NUMERACY
Early chilhoodhood is a significant time where children learn fundamental, essentials of mathematics. Early childhood equips children with understanding and knowledge amoung various concepts: how to sort and classify, to find similiarities and differences and to measure and solve problems.
It is imperative that the interactions children have with various concepts of numeracy are relevant and meaningful. Early learners develop an understanding of mathematics as they count various things, look for shapes, use words to describe weights and measurements, talk about volumes, estimate distances and dividing things up such as food. Learning concepts of maths occur without even thinking about it. Maths is all around us
Forget worksheets and use play-based activities to teach children mathematical concepts. Various forms of play can deliver children with mathematical knowledge in meaningful, relevant ways. Dramatic play, sand play, water play, nature play are some forms that will help children retain information about various numeracy concepts.
Connections to the Early Years Learning Framework
Being Numerate: the capacity, confidence and disposition to use mathematics in everyday life.
Spatial sense, structure and pattern, number, measurement, data argumentation, connections and exploring the world mathematically are the powerful mathematical ideas children need to become numerate.
OUTCOME 3: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WELLBEING- Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing by demonstrating spatial awareness and orient themselves, moving around and through their environments confidently and safely (EYLF,2009, p32).
OUTCOME 4: CHILDREN ARE CONFIDENT AND INVOLVED LEARNERS - Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating by creating and using representation to organise, record and communicate mathematical ideas and concepts (EYLF, 2009, p35).
OUTCOME 5: CHILDREN ARE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS - Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work by beginning to sort, categorise, order and compare collections and events and attributes of objects and materials, in their social and natural worlds (EYLF, 2009, p43)
Connections to The Australian Curriculum
The Australian curriculum foundation level looks at both 1:1 correspondence and sorting and classifying within the Number and Algebra strand.
1:1 Correspondence - Number and place value - Compare, order and make correspondences between collections, initially to 20, and explain reasoning (ACMNA289).
Sorting and classifying - Patterns and algebra - Sort and classify familiar objects and explain the basis for these classifications. Copy, continue and create patterns with objects and drawings (ACMNA005) (ACARA, 2014)
Heidi Songs musical Math DVD has developed songs to help teach numeracy. There are songs that help with the concept of classifying and sorting as well as 1:1 correspondence. Musical Math is a multi sensory approach providing meaningful experiences to promote the retention of math concepts. Each song has movements which connects to song and dance.
Click on the picture to purchase musical math.
Mathematics plays an important part in our everyday lives. We use maths when we read a bus timetable, find our favourite
TV program, weigh out ingredients
for cooking, check our money at the supermarket, or set the table for dinner (Connor & Neale, 2005).
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2010). Becoming, Being and Belonging: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Canberra, ACT: DEEWR.
Retrieved from: http://files.acecqa.gov.au/files/National-Quality-Framework-ResourcesKit/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_
framework_for_australia.pdf
The Early Years Learning Framework - Professional Learning Program EYLFPLP e-Newsletter No. 22 2011 - Being numerate. Retrieved from: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/EYLFPLP_E-Newsletter_No22.pdf
ACARA Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/