The Impact of Rhymes and Songs in the Teaching and Learning of Numeracy in Kindergarten

Otchere-Larbi E.k ,K.j Amoah

doi:10.7176/jep/11-20-14

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the use of Rhymes and songs in the teaching and learning of numeracy in Kindergarten. The study was a descriptive study in which a survey research design was adopted. Two municipalities in the Eastern Region of Ghana were randomly selected for the study. Simple random sampling was used to sample thirty female Kindergarten teachers from ten Kindergarten schools in both municipalities. Research instrument used was teacher’s questionnaire in collecting the data for the study. Findings showed that about 70% of the Kindergarten teachers use Rhymes and songs in all aspects of their numeracy lesson delivery and as such it created a positive impact on children’s learning of numeracy. Keywords: Rhymes, Songs, Numeracy, Kindergarten, Kindergartners DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-20-14 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

Highlights

Numeracy is the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that kindergartners need in order to use mathematics in a wide range of situations
What impact does the use of numeracy related rhymes and songs have on the learning of numeracy in the kindergarten? Table 1 shows classification of teachers according to qualifications
Twenty-eight (28) teachers (93.33%) strongly agreed or agreed that children learn mathematical concepts easier when Rhymes and songs are used in teaching the concept, 16 teachers (53.33%) strongly agree, 12 teachers (40%) agree and only 2 teachers remain neutral to the fact that the use of Rhymes and songs arouse pupils interest during lessons

Summary

Introduction

Skills, behaviours and dispositions that kindergartners need in order to use mathematics in a wide range of situations. It involves recognising and understanding the role of mathematics in the world and having the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully (Moss, O’Mara, and McCandless, 2017). Once children reach pre-school age, rhymes and songs are used in teaching them numbers in a fun and interactive way. This makes kindergartners encounter mathematics very early in their lives as they interact with their immediate environment. These encounters usually build in kindergartners great enthusiasm and curiosity (Engel, 2015)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion