Developmental and Educational Psychology; Education
Abstract :
[en] Early arithmetic skills, and in particular the understanding of the part-whole relationship, are currently considered crucial for future arithmetic achievement. They are complex skills extending far beyond the mastery of counting procedures. In order to develop these arithmetic skills in kindergarten children, we developed a game-based approach using conventional card and board games adapted to the targeted mathematical objectives. The present study examines the effects on the arithmetic skills of this game-based approach. Individual pre-and post-tests were administered to 194 children (5–6 years old) from four countries (play-based group n = 104 and control group n = 90). Our findings show that the learning outcomes of the game-based group were significantly higher than those of the control group after the intervention. The game-based group showed improvements in arithmetic skills, and in particular those relating to the part-part-whole relation. The intervention also resulted in all pupils, regardless of their initial proficiency level and including those regarded as ‘at risk’, making more progress than those in the control group. These results demonstrate the possibility of developing complex mathematical learning effectively in preschool in a manner consistent with the needs and interests of young children.
Disciplines :
Education & instruction
Author, co-author :
Vlassis, Joëlle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'éducation > Analyse des systèmes et pratiques d'enseignement ; Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Baye, Ariane ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'éducation > Gestion de la diversité et lutte contre le décrochage et l'exclusion dans les systèmes d'enseignement et de formation
Auquière, Amélie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centres généraux > IFRES - SMART (Système Méthodologique d'Aide à la Réalisation de Tests)
de Chambrier, Anne-Françoise; Teaching and Research Unit in Special Education, University of Teacher Education of State of Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland
Dierendonck, Christophe ; Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Giauque, Nadine; Teaching and Research Unit in Special Education, University of Teacher Education of State of Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland
Kerger, Sylvie; Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Luxembourger, Christophe; Department of Psychology, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
Poncelet, Débora; Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Tinnes-Vigne, Mélanie; Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Tazouti, Youssef ; Department of Psychology, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
Fagnant, Annick ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'éducation > Didactique générale et intervention éducative
Language :
English
Title :
Developing arithmetic skills in kindergarten through a game-based approach: a major issue for learners and a challenge for teachers
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