Analysis of Kindergarteners' Behaviors In the Mathematics Corner

유치원 아동의 수학활동에 관한 분석연구 - 수학영역을 중심으로 -

The purpose of this study was to investigate activities of kindergarteners in the mathematics corner. The study included an analysis of children's interactions with mathematics materials and of children's peer interactions during mathematics activities. The subjects were 47 children aged three to four and 72 children aged four to five from four classes of two kindergartens in Kwangju. Children's math activities during free play sessions were observed and audiotaped. The data were coded by the categories of children's peer interactions and types of mathematics manipulations. The characteristics of children's peer interactions and materials frequently selected by the subjects were identified. The results indicated that (1) most of the math materials were for passive manipulation that require children to respond according to predetermined conditions like the rules of games, but (2) the materials that children liked to play with were active manipulative materials that require diversity and flexibility of children's thinking and allow several choices for solutions, and (3) children's peer interactions during math activities were categorized into unilateral and reciprocal/collaborative peer interaction type.