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Children’s early numeracy in England, Finland and People’s Republic of China

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Aunio, Pirjo, Aubrey, Carol , Godfrey, Ray , Yuejuan, Pan and Liu, Yan. (2008) Children’s early numeracy in England, Finland and People’s Republic of China. International Journal of Early Years Education, Vol.16 (No.3). pp. 203-221. ISSN 0966-9760

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669760802343881

Abstract

This research investigated the similarities and differences between countries in young children’s early numeracy skills related to age, culture and gender. The participants were five-year-old children from Beijing (People’s Republic of China), England and Finland. The rationale for the cross-cultural comparison originates from the research results with older children showing that Asian children outperform children from America or Europe, and from the lack of such information concerning younger children. The results showed that in all locations the older children performed better than the younger children. Cultural differences were found: young children from Beijing outperformed those from England and Finland in overall early numeracy performance, as well as in sub-tests for understanding of quantities and relations (i.e. relational skills) and counting skills. Finnish children had better scores than English children in the whole early numeracy scale and in the relational scale. The results are discussed in relation to culture, instruction in preschools and learning support at home, as well as the effects of language characteristics. The culture’s appreciation of and approach to mathematics learning in early childhood is a plausible explanation for the cross-cultural differences found in this study.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education
L Education > L Education (General)

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education ( -2013)

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Numeracy, Cross-cultural studies, Gender identity, Early childhood education

Journal or Publication Title:

International Journal of Early Years Education

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

ISSN:

0966-9760

Official Date:

2008

Dates:

Date	Event
2008	Published

Volume:

Vol.16

Number:

No.3

Page Range:

pp. 203-221

Identification Number:

10.1080/09669760802343881

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

Description:

Version accepted by publisher (post-print, after peer review, before copy-editing).

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