‘Castillo blueprint’: How young children in multilingual contexts demonstrate and extend literacy and numeracy practices in play

Abstract

Accountability mandates linked to state education standards and assessments have largely replaced play in early childhood classrooms. This approach limits educators' opportunities by preventing them from using play as a means of identifying and expanding children's diverse range of competencies. In this ethnographic case study, we explore how young children living in a multilingual, new immigrant community use literacy and numeracy practices in play. Drawing from sociocultural theory and ethnomathematics, and highlighting their voices and perspectives, we show how three kindergarten-aged children draw on a broad repertoire of symbolic practices to make meaning as they work together in their play-based afterschool programme. By examining how children use literacy, numeracy and language through their play, we detail how the children collaboratively demonstrate and build knowledge as they build a castle and represent it through a blueprint. We offer implications for how teacher education can better prepare teachers to recognize the diverse range of skills and understandings children bring to school.