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Play — Use — Generalize! Three-stage activities for developing math readiness

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Abstract

Children can be encouraged to demonstrate academic learning that they have mastered. Demonstrating academic learning to adults can be similar to auditioning for a drama or an artistic recital. Teachers and professional caregivers are accustomed to such auditions. Typically, it is the parents who initiate the audition: “My child can count to 10. Bonnie, count to 10 for this person.” Sometimes the auditioning child will ignore the parent: “Bonnie, count to 10 for this nice man.” Bonnie continues to disregard her parent. “Bonnie, count to 10. You know how to do it. One, two, three, ... What comes after three?” Bonnie still does not respond. “Honey, say your numbers. One, two, thr... What comes after two?”

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Authors

Additional information

Gerard Giordano is a professor in the College of Education, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM.

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Giordano, G. Play — Use — Generalize! Three-stage activities for developing math readiness. Early Childhood Educ J 17, 13–17 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01623192

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