Activities to Prepare a Child for Learning and Information Processing Theory in Solving Math Problems

Learn about the activities that can prepare a child for learning and information processing theory in solving math problems. Understand the importance of reading aloud, exposure to alphabetical books, nursery rhymes, invented spellings, and creating alphabets out of clay or play dough. Understand the information processing theory and its aspects in solving math problems. Get insights into short-term memory, serial processing of information, and long-term memory. Also, learn about a fun way to practice mental math problems.

Running head: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
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1DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Answer 3:
The first activity that can be adopted too prepare the child for learning is reading the
stories aloud to the child. Many researches have shown that children show a high quality in
reading activities when they feel emotionally secure as well as when they participate actively in
reading. When the stories are read aloud from the books, the children talk about the pictures
presented in the books, they retell the story, analyse and discuss their favourite part of the story
and request multiple readings. Such active participation helps build their vocabulary and can help
the children to get ready to learn.
The second activity can be exposing the child to alphabetical books and puzzles. In such
puzzles, the child is able to see the letters and compare the shapes of letters that help them
differentiate between different letters. This is a development appropriate activity because the
activity involves the development of alphabetic principle, which is a fundamental developmental
aspect of child in early years. Researches by Gibson and Levin have shown that children are able
to distinguish the letters through the different shapes of the letters. Parents and teachers can
encourage the child to compare the shapes of the letters and familiarize them with letters.
The third activity can be reading out poems, nursery rhymes and other rhythmic activities
to make the child linguistically aware. Researches have suggested that children show success in
reading when they are encouraged to practice nursery rhymes and play word games. In a study, it
was observed that three year-old children who had more knowledge of nursery rhymes showed
more phonological awareness later on in developmental years. Such kind of linguistic awareness
is effective in developing the child’s knowledge of language. Thus, reading out nursery rhymes
and practicing them would prepare the child to learn effectively in the upcoming years.

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The fourth activity can include the activity of invented spellings. Invented spelling is an
activity where the child can use his own version of spelling to spell out a word. They can wish to
use symbols that they associate with the sound and write according to their wish. For example, a
child can write his own spelling of book by using the letters “bk”. Some may say that invented
spelling may promote habits for poor spellings however, researches have shown that such kind of
temporary spelling may build habits of reading in a child. This is a developmentally appropriate
activity that helps build the linguistic skills of the child.
The fifth activity can be creating alphabets out of clay or play dough. The parent can
encourage the child to create letters and numbers out of clay or ply dough and arrange them in
order to create a word. This is a fun activity that can create interest in the child to play with
words and learn new words. This is a developmentally appropriate activity because three-year-
old children will be interested to play with clay that would ultimately help them in getting
prepared to learn how to read.
Answer 4:
Information processing theory is a theory developed by George Miller and other
American psychologists in the 1950s. It is a cognitive theory that highlights how information is
encoded in the memory. The theory describes the processes that are involved in the creation of
long-term memory. Information is first perceived in the sensory memory, then through proper
attention it is enters the short-term memory and lastly, through proper maintenance rehearsal it is
encoded in the long-term memory. This theory compares the human brain with that of the
computer where the information that we receive from the environment is the input that we give
to the computers, the CPU where information is processed is compared to the short-term memory
and the output or the hard-drive is compared to the long-term memory.

3DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Short-term memory also referred to as working memory is that aspect of information
processing model that is used while solving a math problem. The working memory is a crucial
cognitive ability, which is essential for carrying out daily tasks, remembering information as well
as complex reasoning. It is the working memory that helps an individual solve math problems as
the number sense of an individual is strengthened in the working memory. Individuals are able to
manipulate information through working memory. People classify, organize, and transform
information in the working memory. For example, if a child is asked to solve 8 + 6, then the
child will manipulate information to answer the problem, which takes place in the working
memory.
The second aspect of information processing model in solving a math problem is serial
processing of information. This means that one process has to be effectively completed before
moving on to the next task. In solving a math problem too, the individual has to first solve an
equation to move on to the next part of the equation. The process of solving takes places serially.
In practicing of homework, the student might try to solve the problems in a serial order to
understand the problem effectively and provide solutions correctly.
The third specific aspect of information processing model of solving a math problem is
the long term- memory. For example, when considering the same example of solving the
equation of 8 + 6, if the student is familiar with the equation, then he can trace back to his
memory and answer the question. He would provide the answer by stating that 8 + 6 equals to
14. The student has already mastered the problem before and therefore, he is able to answer it
instantly. When the answer is stated to be the correct response to the problem, then the memory
traces of the equation 8 + 6 = 14 is strengthened. It is important that this aspect be used in the
homework process as that would help in making learning easier.

4DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
A fun way to practice mental math problem is a game called mental mystery. Isabel’s
parents can ask her to count five small objects such as coins, candies or marbles and then have
her close her eyes. Her parents can then hide some objects and leave the rest uncovered. She has
to then calculate how many objects she can see and how many of them are covered. Once she
starts solving them quickly, the difficulty level can be increased by adding more than 10 objects.
This would be a fun way to improve mental math skills.