Week 6 Reading

Week 6

12 September 2013

Tags: Mathematical development, mathematical experiences, numeracy opportunities, alphabet recognition, iPad

Readings

What?

The readings I chose to do this week include ‘Recognising Mathematical Development in Early Childhood Education’ and ‘The use of an iPad to Promote Pre-schooler’s Alphabet Recognition and Letter Sound Correspondence’. I chose the numeracy reading to increase my knowledge and understanding of numeracy in the early years from last week. The literacy numeracy I found on the database link in the flinders library and I found it very interesting. The iPad has become such a huge part of education and when I came across the reading I thought it would be great to summarise it.

So what?

Numeracy

As educators in early childhood, we need to ensure that we always keep in mind that early numeracy concepts involves more than just numbers, especially in the preschool years when children participate in practical daily activities encounter measurement, pattern, position and movement in space. For young children, numbers mean more in the context of activities. A very important quote from the readings that really stood out to me is “that becoming a mathematician starts at birth”. It is important that we provide the children with social and playful interaction and this enables adults’ understanding of the child’s viewpoint. Numeracy experiences tend to be a part of a range of activities. For example sorting and matching can exist in:

·         Singing a known song

·         Thinking about the sequence of a story in a picture book

·         Helping to put away the blocks

Literacy

The iPad is certainly starting to become a huge part of most educational settings. It is such a versatile device as it can be used in almost every part of learning across all year levels. Applications on the iPad such as the ABC Matching Game, Alphabet Learn, Alphabet Tracing, and ABC go go, etc, are all great for pre-schooler’s to use and to help promote their alphabet recognition. An example of one of the games includes ‘The ABC Matching Game’ which involves the child having a picture of something and then next to it the letters of the picture all mixed up, and then child can tap on each letter and the app will say the letter and then the child needs to put the letters in order.

Now what?

As educators we need to ensure that discussion of the mathematics involved needs to be shared in conversation with the children who should be encouraged to match practical experience with appropriate language. It is important to have numeracy-learning opportunities available across the whole day.

The use of an iPad has proven to help children, especially struggling readers, to learn independently and encouraged the development of positive attitudes such as, ‘I can do it’. Another positive point about the use of an iPad is the development of technology skills which supports young children’s early literacy development through natural movements and use of fingers to tap, swipe, drag, pinch, and stretch icons or texts. iPads not only serve as a teaching tool but also have motivating power. The iPad offers versatility with great potential for teachers who identify and make sure of multiple applications in the classroom.

Reference List

Huan, S., Clark, N., & Wedel, W. (2013). Teaching Tips: The Use of an iPad to Promote Preschooler’s Alphabet Recognition and Letter Sound Correspondence. Practically Primary, Vol. 18, No. 1, 24 – 26.

Carrington, A., & Feder, T. (2013). Recognising Mathematical Development in Early Childhood Education. Every Child, Vol. 19, No. 1, 18 – 19.