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Repeating Pattern Competencies in Three- to Five-Year Old Kindergartners: A Closer Look at Strategies

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Book cover Contemporary Research and Perspectives on Early Childhood Mathematics Education

Part of the book series: ICME-13 Monographs ((ICME13Mo))

Abstract

Activities with repeating patterns are common and important in early childhood education. Recent studies even show a (positive) relationship between early patterning competencies and arithmetical achievement at school. Nevertheless, there is insufficient research about the strategies children employ when completing patterning activities and about the development of these competencies in young children. This paper reports data from an explorative study that tracks six children’s patterning development from their first to third year of German kindergarten. Three task- and material-based interviews are conducted over the course of two years. Results suggest that significant development takes place in children’s repeating pattern competencies between the age of three and four years. Furthermore, strategy categories for describing children’s construction of repeating patterns are developed.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Alicia Neumann for providing her much valued view on the children’s strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany

    Miriam M. Lüken

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  1. Miriam M. Lüken
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Correspondence to Miriam M. Lüken .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Iliada Elia

  2. Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Joanne Mulligan

  3. Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Ann Anderson

  4. Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Anna Baccaglini-Frank

  5. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Education Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Christiane Benz

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Lüken, M.M. (2018). Repeating Pattern Competencies in Three- to Five-Year Old Kindergartners: A Closer Look at Strategies. In: Elia, I., Mulligan, J., Anderson, A., Baccaglini-Frank, A., Benz, C. (eds) Contemporary Research and Perspectives on Early Childhood Mathematics Education. ICME-13 Monographs. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73432-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73432-3_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-73431-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-73432-3

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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