ERIC Number: EJ1461098
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Dec
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2056-7936
Available Date: 2025-02-18
Enhancing Children's Numeracy and Executive Functions via Their Explicit Integration
Gaia Scerif1; Jelena Sucevic1; Hannah Andrews1; Emma Blakey2; Sylvia U. Gattas1; Amy Godfrey1; Zachary Hawes3; Steven J. Howard4; Liberty Kent1; Rebecca Merkley5; Rosemary O'Connor1; Fionnuala O'Reilly1; Victoria Simms6
npj Science of Learning, v10 Article 8 2025
Executive functions (EF) are crucial to regulating learning and are predictors of emerging mathematics. However, interventions that leverage EF to improve mathematics remain poorly understood. 193 four-year-olds (mean age = 3 years; 11 months pre-intervention; 111 female, 69% White) were assessed 5 months apart, with 103 children randomised to an integrated EF and mathematics intervention. Our pre-registered hypotheses proposed that the intervention would improve mathematics more than practice as usual. Multi-level modelling and network analyses were applied to the data. The intervention group improved more than the control group in overall numeracy, even when controlling for differences across settings in EF and mathematics-enhancing practices. EF and mathematics measures showed greater interconnectedness post-intervention. In addition, disadvantaged children in the intervention group made greater gains than in the control group. Our findings emphasise the need to consider EFs in their integration with co-developing functions, and in their educational and socio-economic context.
Descriptors: Numeracy, Executive Function, Mathematics Skills, Preschool Children, Intervention, Disadvantaged, Child Development, Cognitive Development, Socioeconomic Status
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Data File: URL: https://osf.io/8y5u6/
Author Affiliations: 1University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford, UK; 2University of Sheffield, Department of Psychology, Sheffield, UK; 3University of Toronto, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Toronto, Canada; 4University of Wollongong, Early Start and School of Education, Wollongong, Australia; 5Carleton University, Department of Cognitive Science, Ottawa, Canada; 6Ulster University, School of Psychology, Coleraine, UK