Playing with maths: implications for early childhood mathematics teaching from an implementation study in Melbourne, Australia

Title
Playing with maths: implications for early childhood mathematics teaching from an implementation study in Melbourne, Australia
Publication Date
2015
Author(s)
Cohrssen, Caroline
Tayler, Collette
Cloney, Dan
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1080/03004279.2013.848916
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/54094
Abstract

The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia governs early childhood education in the years before school in Australia. Since this framework is not a curriculum, early childhood educators report uncertainty regarding what mathematical concepts to teach and how to teach them. This implementation study, positioned within the broader E4Kids study, explored the enactment of a suite of play-based mathematics activities by five early childhood educators in different settings over a seven-month period. The educators' approaches to incorporating the activities are discussed in light of the reported implementation frequency and the duration of activities. A regression analysis predicted significant changes in children's Fluid Intelligence/Reasoning associated with attending high-implementation programmes. Recommendations are made for further investigation of the enactment of mathematics activities in early childhood settings and for the provision of professional learning opportunities that focus on supporting children's concept development as well as their mathematical skills.

Link
Citation
Education 3-13, 43(6), p. 641-652
ISSN
1475-7575
0300-4279
Start page
641
End page
652

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