Lexical approach: overcoming vague skills procedure and early mathematical terminalogy based on prosidic semantic theory

Anida Sarudin

Abstract

This study aims to identify and examine early mathematical concepts based on mathematical terminology and early mathematical skills among children and teachers of the National Child Development Research Centre (NCDRC). This study also investigates the pedagogical practices by the teachers on how to overcome vague terminology and children skills procedure in the teaching and learning of early mathematics. The study focuses on the teaching and learning of early Mathematics topics such as match, gather, separate and compare. Eight teacher participants are involved in 4 selected PERMATA Anak Negara Centres: Bercham, Besout 1, Teluk Intan and Sg. Siput. The findings have revealed that the children are given the opportunities to explain, defend, conclude, predict and suit their ways of understanding the mathematical concepts related to the chosen topics: match, gather, separate and compare. The children are also encouraged to show their understanding through various different ways including the critical thinking skills. As a result, this study has produced the Lexical Kit based on the Prosodic Semantic Theory for the learning and early Mathematics facilitation for pre-schools in Malaysia thus help teachers to make children understand the terminology concepts and early mathematical procedures clearly.

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