Enhancing mathematics teaching in early childhood education

Maggie Haynes, School of Education, Unitec Institute of Technology

Project Aims

The overall aim of the project is to conduct collaborative action research with three kindergartens to support them in investigating and improving a problem of teaching and learning related to mathematics and numeracy in their centres. The intention of this study is that it will enable each kindergarten teaching team to self-select a relevant issue in mathematics teaching and learning, and to focus on strategies for improvement.

Project Plan

Three individual action research projects will proceed simultaneously through phases of investigating a problem, intervening to bring about planned change, and evaluating the effectiveness of changed practice. It is a collaborative endeavour in which the researchers will act as facilitators of inquiry and action with the participants. As well as action research by the individual kindergarten teams the research will include cluster group meetings and both formal and informal visits to the centres by the researchers. The final stage of the project will deal with the amalgamation of single-site projects into a meta-analysis of significant findings.

Partnerships involved

• Avondale Kindergarten, Auckland
• Birdwood Kindergarten, Ranui, Auckland
• Don Buck Kindergarten, Massey, Auckland

Expected Outcomes

The project will:

• provide strategies for increasing the numeracy knowledge and skills of young children before entry to school
• allow teachers to create new knowledge and to better understand the pedagogical implications of their planning for children's mathematical thinking
• inform the partnership between teachers and their parent/whanau communities to benefit children's mathematical learning
• strengthen communication between early childhood teachers and teachers of junior classes in schools
• make a significant contribution to the growing field of action research methodology within early childhood education
• increase the dissemination of early childhood research from Aotearoa New Zealand within the international field.
    
  

Selected Publications

Download the summary of the project report [pdf, 56 KB]
Download the full text of the project report [pdf, 2214 KB]

Back to 2004 Projects

For more information email us or contact us at: PO Box 3237, Wellington, New Zealand.