, 2025 to January 31, 2026.