Numeracy: Playing with Mathematics: Play in Early Childhood as a Context for Mathematical Learning. Literacy: Writers as text users

Blog Entry:

Week: User- What do I do with this?

Readings:

Numeracy: Playing with Mathematics: Play in Early Childhood as a Context for Mathematical Learning.

Literacy:  Writers as text users

Why did I choose the readings?

I specifically chose the two articles as they focus on different important aspects involved in the process of learning literacy and numeracy through the years of birth to 4. They both interested me, as they are quite hidden aspects of literacy and numeracy, which educators and myself may not identify as important aspects.

What about them interested me/main message?

It was interesting to gain knowledge on what are the most important aspects to focus on within mathematics numeracy and literacy text writing. Text writing is an important aspect of literacy for birth to 4 year olds, and it can be incorporated into many activity’s; role plays, creating posters which has blurbs and text on it, technology and to familiarizes the children with different text types through technology etc. In relations to this play is stated as a crucial part of a young child, however many educators fail to incorporate play into learning (Bobis, J., deVries, E., Dockett, S., Highfield, K., Hunting, R., Lee, S., Perry, B. & Thomas, L. 2010) Mathematics is also a crucial element in a young child’s numeracy learning, and it is evident that educators who are able to incorporate and connect play and awareness through mathematics are providing a positive rich early learning of numeracy.

Knowledge gained from readings, which I can apply to practice when working with birth to 4?

The readings have influenced me to be wise and critical in regards to the level of text writing according to the age group, and whether the context is suitable for them. However it has also influenced me to incorporate a lot more text writing within activity’s as it can have a significant impact on there early learning of literacy. This will also applies with numeracy and to emphasize the use of play and awareness as it has significant positive effects towards their literacy. The main aspect that I am taking from the readings and applying to my activities with birth to 4 year olds is to enhance play, and that literacy and numeracy can be best learnt by incorporating both play and numeracy or literacy.  

References:

Bobis, J., deVries, E., Dockett, S., Highfield, K., Hunting, R., Lee, S., Perry, B. & Thomas, L. (2010, July). Playing with mathematics: Play in early childhood as a context for mathematical learning. Mathematics Education Research Group of Australia’s 33^rd Annual Conference: Shaping the Future of Mathematics Education, Fremantle, WA.

Harris, P., Turbill, J., Fitzsimmons, P. & McKenzie, B. (2003). Writers as text users. Writing in the Primary School Years (pp. 149-167). Tuggerah, NSW: Social Science Press

Review of the article: Learning to Read the World: Literacy in the first 3 years.

Week 2 Blog:

Peer Reviewed Article:  Learning To Read The World: Literacy in the First 3 Years. By, Sharon E. Rosenkoetter, & Joabbe Knapp-Philo

This article interested me and attracted my attention as, I wanted to explore and learn more about how family peers can influence and play a role in a child’s literacy learning. The article interested me as it focused a lot on the concept of ‘words carry power begins during the first years of life’, (Rosenkoetter, Knapp-Philo, 2004).  I found that concept to be interesting as to how simple things from a young child can mean so much yet we may not notice. The message I have taken from the article was that communities must encourage infants and toddlers and their families and early childhood programs to help adapt young children to early language and literacy. As the infant years are incredibly important towards producing readers, I now can take to practice that it is important to emphasize to caregivers and families that they can play a significant role on there child’s knowledge to read the world and there literacy and language. I can suggest and may family members aware that simple things such as; time, there presence, use of words, prints and there intentional is all they need in order to have an impact on there child’s learning of early literacy.

References:

Rosenkoetter, S. & Knapp-Philo, J. (2004). Learning to read e world: Literacy in the first 3 years. Zero to Three, 25(1), 4-9

Review of Socio-Cultural context of Literacy Learning

Week 1 Blog:

Peer Reviewed Article: The Socio-Cultural context of Literacy learning. By Caroline Barratt-Pugh.

I had chosen to explore this article as the socio-cultural context of literacy learning drew my attention therefore I felt I wanted to explore and gain further knowledge based around literacy and the socio-cultural aspect of it. I found the article to be very interesting and informative as it explained a significant amount of history and what literacy used to be like for young children, to then compare and focus on the more recent studies regarding literacy for children. The key element from the article was the four main perspectives developed from different theorists on early literacy and how each theorist has contributed to the understanding of literacy. A strong argument found in the argument was that children at a very young age learn about literacies through their participation in social and cultural events, which may include literacy practices (Barratt-Pugh, 2000). The second main message I gained from the reading was that becoming effective literacy users is not as simple as just being involved in social and cultural practices as literacy learning is complex multifaceted processed which is constantly evolving around us. From this article for me as a future educator I have gained knowledge around the notion of literacy and to allow that all children will be coming into the early childhood care with a different level of literacy practices. Therefore allow the children to explore and show their literacy practices to myself and for me to be there to guide and possible help them to expand their literacy.

References:

Barratt-Pugh, C (2000). The Socio-cultural Context of Literacy Learning