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Current Research

Maulfry Worthington is engaged in research for her PhD (Free University, Amsterdam) conducting a longitudinal, ethnographic study into the emergence of children's mathematical graphics in imagination and symbolic / multi-modal play, and its relationship to other forms of graphicacy, including drawing and writing ( with children of 3-4 years).

Publications and presentations relating to this research:

Worthington. M. (2009) 'Fish in the water of culture: signs and symbols in young children’s drawing', The Psychology of Education Review Volume 33, Number 1, March 2009. 37-46.

Worthington, M. (2009) 'Play: What do Children Learn? Investigating Imagination, Analysing Imaginative Play': Presentation at TACTYC Research into Practice Conference, 'Inspiring Practice in Early Education: Research, Reflection, Debate'. November 6-7, 2009.

Worthington, M. (2010) 'Play is a complex landscape: imagination and symbolic meanings. In P. Broadhead, J. Howard. and L. Wood. (Eds.) Play and Learning in Educational Settings: from Research into Practice. London: Sage Publications., 127-144.

Worthington, M. (2010) 'Imagination and graphicacy: young children as powerful agents of their own learning'. Paper presented at Anglia Ruskin University Conference, Chelmsford: 'Early Childhood Curriculum: Policy and Pedagogy in the 21st Century: An International Debate', April 2010.

Forthcoming:

Worthington, M. ‘Symbolic play and the emergence of graphicacy in early childhood mathematics: a semiotic perspective’. Paper accepted for BCME7 Conference (March, 2010); submitted to Research in Mathematics Education - British Society of Research in Mathematics Education (BSRLM) Journal in April. 2010.

Worthington, M.  (2010) ‘“This is a different calculator - with computer games on”: reflecting on children’s symbolic play in the digital age’, in J. Moyles, J. (Ed.) 'Thinking About Play: Developing a Reflective Approach, Maidenhead: Open University Press.