Blog 4 Mathematics in consumer town / Bridging the vocabulary gap

Playing with Literacy & Numeracy 0- 4       Blog 4              15/10/2013      http://cathysportfolio.blogspot.com.au  

What?

The connections made between the two readings of choice, highlight the use of Instructional learning in the first reading Bridging the Vocabulary Gap progressing to Constructional learning in the second reading ‘Shopping for Mathematics in Consumer Town’. Although their titles individually suggest it’s a literacy read and a numeracy read, they both interconnect the importance of vocabulary and numeracy development.

So What?

Bridging the Vocabulary Gap covers the critical aspects of understanding the text whether it relates to the example story used in the article or whether the story is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ (counting involvement). The importance of children understanding words impacts on their reading comprehension and academic success (Chali, Jacobs, and Baldwin (1990) highlighting the need for purposeful teaching of meanings, strategies and the opportunities through instruction to engage and self motivate children. ‘Shopping for Mathematics in Consumer Town’ scaffolds the learning through multiple exposures to numeracy and literacy. Bridging the Vocabulary Gap validates the use of multiple exposures for children’s the development of new vocabulary. Both articles suggest the child’s interest as key component.

Now What?

The article ‘Shopping for Mathematics in Consumer Town’ creatively incorporates young children’s understanding of literacy and numeracy in an environment of enjoyment and fun. Building a consumer town from cardboard, pictures and paper, the older children extended the younger children, through their own environment.  Younger children’s participation, making  decisions regarding the stalls, viewing the broad range of items, then spending their money (after taking out of the bank) offer the opportunity to risk take and be responsible whilst engaging in  Literacy and Numeracy extensions.

Cathy Stanbury

References

Wolff, A. & Wimer, N. (2009). Shopping for mathematics in consumer town. Young Children, May, 34-38.

Christ, T. & Wang, C. (2010). Bridging the vocabulary gap: What the research tells us about vocabulary instruction in early childhood. Young Children, July, 84-91.