Children\'s Mathematics

Conclusion

We have shown the importance of giving children daily opportunities for child-ini-

tiated play and learning. Well planned and valued by the teacher, this time can

provide a basis for children to explore aspects of learning that are of significance to

them personally and rich opportunities for observations. Provided the choices are

wide and the environment offers mathematical possibilities, children will often

choose to explore aspects of mathematics. The examples in this chapter show some

of the ways teachers can provide opportunities for mathematical choices. We have

also discussed features of an open classroom where in adult-led situations the chil-

dren can also explore their own mathematical representations.

Implications for teaching

• It is useful to take an audit of your environment; how mathematical is it?


• Identify an area that you might develop.


• It is better to start with just one thing you would like to change and observe this
  for future development.
  In Chapter 9 we include case studies of both child-initiated play and mathematics
  lessons which provided opportunities for children to use mathematical graphics in
  their own ways. The children are aged from 3 to 8 years.

Further Reading

Environments

• Brooker, L. (2002) Starting School: Young Children’s Learning Cultures. Buckingham:
  Open University Press.


• Bruce, T. (2004) Developing Learning in Early Childhood.London: Paul Chapman.


• Hall, N. and Robinson, A. (1995) Exploring Writing and Play in the Early Years.
  London: David Fulton.


• Moyles, J. (1989) Just Playing? The Role and Status of Play in Early Childhood Educa-
  tion.Buckingham: Open University Press.


• Tucker, K. (2005) Mathematics through Play in the Early Years, London: Paul
  Chapman.


• Wood, E. and Attfield, J. (2005) Play, Learning and the Early Childhood Curriculum,
  London: Paul Chapman.

Young children’s drawing and painting

• Anning, A. and Ring, K. (2004) Making Sense of Children’s Drawings.Buckingham:
  Open University Press.


• Matthews, J. (1999) The Art of Childhood and Adolescence: The Construction of
  Meaning. London: Falmer.


• Matthews, J. (2003) Drawing and Painting: Children and Visual Representation(2nd
  edn.) London: Paul Chapman.

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