The mathematics skills of children in preschool has an impact on their success in math when they enter kindergarten, according to a new study. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, was conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri and involved 112 preschoolers who were at the verge of failing in school.
The study revealed that preschoolers who could better understand number words such as counting words and comprehend the quantities associated with the counting words were more likely to be successful in math come kindergarten, reported EurekAlert. Additionally, preschoolers who understood addition and subtraction were found to be more adept at math when they finished preschool and reached kindergarten.
Kindergarteners' math success hinges on preschool skills:https://t.co/d2FLtaj56j#prek #preschool #kinderchat pic.twitter.com/BqKO3PQh6T
— Erikson Early Math (@eriksonmath) August 8, 2016
"Kids who better understand the value of number words have an implicit understanding of addition and subtraction and are more fluent at processing numbers going into kindergarten," said David Geary, as per KTTS. Geary is the Curators' Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science at the University of Missouri.
Science Daily quoted Geary as saying that the preschool math curriculum covers a range of topics. However, some topics in the curriculum might not be that important and the research team wanted to find out what the necessary math concepts in the curriculum are.
According to a report from Indian Express, the preschoolers involved in the study were asked to complete several math tasks in order to determine their skills such as tasks to draw out non-symbolic math skills, symbolic quantitative skills and calculation skills. The preschoolers were also reportedly tested on their knowledge on number words, addition and subtraction.
Geary and fellow researchers examined the math skills of the preschoolers at the start of preschool year and again when the school year ended. The researchers will continue following the preschoolers up to when they reach first grade in this continuing study, which has a period of four years.
