The Impact of Games in Understanding Mathematical Concepts to Preschool Children

Abstract

The purpose of this action research is to examine the impact of Mathematics games on the understanding of concepts of numbers and numbering with preschool children. The research involved a total of 58 children from four groupings of “Naim Frashëri” school and their parents. Firstly, it was condacted pretest, with the aim of identifying the children who have difficulties and problems with adopting Mathematics concepts, followed by an action plan in class. The research was implemented during the first semester of 2014. During this period, three action plans on learning the number and numbering concepts were realized: in the first action plan - through Games with manipulativ tools; in the second action plan through Games in nature; whilst the third action plan involved Mathematics and Logic Games. The study involved data collection through observation lists, focus group, questionnaires with parents, working sheets, preparing the test before, during and after the action plan. Afterwards, we observed the data and analyzed it through statistical methods, thematic methods, coding the information extracted from questionnaires with parents and the observation list. The results of this research show that the uses of the mathematic games with preschool children’s have an impact in the development on understanding's the number and numbering concepts. The use of Mathematics games, also have a direct impact on effectiveness and quality during Mathematics classes.