• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.63-77
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• 2010

This study was to investigate the differences of 'math talks' between concept-based storybook reading and context-based storybook reading activities. The teachers carried out storybook reading activities with their children using either four concept-based storybooks or four context-based storybooks. Fifty-six storybook reading activities from seven kindergarten classrooms were observed. The data were collected through participant observations and audio recordings. The transcriptions of 'math talks' during storybook reading activity were classified in terms of the levels of instructional conversation, types of mathematizing, and the mathematical processes involved. The results indicated that the 'math talks' during the concept-based storybook reading activity were higher than those of the context-based storybook reading activity in terms of both the instructional conversation and in quantifying and redescribing of mathematizing. However, the 'math talks' during the context-based storybook reading activity were higher than those of the concept-based storybook reading activity in connecting and reasoning of the mathematical processes involved. These findings suggest that early childhood teachers need to improve the level of instructional conversation during math storybook reading activities.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2017

This study examines the effect of 5-year-old children's mathematical problem solving ability and their self-esteem based on the Havruta method using math storybooks. The subjects of this study were 40 5-year-old students attending a kindergarten in the Incheon area: 20 students comprised the treatment group and 20 students comprised the control group. An instrument originally created by Ward (1993) but adapted by Hwang (1997) and later modified by Ryu (2003) was used to test the children's mathematical problem solving abilities. A modified version (Kim, 1997) of an instrument developed by Harter and Pike (1984) was used to measure children's self-esteem. Test results were analyzed using SPSS ver. 18.0 for Windows. The findings are as follows. First, the treatment group that had Havruta classes utilizing math story books was found to improve significantly more than the control group in their mathematical problem solving ability. Havruta classes had positive effects on children's mathematical problem solving abilities. Second, there was no significant difference found between the two groups in terms of self-esteem when the children's self-esteem was compared after Havruta classes that utilize math storybooks. It may not be possible to see immediate changes in children's self-esteem because positive parent and teacher feedback had the strongest influence on 5-year-old children's self-esteem, as opposed to self-learning. The results of this study provide meaningful basic data for Havruta classes that focus on questions and discussions through math story books to increase children's mathematical problem solving abilities in the child education field.