Mathematics and transition to school: Theoretical frameworks and practical implications

This edited book brings together for the first time an international collection of work built around two important components of any young child’s life— learning mathematics and starting (primary or elementary) school. The chapters take a variety of perspectives, and integrate these two components in sometimes explicit and sometimes more subtle ways. This chapter provides a theoretical framework for transition to school and investigates possible places for mathematics in that transition. It stresses the importance of considering the strengths of all involved in the transition to school and how these strengths can be used to assist children learn increasingly sophisticated mathematics. The chapter concludes with an analysis of each of the book chapters in terms of their links into the theoretical framework for transition to school and young children’s mathematics learning.