Osnat Zur

Overview

Osnat Zur is a developmental psychologist with expertise in children’s cognitive development, focusing primarily on early mathematical thinking and scientific reasoning. Committed to improving the quality of early childhood education, Zur has led a range of state- and national-level early childhood projects focusing on the development of math and science learning, early learning standards, curriculum and professional learning content, and the evaluation of early childhood initiatives. 

Serving as a subject matter expert and leader on a California statewide early math and science initiative (Count Play Explore), Zur co-directs the creation of professional development modules in early STEAM and the evaluation of the Count Play Explore initiative. Recently, Zur also led the development of the revised California Preschool Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) and the Preschool Through Third Grade (P–3) Learning Progressions in key domains of learning, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Previously, Zur served as Director of WestEd’s 5-year partnership at the National Center for Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning.

Before joining WestEd, Zur served as Director of Research and Evaluation at Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP). As a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA, Zur cochaired a cross-cultural study on classroom mathematics instruction and explored analog-based instruction within mathematics lessons in three different countries: Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States.

Education

• PhD in developmental psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 
• MA in developmental psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 
• BA in psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 

Select Publications

California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF). Co-writer of Math and science domains. 

Zur, O., Marcella-Burdett, J., García, M., Roth, A., & Savelkouls, S. (2021). California Statewide Early Math Initiative: Evaluation report of the Professional Learning and Coaching Model. WestEd. 

Marcella-Burdett, J., Roth, A., Savelkouls, S., & Zur, O. (2020). California Statewide Early Math Initiative in local communities: Building educator math capacity. WestEd. 

Preschool Curriculum Framework in Science, California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Vol. 3. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education.  

Preschool Foundations in Science, California Preschool Learning Foundations, Vol. 3. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education. 

Richland, L. E., Zur, O., & Hollyoak, K. (2007). Cognitive supports for analogies in the mathematics classroom. Science, 316, 1128–1129.  

Zur, O., & Gelman, R. (2004). Young children can add & subtract by predicting & checking. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 19, 121–137.  

Honors, Awards, and Affiliations

UCLA Miller Madsen Dissertation Award in developmental psychology 

Member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD) 

Member of the Cognitive Development Society

Recent Media Appearances

• Can infants learn math? State-backed pilot project in Fresno aims to find out, EdSource, July 27, 2022