80154 NUMERACY FOR THE YOUNG CHILD

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
00	80154 	S1  	D 	NUMERACY FOR THE YOUNG CHI	1.00

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: N. GEOGHEGAN
Moderator: A. PETRIWSKYJ

RATIONALE:

From infancy, children are actively engaged in acquiring basic concepts which allow the organisation and categorisation of information. Through interaction with the environment during everyday activities, children construct and test these concepts which include concepts of mathematics. It is important that adults such as parents and caregivers who are influential in the early years of a child's life have an understanding of how young children develop mathematical knowledge so that appropriate experiences may be provided to encourage such development. Additionally an awareness of the development of mathematical language, fundamental mathematical concepts and skills, and the sequence of the discipline knowledge of mathematics is necessary.


SYNOPSIS:

This unit examines the development of mathematical concepts and skills in children from birth to eight years. Emphasis is given to the types of learning experiences which encourage the young child's exploration and acquisition of the fundamental concepts, attitudes, and skills involved in emerging numeracy.


OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the teaching and learning
    theories associated with mathematical development in young
    children;
  2. Apply such theories to the development of appropriate learning
    and assessment activities;
  3. Explain the role of language in teaching and learning
    mathematics;
  4. Utilise an appropriate mathematical language for teaching and
    learning mathematics;
  5. Describe a range of learning environments and materials for
    young children which enhance mathematical learning;
  6. Explain the importance of play in mathematical learning;
  7. Describe mathematical learning opportunities which may be
    provided through structured and unstructured preschool
    activities;
  8. Critically evaluate various materials to assess their
    usefulness;
  9. Identify the fundamental mathematical concepts, skills and
    attitudes which young children usually develop from birth to
    eight years;
  10. Explain the various higher-level mathematical concepts which
    young children may develop;
  11. Describe problem-solving applications for young children which
    foster their mathematical learning;
  12. Identify the mathematical skills developed by young children
    during the preoperational period;
  13. List ways in which parents may encourage mathematical learning
    in young children at home.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
  1. The development of math concepts 15.00

  2. The role of language in teaching and learning methods 15.00

  3. The role of materials in developing mathematics thinking 10.00

  4. Fundamental mathematical concepts, attitudes, and skills 10.00

  5. Applications of fundamental concepts and skills 10.00

  6. Mathematical learning through play 10.00

  7. Sets and number symbol skills 10.00

  8. Higher-level activities and concepts 10.00

  9. Young children and problem solving 5.00

  10. Parents and maths in the home 5.00


TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Charlesworth, R. 1996, Experiences in Math for Young Children,
Delmar, New York.


RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Australian Early Childhood Association 1990, Australian Journal of
Early Childhood
, vol. 15, no. 1.

Baker, D., Semple, C. & Stead, T. 1992, How Big is the Moon. Whole
Maths in Action.
, Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Baratta-Lorton, Mary. 1979 Workjobs II: Number Activities for Early
Childhood
. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.

Bickmore-Brand, J. (ed). 1990 Language in mathematics. Carlton
South, VIC: Australian Reading Association.

Charlesworth, R. 1999, Experiences in Math for Young Children, 4th
edn, Delmar, New York.

Charlesworth, R. 1996 Experiences in Math for Young Children, 3rd
Edition. Albany, New York: Delmar Publishers Inc.

Edwards, D. 1990, Maths in Context: A Thematic Approach, South
Yarra: Eleanor Curtain.

Elliott, A. 1996 Learning with Computers, Australian Early Childhood
Association: Watson, ACT.

Elliott, Alison. 1990 Computer-based Mathematical Experiences in an
Early Intervention Program. Australian Journal of Early Childhood 15
(3), 37-45.

Fleer, M. 1989, Jig Saw Puzzles, Australian Early Childhood
Association.

Fry, Ian. 1992 Rediscovering Unit Blocks. Watson, ACT: Australian
Early Childhood Association, Inc.

Hawthorne, W. 1992, Young Children and Mathematics, Australian Early
Childhood Association Inc.

Labinowicz, Ed. 1985 Learning From Children: New Beginnings for
Teaching Numerical Thinking
. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley
Publishing Company, Inc.

Mannigel, D. 1998. Young Children as Mathematicians. 2nd edn.
Wentworth Falls, NSW: Social Science Press.

Martin, R. & Wilkinson, L. 1989, The Language of Mathematics: A
Teacher Resource Book
, Martin International.

Moomaw, S. & Hieronymus, B. 1995, More Than Counting, St Paul:
Redleaf.

Morrow, Jan. 1989 Maths is Childsplay. Essex: Longman Group UK Ltd.

Perry, B. & Conroy, J. 1994. Early Childhood and Primary
Mathematics
. Sydney, NSW: Harcourt Brace.

Skinner, Penny. 1990 What's Your Problem?: Posing and Sovling
Mathematical Problems in Junior Classes
. South Melbourne, VIC: Thomas
Nelson Australia.

Tertini, Judy. 1995 Mathematics for the Very Young: A Resource Book.
New edn. Sydney: Martin Educational.

Tertini, Judy. 1989 Maths Games To Make and Play. Sydney: Martin
Educational.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc. 1990
Mathematics for the young child. Reston: Va.

Thyer, D & Maggs, J. 1991 Teaching mathematics to young children,
Third Edition. London: Cassell Educational Limited.

Welchman-Tischler, Rosamond. 1992 How to Use Children's Literature to
Teach Mathematics
.Reston, Virginia: The National Council of Teachers
of Mathematics.


STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Directed Study                                	80
Private Study                                 	40
Assessments                                   	45

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              WK 9      DESIGN & EVAL OF PIECE OF MATH EQUIP      40.00     Y   N
2   S              WK 16     DESIGN OF A NUMERACY PROGRAM              60.00     Y   N

*F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    Practicum 2 x 10 days P/F
2    When  there  is  more  than  one marker  for  a  single  item  of
     assessment, the distribution patterns and means for the different
     markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
3    Marking   criteria  are  provided  in  unit  material   as   mark
     sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
4    Summative  assessment  items will be  given  a  numerical  score.
     Ungraded summative assessment will be given either Pass, Fail  or
     Incomplete.
5    Unit Grades will be calculated by aggregating the weighted result
     or  numerical  score  for  each summative  assessment  item.  Any
     ungraded  assessment requirement will receive  a  Pass,  Fail  or
     Incomplete.
6    All  assessment  items  must  be attempted/submitted.  Assessment
     items must by passed overall.
7    If  assignments  are  submitted after the  due  date  without  an
     approved extension of time, a penalty of 10% of the mark for  the
     assessment   item  will  apply  for  each  day  late.  Assignment
     Extension Requests must be completed and submitted for approval.
8    Full  participation in all scheduled classes is needed to  fulfil
     the  requirements of this unit. Attendance sheets must be  signed
     at  each  workshop or tutorial. Failure to reach an 80% level  of
     attendance   in  workshops  and  tutorials  without   appropriate
     documentary evidence may result in failure of the unit.
9    Results for this unit will not be released until field experience
     and/or CFS/AFE have been completed and documentation processed.

This information is accurate as at 31/10/00