• 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.