ERIC Number: EJ1198276
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Apr
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2158-2440
EISSN: N/A
Play-Based Mathematics Activities as a Resource for Changing Educator Attitudes and Practice
Cohrssen, Caroline; Church, Amelia; Tayler, Collette
SAGE Open, v6 n2 Apr 2016
This multiple case study explored early childhood educators' implementation of a suite of play-based mathematics activities with children aged 3 to 5 years in six different early childhood education and care programs in Melbourne, Australia. Educators approached the enactment of the activities differently; however, those educators who used the activities reasonably frequently and with attention to the underpinning mathematical concepts reported an increase in their self-confidence in supporting children's mathematical thinking. For these educators, increasing self-confidence, in conjunction with children's enthusiasm, led to increased frequency and further gains in self-confidence. Some educators did not implement the activities and no change in attitude was observed. New ways to support early childhood mathematics teaching practice, as a means to challenge entrenched attitudes and beliefs, are needed.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Mathematics Activities, Teacher Attitudes, Teaching Methods, Early Childhood Education, Foreign Countries, Mathematical Concepts, Mathematical Logic, Thinking Skills, Preschool Children, Preschool Teachers
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2814
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A