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ERIC Number: EJ1103083
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: N/A
Young Children's Mathematics References during Free Play in Family Childcare Settings
Hendershot, Shawnee M.; Berghout Austin, Ann M.; Blevins-Knabe, Belinda; Ota, Carrie
Early Child Development and Care, v186 n7 p1126-1141 2016
Very little is known about children's discussion of mathematics topics during unstructured play. Ginsburg, Lin, Ness, and Seo [2003. Young American and Chinese children's everyday mathematical activity. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 5(4), 235-258. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=e2cc384a-0a86-471d-8c61-e61493d18ee6%40sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=111&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=mth&AN=10800300] have examined children's mathematics conversations in centre-based childcare, but to our knowledge no one has looked at children's mathematics conversations in home-based family childcare. On the other hand, it is often through children's spontaneous play themes that we have an indication of what is on a child's mind. This study examined the mathematics talk of children during unstructured play in non-parental, family childcare environments. Audio tapes of 50 children (20 girls) ranging in age from 3 to 5 years were transcribed and coded for different types of mathematical references including (a) classification, (b) magnitude, (c) enumeration, (d) patterns and shapes, (e) spatial relations, and (f) part/whole (Ginsburg et al., 2003). Out of all words spoken, 13% of children's words in unstructured play were mathematics-related words. Spatial relations were most frequently referenced. The data indicated a trend for children older than 40 months to reference mathematics more than children younger than 40 months. Children with providers who had child development associate certificates or two-year degrees were more likely to use mathematics words than children whose providers had less education or more education. These findings were also non-significant, but suggest that providers with applied certificates or degrees might have more practice-based experience in structuring the environment for mathematics inquiry.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A