Beyond Counting Accurately: A Longitudinal Study of Preschoolers' Emerging Understandings of the Structure of the Number Sequence

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Beyond Counting Accurately: A Longitudinal Study of Preschoolers' Emerging Understandings of the Structure of the Number Sequence
Language: English
Authors: Brandon G. McMillan (ORCID 0000-0003-0111-7887), Nicholas C. Johnson (ORCID 0000-0003-0368-122X), Jennifer Ricketts Schexnayder
Source: Mathematics Education Research Journal. 2024 36(2):425-442.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Young Children, Computation, Mathematics Skills, Number Concepts, Numeracy, Child Development
DOI: 10.1007/s13394-023-00453-1
ISSN: 1033-2170
2211-050X
Abstract: The development of young children's counting has been extensively researched, yet detailed studies that examine development over multiple years are curiously absent from the literature. This research examined 15 preschoolers' (ages 3-4) use of number words as they engaged in two counting tasks, an oral counting task and counting a collection of 31 pennies, at four time points over 2 years. This study highlights patterns in the development of a number word list for the 15 children and presents three cases that illustrate the ways in which development varied for different children over time. Findings indicate that children demonstrated emerging understandings of the structure of the number sequence within the teen numbers and beyond before consistently using the conventional, "correct" sequence. Implications for research and instruction include how assessment of mathematical tasks are conducted and coded to capture children's important understandings beyond accuracy as well as how the development of counting and mathematical practices are viewed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1426144
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The development of young children's counting has been extensively researched, yet detailed studies that examine development over multiple years are curiously absent from the literature. This research examined 15 preschoolers' (ages 3-4) use of number words as they engaged in two counting tasks, an oral counting task and counting a collection of 31 pennies, at four time points over 2 years. This study highlights patterns in the development of a number word list for the 15 children and presents three cases that illustrate the ways in which development varied for different children over time. Findings indicate that children demonstrated emerging understandings of the structure of the number sequence within the teen numbers and beyond before consistently using the conventional, "correct" sequence. Implications for research and instruction include how assessment of mathematical tasks are conducted and coded to capture children's important understandings beyond accuracy as well as how the development of counting and mathematical practices are viewed.
ISSN:1033-2170
2211-050X
DOI:10.1007/s13394-023-00453-1