Measuring Early Childhood Mathematical Cognition: Validating and Equating Two Forms of the Research-Based Early Mathematics Assessment

Psychometric work with young children faces the particular challenge that children’s attention spans are relatively short, and therefore, shorter assessments are required while retaining comprehensive coverage. This article reports on three empirical studies that encompass the development and validation of the research-based early mathematics assessment-short form (REMA-SF), an instrument that measures the early mathematical competency of children from 3 to 8 years of age. The developed measure captures both children’s mathematical performance and the strategies children use to solve math problems. Results indicated that the REMA-SF can produce valid scores for measuring children’s math skills in early childhood, and the validity of the measure can be well-generalized to an external (or independent) sample. Additionally, we also equated the REMA scores between the long and short forms of the assessment: anchor items common across the forms were selected and refined in the equating process.

EFEKTIFITAS GAME POWERPOINT DALAM MENGEMBANGKAN KEMAMPUAN MATEMATIKA PERMULAAN DI TK ASYOFA PADANG

This study aims at determining the effectiveness of powerpoint games in developing initial mathematical abilities. The approach used was quantitative with a quasi experimental method type pretest-posttest group design. The population of this study was all of the group B early young learners in Koto Tangah Subdistrict, Padang City 2018/2019 academic year. The sampling technique used was simple random sampling with a total sample of 30 children. The data were collected by using an initial mathematical ability test adopted from REMA the Research Based Early Mathematics Assessment. Data analysis technique was an independent t-test, seeing a comparison of differences in average scores. The result shows that powerpoint games were effective in developing early mathematical abilities in the experimental group compared to the control group. The use of powerpoint games can be an alternative learning media in developing other aspects of development.

Fortalecimiento de competencias matemáticas tempranas en preescolares, un estudio chileno

Resumen: El artículo describe el efecto positivo de un programa de intervención basado en la comprensión del número en los niveles de competencia matemática temprana que presentan preescolares chilenos, en las áreas de competencias relacionales y numéricas evaluadas con el Test de Evaluación Matemática Temprana Utrech (TEMT-U), versión española del Utrecht Early Numeracy Test. El estudio permite constatar que existen diferencias significativas en el nivel de competencias matemáticas tempranas entre aquellos grupos sometidos a este tipo de programa por sobre aquellos que, en igual período de tiempo, sólo recibieron el influjo de los contenidos y actividades de la secuencia curricular tradicional para la población escolar chilena. Se observan efectos positivos del programa independientemente del nivel educativo al cual asisten los niños y niñas, y las competencias relacionales o piagetianas muestran niveles de logro superiores. Los resultados muestran que no se observan diferencias en los niveles de competencia matemática entre niños y niñas, contrariamente a lo que se observa en años posteriores. Strengthening early math skills in preschoolers, a Chilean study. Abstract: The article describes the positive effect in an intervention program based on number comprehension in early math skill levels that Chilean preschoolers present in the relational and numerical skill areas evaluated with the Test of Early Mathematics Assessment Utrecht (TEMT-U), the Spanish version of the Utrecht Early Numeracy Test. The study reveals that there are significant differences in the early math skills levels among those groups subjected to this type of program and those that in the same period of time were only influenced by the content and activities of the traditional curriculum sequence in the Chilean school population. There are positive effects in the program regardless of the educational level that children attend. There are also relational or skills Piagetian that show higher achievement levels. The results prove that there are no differences in mathematical literacy levels between boys and girls, contrary to what is observed in later years.