Original scientific paper
What Mathematics School Beginners Know and Can Do – a Matter of Importance or Not
Slagjana Jakimovik
; “Ss Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje,
Irena Trajanovska
; “Ss Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje,
Valentina Gogovska
; “Ss Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje,
Tatjana Atanasova Pachemska
; University “Goce Delchev” in Shtip
Abstract
The determination of the levels of mathematical knowledge and skills is of essential importance when planning and organizing any form of work with students as well as in the process of creating mathematics curriculum. A question emerges: What kind of mathematical knowledge and skills are children equipped with when entering the first grade of primary school? In the Republic of Macedonia, written mathematics testing of children at this age (approximately 6 years) is not conducted. At the national level there are no data on this issue.
At the beginning of the school year 2011/2012 a research study was conducted in primary schools in the Republic of Macedonia, based on a previous research conducted in the Netherlands. The results on five of the given problems are discussed and compared with the results obtained from similar studies conducted previously in other European countries. Another question consequently emerges: Does the national mathematics curriculum for the first grade give full credit to children's actual mathematics competences and does it provide optimal conditions for their further advancement?
Keywords
first grade pupils; mathematical competences; national curriculum; primary education
Hrčak ID:
106518
URI
Publication date:
24.7.2013.
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