Early Mathematics Education: A Plea for Mathematically Founded Conceptions

Virginia Kinnear, Erich Wittmann

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

What is mathematics and what is mathematics education in early childhood? This theoretical chapter draws attention to distinctions and relationships between applied and pure mathematics and provides a provocation for considering what each offers when evaluating the authenticity of mathematical activity. The implications of these differences in how mathematics education are positioned and framed in early childhood are discussed using a number of examples to illustrate this. The chapter challenges perceptions by educators that mathematical experiences for prior-to-school learning must be contextualized in ‘everyday’ experiences and offers other ways of connecting young children’s mathematical education to mathematics as a system with structure and abstract forms and patterns. The chapter draws attention to and pleads for mathematically founded conceptions to underpin the context and content of early childhood mathematics education.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationForging Connections in Early Mathematics Teaching and Learning
EditorsVirginia Kinnear, Mun Yee Lai, Tracey Muir
Place of PublicationSingapore
PublisherSpringer
Chapter2
Pages17-35
Number of pages19
ISBN (Electronic)9789811071539
ISBN (Print)9789811071515
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Publication series

NameEarly Mathematics Learning and Development
PublisherSpringer

Keywords

  • Mathematical structure
  • Conceptual understanding
  • Design
  • Mathematics activities
  • Play
  • Pure and applied mathematics
  • Early childhood

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