1st Edition
Mathematics in Early Childhood Research, Reflexive Practice and Innovative Pedagogy
Structured around Bishop’s six fundamental mathematical activities, this book brings together examples of mathematics education from a range of countries to help readers broaden their view on maths and its interrelationship to other aspects of life.
Considering different educational traditions and diverse contexts, and illustrating theory through the use of real-life vignettes throughout, this book encourages readers to review, reflect on, and critique their own practice when conducting activities on explaining, counting, measuring, locating, designing, and playing.
Aimed at early childhood educators and practitioners looking to improve the mathematics learning experience for all their students, this practical and accessible guide provides the knowledge and tools to help every child.
List of Contributors
Foreword
Tony Bertram and Chris Pascal
Chapter 1 Reflexivity and early childhood mathematics education: Applying Bishop’s universality to vignettes of young children’s learning
Bob Perry, Oliver Thiel and Elena Severina
Part 1 Explaining
Chapter 2 ‘One potato, two potatoes…’: Mathematics in an outdoor setting
Elin Reikerås, Trude Hoel, Børge Iversen and Aljoscha Jakob Jegodtka
Part 2 Counting
Chapter 3 ‘Even bigger than this world’: Young children thinking about numbers through their mathematical graphics
Elizabeth Carruthers, Alf Coles and Janet Rose
Chapter 4 ‘Let’s roll the dice’: Exploring amounts, counting, transcoding and the investigation of invariance and variance
Aljoscha Jakob Jegodtka, Lilith Schechner and Kelly Johnston
Part 3 Measuring
Chapter 5 Harry’s line work
Bob Perry, Sue Dockett, Elspeth Harley, Sonya Joseph, Marie Hage and Oliver Thiel
Chapter 6 ‘It’s a lot of work’: A tailor’s measuring tape in the dollhouse
Maria Figueiredo, Luis Menezes, Helena Gomes, Ana Patrícia Martins, António Ribeiro, Myriam Marchese, Isabel Soares and Lynne Zhang
Part 4 Locating
Chapter 7 Fantastic Mr Fox
Anne Hj. Nakken, Camilla N. Justnes, Oda Bjerknes and Simone Dunekacke
Chapter 8 Ghost stairs and a ghost tree
Elena Severina, Andreas Lade and Zoi Nikiforidou
Part 5 Designing
Chapter 9 Building bridges between maths and arts
Lucía Casal de la Fuente, Carol Gillanders, Rosa María Vicente Álvarez and Camilla N. Justnes
Chapter 10 Geometry learning of children in digital activities
Ahmet Sami Konca, Sema Baydilli and Elena Severina
Part 6 Playing
Chapter 11 ‘This is the safe. It has a number and no one else knows it’: Playing with mathematics
Maulfry Worthington, Elizabeth Carruthers and Lone Hattingh
Part 7 Conclusion
Chapter 12 Reaping the benefits of reflexive research and practice in early childhood mathematics education: Continuing the conversation
Oliver Thiel, Elena Severina and Bob Perry
Index
Biography
Oliver Thiel is Associate Professor at Queen Maud University College for Early Childhood Education, Norway.
Elena Severina is Associate Professor at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway.
Bob Perry is Emeritus Professor, Charles Sturt University, Australia.
"This relevant and timely book situates research and practice in the field of early childhood education. Its international context demonstrates the power of collaborative study and writing. The mathematical content is structured by using Bishop’s six universal activities. Connecting these mathematical ideas with classroom activities offers the reader a novel perspective on both early childhood research and practice." - Alan J. Bishop, Emeritus Professor, Monash University, Australia
