We sometimes are of the view that mathematics consists of numerals and symbols and therefore language is not important in learning mathematical thinking and counting. These skills are called domain- specific skills and are skills that are rarely used outside of mathematical tasks. As teachers we can help children become proficient in mathematical facts but to be able to solve problems there is another important aspect of mathematics needed - the role of basic language skills to support mathematical learning.
Young children first learn about quantity, size and comparisons. As they play they sort and compare - Have I got more than my friend? Is my apple bigger? These skills do not need number but it does require language. The beginning of maths is based on creating a connection between physical objects and the language to identify and understand the symbols we use for numerals.
When a child gets "stuck" or has difficulty learning to identify the connection between the symbol that represents a set of objects and the name we give it, we tend to look at the "domain" focused skills for answers. But in fact it could be due to their language skills. One may need to clarify and explain the vocabulary, use images and manipulatives and support students to understand words and symbols.
The connection between language and number symbols is key to understanding a number word problem. Students often have difficulty knowing where to start. They can pick out some numbers mentioned in the problem but if it doesn't specifically state what operation is needed to solve the problem they are stuck right at the beginning.
As I have children who are starting on their mathematical journey and are already finding difficulty in making connections between physical objects and numbers, I would like to help them develop a positive attitude towards mathematics because it connects to all parts of our lives. It is not just memorising information but number patterns and problem solving. Developing language skills to support mathematical learning will be my focus for my Inquiry this year.
