(PDF) Effective early childhood care and education

Running head: FOSTERING LEARNING IN EARLY YEARS 1
Fostering Learning in Early Years
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FOSTERING LEARNING IN EARLY YEARS 2
Part 1: Introduction
Numeracy, when incorporated in different learning areas encourages children to develop
mathematical capabilities and able to use numeracy outside class. Incorporating numeracy into
literature help children to become better creative thinkers, problem-solving capabilities and be
able to use mathematics to meet various expectations of life and society (McGregor, 2013). In
part two of this paper, I will explain the impact of the use of mathematics learning through the use of
children`s literature and how this is done while addressing its limitation. Part three of this paper will
create objects for number s` post while part four will provide descriptions and rationale for the objects
selected in part 3. Incorporating numeracy into English help children to apply quantitative
information, interpret, make predictions and understand texts and written language. This paper is
useful in providing an extensive connection between children`s literature and mathematics to foster
critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities in children.
Part Two: Discussion of Mathematical Learning Through Children`s
Literature
Incorporating numeracy into literature help children to become better creative thinkers, and
develop problem-solving capabilities. However, on most occasions, it becomes hard for children
to comprehend numbers as well as interpret them when presented to them (Warren, Miller &
Cooper, 2012). For children to grasp these ideas, trainee teachers ought to be aware of how they
come to understand and interpret them. This involves simple fractions, mastery in learning
mathematics and roman numerals (Jazima & Rahmawatia, 2017). It is necessary to come up with
strategies and new ideas on how to make them understand and operate numbers.
Mathematics becomes interesting when connected to a story. Through a book or story,
children can realize that mathematics surrounds them every day (Burns, 2004). With what they

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learn from a book, they manage to connect the concepts with the outside world. The book by
Morgan and Kwaymullina (2016) offers an interesting story on how Joey learns to count through
observation of the beautiful wildlife surrounding him in the Australian bush. The book
mesmerizes children as it introduces them to iconic Australian animals, phrases of days, changes
in weather and various outback sounds. The book shows how one can count to ten, and the
kangaroo mother asks her what she sees, and she gives a number of the number of lizards and
crocodiles among other animals. Children are intuitively drawn to maths. Kangaroo mother
systematically engages Joey in helping him make sense out of the surrounding environment.
Through the way it has been nurtured on a playful way, as seen from the Joey case, children can
grow up with a perception that mathematics is a useful tool to make life fun and solve daily
problems that may arise (Jimenez & Kemmery, 2013; Moir, 2014). Teaching mathematics
through connections to children literature provides tools to the children to be flexible thinkers
and be able to successfully compete for math assignments when it comes to class and solving
real-world problems. It is important to note that the number keeps on increasing. Literature for
better understanding in mathematics means involving a story with addition or subtraction. A
story could involve ducks been added together. This strategy is easier for a child to remember.
When mathematics is learned or taught through literature, there are some expected
outcomes or rather the effects. According to Ladhams (2005), children literature provides a
meaningful framework for mathematical content. Mathematical concepts are well explained
through literature. It also increases the level of interest. In addition to that, it also promotes
critical thinking thus enabling the children to become problem solvers. Incorporation of
numeracy in children`s literature has made the subject more interesting and easy to understand
(Clerke, Clerke, & Sullivan, 2012). Literature has helped develop the sense of numbers in

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children. Images seen are easier to remember than words said. Vale et al., (2010) explain that
when it comes to children, what they see may take some time before it is erased from the long-
term memory and in most cases some children never forget. It is possible to develop a song from
a story, and the connection between the two makes it easier.
Lessons learned from Joey Counts to Ten is on sequencing and narrations as it describes
the sequence of events from point A to another offering rhythm of life in a bush as Joey and his
mum goes about their day. Children are also able to speech sounds, write down numbers for
instance 1 to 10 and write them down using alphabetical letters. In addition, children can use
vocabulary to understand meanings in different contexts. Joeys Counts to Tens helps children to
understand the use of weather vocabulary and understand meanings between texts. Children can
expand their knowledge about animals and sounds and write them down. Children are also able
to develop creative minds
Measurements help to develop children`s confidence and capabilities in mathematics. A
study by Haylock and Cockburn explain that teachers can develop children`s understanding of
conservation and mathematical language by enabling them to play (2013). Exposing children
early in conservation in measurement will help give them invaluable experience in measurements
in coming years. Children can measure their weight, heights, and weight of objects and explore
what is bigger or heavier than the others. According to (Kefaloukos & Bobis, 2011),
measurement activities and play offer children with an opportunity to deal with big ideas,
interpret situations and even record for later reference. A study by Clarke, Clarke, and Sullivan
(2012) adds that conservation may be introduced early to children as it helps deal with
misconceptions about, for instance, being big is correlated to being heavy which is in contrary

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with the learning of volumes. Other activities recommended is playing Doug and more or less
sand.
Strengths
Literature approach has its strengths. It encourages a higher level of thinking skills thus.
Learners who learn words contextually can connect and grow deeper skills for acute analysis. It
also helps appreciate the use of literature as well as learn it. Apart from that, literature helps
improve communication skills. The more the learner uses literature, they can learn words, how to
pronounce them and add to their vocabulary. This task helps improve how they communicate
(Haylock and Cockburn, 2013; Pitt, Luger, Bullen, & Phillips, 2013). Literature has helped
students learn more about the people around them; their way of life, culture, and society. In
connection to that, they can appreciate all cultures and embrace them all thus empathy. However,
visual literacy is essential in recognizing various patterns and colors.
Limitations
Nevertheless, some limitations come along with the use of mathematics in children
literature. It might foster some misconceptions that are limited. Teaching a literacy text is much
harder than teaching individual words. Learners are different thus have different paces of
learning. For instance, not every child will be able to assimilate the meanings of the contents and
images when looking at the drawings in the book; Joey counts to ten. This makes it difficult for
teachers even structure class time (Burns, 2004). As a result, too much time since the teacher
trainee has to move with the pace of every learner. Selecting the appropriate text can become a

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point of concern especially when the groups are in different levels (Skemp, n.d). It is hard
coming up with material that will best suit every learner.
Part 3: Object by the Number Poster
The post has numbers 1 to 10 with objects that correspond to the numbers that are easy for
learners to count.