Shifts in early number learning in South Africa

Abstract

In this paper, we report on outcomes from the Structuring Number Starters intervention project focused on early grades’ number learning in South Africa. Using tests drawn from the Maths Recovery programme, a cross-attainment sample of Grade 2 students in six schools took part in oral interview assessments early in 2011, 2014 and 2018, with professional development activities for their teachers occurring across this period. Student outcomes point to increasing proportions, over time, of students able to use more sophisticated counting strategies, and to work with number structure for more efficient calculation