Skip to main content

Mathematics Teachers Responding to Children’s Resources to Create Learning for All

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Mathematics and Transition to School

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on how teachers respond to children’s resources and their mathematical thinking as they transfer from preschool to primary school. The theoretical framework builds on sociocultural theories. The area of investigation is individuals changing their ways of understanding, perceiving, noticing, and thinking as they collaborate with others. Thus, the emphasis is on classroom cultures and learning environments that promote mathematical learning where all children have a voice and are supported to develop their understanding. The methodological approach comprises narrative inquiry and analysis. Through focus group interviews, narratives are gathered from teachers who work with children in preschool and the early primary grades. We learned that what characterises these teachers is their belief that all children can learn mathematics if learning spaces are created that respect the children’s resources. The teachers analyse children’s mathematical resources and respond to what they bring with them to school as they organise classroom cultures and develop supportive mathematical learning environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ainscow, M. (2007). Foreword. In P. Bartolo (Ed.), Responding to student diversity: teacher handbook (pp. xi–xii). Malta: Faculty of Education, University of Malta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ásgeirsdóttir, M. (2009). Stærðfræðiþrautir. Þrautakennsla í fjölhæfum bekk. Flatarmál, 16(2), 18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, T. (2010). How should we live together? Inclusion as a framework of values for educational development. Keynote presentation at Dokumentation Internationale Fachtagung, Berlin, June 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner, J. (1996). The culture of education. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, T., Fennema, E., & Franke, M. L. (1995). Children’s thinking about whole numbers. Madison: Wisconsin Center for Educational Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, T., Fennema, E., Franke, M. L., Levi, L., & Empson, S. B. (1999). Children’s mathematics: Cognitively guided instruction. Portsmouth: Heineman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, T., Franke, M. L., & Levi, L. (2003). Thinking mathematically: integrating arithmetic & algebra in elementary school. Portsmouth: Heineman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clandinin, D. J. (2013). Engaging in narrative inquiry. Walnut Creek: Left Coast.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clements, D. H., Sarama, J., & DiBiase, A.-M. (2004). Engaging young children in mathematics: Standards for early childhood mathematics education. Mahwah: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochran-Smith, M., & Lytle, S.L. (2009). Inquiry as stance. Practitioner research for the next generation. New York: Teachers College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuffaro, H. K. (1996). Dramatic play: the experience of block building. In E. S. Hirsch (Ed.), The block book (3rd edn. pp. 75-102). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J. (1966). Democracy and education. New York: Macmillan, Free.

    Google Scholar 

  • Empson, S. B., & Levi, L. (2011). Extending children’s mathematics: Fractions and deci mals. Portsmouth: Heineman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema, E., Carpenter, T., Franke, M. L., Levi, L., Jacobs, V. R., & Empson, S. B. (1996). A longitudinal study of learning to use children’s thinking in mathematics instruction. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 27, 403–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullan, M. (1999). Change forces: The sequel. Philadelphia: Falmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, H. (1993). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences (2nd edn.). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • González, N., Moll, L. C., & Amanti, C. (Eds.). (2005). Funds of knowledge: Theorizing practices in households, communities, and classrooms. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guðjónsdóttir, H. (2000). Responsive professional practice: teachers analyze the theoretical and ethical dimensions of their work in diverse classrooms. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Eugene: University of Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guðjónsdóttir, H., & J. V. Kristinsdóttir. (2011). Team teaching about mathematics for all: Collaborative self-study. In S. Schuck & P. Pereira (Eds.), What counts in teaching mathematics (pp. 29–44). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkien, H., Huttunen, R., & Syrjalaa, L. (2007). Action research as narrative: Five principles for validation. Educational Action Research, 15(1), 5–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiebert, J., Carpenter, T. P., Fennema, E., Fuson, K. C., Wearne, D., Murray, H., Olivier, A., & Human, P. (1997). Making sense. Teaching and learning mathematics with understanding. Portsmouth: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, S. (2010). Analysing and representing narrative data: The long and winding road. Current Narratives, 1(2), 44–54. http://ro.uow.edu.au/currentnarratives/vol1/iss2/5. Accessed 23 July 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristinsdóttir, J. V. (2010). Teachers’ development in mathematics teaching through reflective discussions. In B. Sriraman, C. Bergsten, S. Goodchild, G. Pálsdóttir, B. D. Søndergaard, & L. Haapasalo (Eds.), The first sourcebook on Nordic research in mathematics education (pp. 487–494). Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, J. (2002). Researching your own practice. the discipline of noticing. London: Routledge Falmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menntamálaráðuneytið. (1997). Brúum bilið. Rit um tengsl leikskóla og grunnskóla. Reykjavík: Menntamálaráðuneytið.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. (2005). Transformative mathematics pedagogy: from theory to practice, research, and beyond. In A. J. Rodriguez & R. S. Kitchen (Eds.), Preparing mathematics and science teachers for diverse classrooms (pp. 183–202). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, B., Dockett, S., & Harley, E. (2007). Learning stories and children’s powerful mathematics. Early childhood, research and practice, 9(2). http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v9n2/perry.html. Accessed 12 June 2013.

  • Piaget, J. (1969). The child’s conception of number (4th edn.). (Ed. C. K. Ogden; trans: C. Gattegno & F. M. Hodgson). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, C. (1948). I learn from children: An adventure in progressive education. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugach, M. C. (2005) Research on preparing general education teachers to work with students with disabilities. In M. Cochran-Smith & K. M. Zeichner (Eds.), Studying teacher education: The report of AERA panel on research and teacher education. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, J. (2009). Inventing the chartered teacher. In S. Gerwirtz, P. Mahony, I. Hextall, & A. Cribb (Eds.), Changing teacher professionalism: International trends, challenges and ways forward (pp. 106–116). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, T. L. (2007) Language, culture, and resistance as resource: Case studies of bilingual/bicultural Latino prospective elementary teachers and the crafting of teaching practices. Unpublished doctoral thesis: University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarama, J., & Clements, D. H. (2009). Early childhood mathematics education research: Learning trajectories for young children. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skúladóttir, K. 2009. Gaman, gaman—samvinna kennara og breyttir kennsluhættir. Flatarmál, tímarit samtaka stærðfræðikennara, 16(2), 29–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trahar, S. (2009). Beyond the story itself: Narrative inquiry and autoethnography in intercultural research in higher education. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 10(1): Art 30. Available at: http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1218/2654 (consulted November 2013)

  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes, (Eds. and trans: M. Cole, V. John-Steiner, S. Scribner, & E. Souberman). Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertch, J. (1998). Mind as action. New York: Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, R. J., Martland, J., & Stafford, A. K. (2006). Early numeracy: Assessment for teaching and intervention (2nd ed.). London: Paul Chapman.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jónína Vala Kristinsdóttir .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kristinsdóttir, J., Guðjónsdóttir, H. (2015). Mathematics Teachers Responding to Children’s Resources to Create Learning for All. In: Perry, B., MacDonald, A., Gervasoni, A. (eds) Mathematics and Transition to School. Early Mathematics Learning and Development. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-215-9_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics