Chapter 8 - Early Numeracy Skills Learning and Learning Difficulties—Evidence-based Assessment and Interventions

Abstract

Abstract Early numeracy development is essential for later mathematics learning in school and important for successful careers. Early childhood education and schools are important places for children to learn and practice the foundational mathematical knowledge they will need as adults. In this chapter, I describe our work in producing evidence-based knowledge, assessment scales, and intervention materials for educators to identify children at risk for learning difficulties in mathematics and to support them in their learning. As there are several skills developing in early childhood, our first aim is to describe the model of core numerical skills for 5- to 8-year-olds and how it can support educators in their work. The model is important for selecting assessment methods to identify children at risk for learning difficulties and designing educational support for these children. The second aim is to describe our research work on evidence-based assessment and intervention materials that are designed to be used by educators with children who struggle with math learning (webservices: www.lukimat.fi , ThinkMath global) in Finland, Norway, and South Africa.