Data_Sheet_1_Assessing Mathematical School Readiness.PDF

Early math skills matter for later formal mathematical performances, academic and professional success. Accordingly, it is important to accurately assess mathematical school readiness (MSR) at the beginning of elementary school. This would help identifying children who are at risk of encountering difficulties in math and then stimulate their acquisition of mathematical skills as soon as possible. In the present study, we present a new test that allows professionals working with children (e.g., teachers, school psychologists, speech therapists, and school doctors) to assess children’s MSR when they enter formal schooling in a simple, rapid and efficient manner. 346 children were assessed at the beginning of 1st Grade (6-to-7-year-olds) with a collective test assessing early mathematical abilities (T1). In addition, children’s math skills were evaluated with classical curriculum math tests at T1 and a year later, in 2nd Grade (T2, 7-to-8-year-olds). After assessing internal consistency, three tasks were retained for the final version of the MSR test. Test performance confirmed to be essentially unidimensional and systematically related to the scores children obtained in classical tests in 1st and 2nd Grade. By using the present MSR test, it is possible to identify pupils at risk of developing low math skills right from the start of formal schooling in 1st Grade. Such a tool is needed, as children’s level in math at school beginning (or school readiness) is known to be foundational for their future academic and professional carrier.

早期数学能力对个体后续正式数学学习表现、学业成就乃至职业发展均具有重要影响。因此，在小学入学初期精准评估儿童数学入学准备能力（mathematical school readiness, MSR）至关重要。此举有助于甄别存在数学学习困难风险的儿童，并尽早推动其数学技能的习得。本研究开发了一款全新测评工具，可使儿童服务从业者（如教师、学校心理学家、言语治疗师及校医）在儿童正式入学初期，以简便、快速且高效的方式完成其数学入学准备能力评估。本研究于一年级入学初期（6~7岁）对346名儿童施测早期数学能力团体测评工具（记为T1）；此外，研究团队在T1节点以及一年后的二年级阶段（T2，7~8岁），采用常规课程配套数学测评工具对儿童的数学技能进行复测。经内部一致性检验后，最终版MSR测评工具保留了三项任务。测评结果证实，该工具具备本质上单维性特征，且与儿童在一年级及二年级常规数学测评中的得分呈系统性相关。借助本研究开发的MSR测评工具，可在儿童一年级正式入学之初，精准甄别出存在数学技能发展滞后风险的学生。该类工具具有显著应用价值，因为学界已证实，儿童入学初期的数学水平（即入学准备能力）是其未来学业与职业发展的重要基础。