Fostering Numeracy Learning in Early Years: Children's Literature

This report investigates the integration of numeracy and children's literature to foster mathematical capabilities in early years education. It examines how incorporating numeracy into literature enhances creative thinking and problem-solving skills, while addressing potential limitations. The report discusses strategies for using children's literature, such as "Joey Counts to Ten," to teach number recognition, counting, and the application of mathematical concepts in real-world contexts. It then describes the creation and rationale behind object-based number posters (e.g., family members, ducks, frogs), linking them to the Australian Curriculum learning outcomes. Strengths and limitations of the approach are discussed. The report emphasizes the importance of visual aids, such as the Giraffe Frame and the Number Frame, to aid in memorization and reinforce numeracy concepts. The report concludes by highlighting how children can develop intellectual skills when drawing their thinking and providing an environment to enrich their language.

Running head: FOSTERING LEARNING IN EARLY YEARS 1
Fostering Learning in Early Years
Student`s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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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.

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The Giraffe
Children can see the visual aspect of the object, for instance, long neck, four legs, one
tail.

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Selected Data Facts

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Selected 3 data facts
The above image would best be used in counting. The image shows members of the family. It
would be easier for the learner to connect between the members of the family they know with the
counting itself. Some of the questions to engage the learners include:
What can you see in the picture?
Who has a brother or a sister?
How many family members are in your family?
How many people can you see in the picture?
Which number can you see in the picture?
Touch the people you see one by one as you count.

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The above poster would play a significant role in assisting the learners in counting. There
are two ducks in each pool of water.
The children could start to buy counting the number of pools.
Followed by identifying how many ducks are in each tool.
After identifying they would count the total number of ducks.
Alternatively, it is possible to point at each duck as the learners say the numbers. When the first
duck is pointed, they say one, the second the say two, so on and so forth until the six ducks are
all pointed.
One learner could be selected to take the rest of the class through the same procedure as the
teacher to enhance understanding.

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The frogs are not good friends with the children. Nevertheless, there are those that are not
afraid of them. Children find pleasure in drawing. They could be asked to draw what they see.
Better still they could be given drawings with the three frogs and asked to use marking pencils to
color or shade with the color availed by the teacher to provide something similar if not the exact.
They could be asked to shade one at a time. This task could help enhance their understanding as
it is hard for them to forget. The pointing method could also be used. Once the teacher points on
one they all shout the number loudly up to three. Children use visual arts to enhance spatial
reasoning, measurement and data Interpretation which helps develop critical and analytical
thinking.
Different Shapes and colors

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Part 4: Prompts: Object by the Numbers
Brief description and Rationale for the book
There are those students that can solve addition and subtraction problem if given an
opportunity to dramatize the story, use concrete materials or drawing a picture to show their
understanding. A study conducted on aboriginal children indicated that children not only found
the session exciting but also rich in language and essential in gaining a deeper understanding of
specific mathematical words (Kefaloukos & Bobis, 2011). These experiences help the student to
develop intellectual skills when `drawing their thinking` and prove them with an environment to
enrich their language. In the book, Joey counts to ten,; children can be able to recognize and
identify numbers, count animals on the pictures and using the one to one principle, they can
match the count up to the last number. Children can visualize key features in the environment,
count the number of animals as they can see them in the picture and understand, Australian
animals, phrases of days, changes in weather and various outback sounds. In addition, children
can read these numbers one to ten, develop the abilities to write down numbers these numbers
using alphabetical letters.