Mathematics Education and tales in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Undeniably, storytelling is a powerful tool, which captures the attention of children and adults alike. Its appeal lies in both how the story itself unfolds and how it engages with the audience at an emotional level. So why not use stories as a learning tool in young learner classrooms to develop a mathematical mindset and allow children to gain a deeper understanding of this subject? In the following article, the advantages of using storytelling as a mathematical learning tool are presented; the most suitable stories for classroom use are discussed; an appropriate classroom methodology is suggested and some concrete examples are given, highlighting how a full understanding of the story contributes to the development of mathematical thinking.