Iconic signs - Writing-like marks

Oliver’s shopping list

Oliver (4 years, 7 months) chose to write a shopping list, itemising and referring to each item or quantity as he wrote.

Beginning on the right of his paper, his continuous zigzagging line may have imitated the action of an adult writing in longhand, or perhaps it was his impression of cursive writing.

Taxonomy - written number and quantities: Early explorations with marks:attaching mathematical meanings
The Maths: Quantities

Molly’s birthday

Molly (3 years, 9 months) wandered to the table where there were birthday cards with numerals (ages)on them, and blank paper, card and pens. She wrote on a card, telling her teacher, “It says ‘Happy Birthday to Molly” and added that she was four.

Molly is very keen to be four as many of her friends are already: this will obviously be a very important milestone to her.

Taxonomy - written number and quantities: Early explorations with marks:
attaching mathematical meanings
The Maths: Measurement - (time, age), and number

Saja's counting

This example shows the lines Saja wrote as she counted in Arabic, 'Wahid, ithani, thelaitha, araba, khumsa' then continuing in English saying, '"Five' and 'seven."

Written signs displayed in the learning environment in other languages will support those whose first language is not English.

Taxonomy - written number and quantities: Early explorations with marks, attaching mathematical meanings
The Maths: Quantities