title: Early Math Trajectories: Low-Income Children's Mathematics Knowledge From Ages 4 to 11.
abstract: Early mathematics knowledge is a strong predictor of later academic achievement, but children from low-income families enter school with weak mathematics knowledge. An early math trajectories model is proposed and evaluated within a longitudinal study of 517 low-income American children from ages 4 to 11. This model includes a broad range of math topics, as well as potential pathways from preschool to middle grades mathematics achievement. In preschool, nonsymbolic quantity, counting, and patterning knowledge predicted fifth-grade mathematics achievement. By the end of first grade, symbolic mapping, calculation, and patterning knowledge were the important predictors. Furthermore, the first-grade predictors mediated the relation between preschool math knowledge and fifth-grade mathematics achievement. Findings support the early math trajectories model among low-income children.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rittle-Johnson
authors.affiliation: Indiana University.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fyfe
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates.
authors.forename: Kerry G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University.
authors.forename: Dale C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Farran
mesh_terms: D000073978:Academic Performance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008433:Mathematics / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology*; D014481:United States