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Early Mathematics Education: A Plea for Mathematically Founded Conceptions

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Forging Connections in Early Mathematics Teaching and Learning

Part of the book series: Early Mathematics Learning and Development ((EMLD))

Abstract

What is mathematics and what is mathematics education in early childhood? This theoretical chapter draws attention to distinctions and relationships between applied and pure mathematics and provides a provocation for considering what each offers when evaluating the authenticity of mathematical activity. The implications of these differences in how mathematics education are positioned and framed in early childhood are discussed using a number of examples to illustrate this. The chapter challenges perceptions by educators that mathematical experiences for prior-to-school learning must be contextualized in ‘everyday’ experiences and offers other ways of connecting young children’s mathematical education to mathematics as a system with structure and abstract forms and patterns. The chapter draws attention to and pleads for mathematically founded conceptions to underpin the context and content of early childhood mathematics education.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

    Virginia Kinnear

  2. TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany

    Erich Ch. Wittmann

Authors
  1. Virginia Kinnear
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  2. Erich Ch. Wittmann
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Correspondence to Virginia Kinnear .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia

    Virginia Kinnear

  2. Faculty of Education and Arts, School of Education, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

    Mun Yee Lai

  3. Faculty of Education, College of Arts, Law and Education, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

    Tracey Muir

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Kinnear, V., Wittmann, E.C. (2018). Early Mathematics Education: A Plea for Mathematically Founded Conceptions. In: Kinnear, V., Lai, M., Muir, T. (eds) Forging Connections in Early Mathematics Teaching and Learning. Early Mathematics Learning and Development. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7153-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7153-9_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-7151-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-7153-9

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