Understanding numbers and the quantities they
represent
COLUMBIA, 7/29/11 (Beat Byte) -- First-graders who
understand numbers and quantities will have better success
learning mathematics later on, say psychologists at the University of
Missouri.
"We wanted to identify the beginning of school knowledge needed to learn
math over the next five years," says David Geary, Curator’s
Professor of Psychological Sciences. "We found that understanding
numbers and quantity is a necessary foundation for success as the student
progresses to more complex math topics."
Geary and his research team monitored 177 elementary students from 12
different elementary schools since kindergarten, with the intention of following
them through their first algebra class in the 10th grade. They found that
first-graders who understood the number line; how to place numbers on the line;
and knew some basic arithmetic showed faster growth in math skills than their
counterparts during the next five years.
"This study reinforces the idea that math knowledge is incremental, and
without a good foundation, a student won’t do well because the math gets more
complex," Geary said. "The kids that can go back and forth easily and quickly in
translating numerals into quantities and in breaking complex problems into
smaller parts had a very good head start."
The paper, "Cognitive Predictors of Achievement Growth in Mathematics: A
Five Year Longitudinal Study," will be published in the journal
Developmental Psychology.
"Math is critical for success in many fields, and the United States is not
doing a great job of teaching math," said Geary. "Once students fall behind,
it’s almost impossible to get them back on track."
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