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Helping children talk about shapes: A case study with ten children in the learning support programme
Citation
Ng, S. F. (2006). Helping children talk about shapes: A case study with ten children in the learning support programme. Journal of Science and Mathematics Education in Southeast Asia, 29(1), 21-40.
Author
Ng, Swee Fong
Abstract
This paper describes an activity which attempts to change the discourse of a mathematics classroom with the specific intent to help children who may have difficulties with mathematics and ways of communicating. Ten 8-year old children in the Learning Support Programme were engaged in an open-ended geometric task. In this paper a brief description of van Hiele’s theory of geometric reasoning and Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of cognitive growth are presented in the introduction. This is followed by a detailed description of the open-ended task which required children to use the four basic shapes - triangles, squares, rectangles and circles to create animals with a tail. The findings showed that while the children were able to use the four basic shapes to make animals with the given condition, they were challenged to explain why the animal they had selected was their favourite. Suggestions on how to improve the children’s communication skills are discussed.
Date Issued
2006
Publisher
SEAMEO RECSAM
Journal
Journal of Science and Mathematics Education in Southeast Asia