Background and objectives: An early understanding of numerosity is crucial to developing proficiency in arithmetic, and rapid pattern recognition via subitizing is key in this process. The training app "LORE" specifically targets and cultivates pattern recognition skills from the beginning of formal schooling. This study investigated…

Mathematical language (or the content-specific words in mathematics) has repeatedly shown to be related to mathematical abilities in preschool and in the early grades of primary education. Research in this field has predominantly focused on young children's quantitative and spatial language. At the same time, recent research has discovered that…

Patterning, or the ability to understand patterns, is a skill commonly taught to young children as part of school mathematics curricula. While a number of studies have demonstrated that patterning is beneficial for young children acquiring mathematical skills, little research exists that examines the cognitive components of the skill. It seems…

Research Findings: In each of 16 public school classrooms serving multiethnic low-income neighborhoods, 2 first graders were assigned to be taught patterning, 2 to be taught reading, 2 to be taught mathematics, and 2 to be taught social studies for 15-min sessions 3 days per week for 6 months. Assignment within each classroom was randomized. The…

In early elementary school in most English-speaking countries children are taught "patterning," which involves learning repetitive patterns of colors or shapes (e.g., red, blue, green, red, blue, green). The present study was designed to test the effectiveness of patterning instruction when compared to equal amounts of instruction in…

The habit of looking for patterns, the skills to find them, and the expectation that patterns have explanations is an essential mathematical habit of mind for young children (Goldenberg, Shteingold, & Feurzeig 2003, 23). Work with patterns leads to the ability to form generalizations, the bedrock of algebraic thinking, and teachers must nurture…

The authors document their experience of working with 6-year-olds over several weeks. They share some observations that arise from weekly sessions they conducted which have been under way for several years and which have been widely reported. These observations show the payoff of a problem-solving approach to learning.

The authors' purpose was to study the efficacy of patterning instruction in improving the reading and mathematics proficiency of first grade children. Patterning instruction was compared to equal time and effort spent on instruction on reading or mathematics or social studies, which are control conditions in this experiment. The question for…