1. Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning
SEAL
Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning

2. SEAL: Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning
Children develop and use a range of methods to solve number problems
The strategies they use increase in sophistication as children gain experience and develop better ways of problem solving
Progression needs to take into account the number range that a child can solve problems within and the sophistication of the strategies used
The Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning (SEAL) classifies the various strategies used by children into stages

3. Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning
Emergent Child
Perceptual Child
Most pupils in Primary 1 will cover Emergent and Perceptual
Figurative Child
Counting-On Child
Facile Child
Figurative, Counting-On and Facile spans the whole of First Level (P2, P3, P4)

4. As children progress through these stages they move towards having a secure early number knowledge
With this knowledge they will be able to choose the most efficient strategy when dealing with number problems

5. For example if you ask the child what is 24+3
We want them to know that they should start at 24 and count on by 3 to find the answer
Some children will start at 0 and count up to 24 first then add on the 3 which is time consuming and also allows for more errors to be made

6. For example if you ask them what is 7+5?
We want them to know that 7+3 = 10 then add 2 more to find the answer
Rather than starting at 7 and counting 5 more to get to the answer

7. Teaching Structure Forward number word sequences
Backward number word sequences
Counting visible items
Spatial patterns
Finger patterns
Temporal patterns and temporal sequences

8. Children need to develop an understanding of how a number looks, sounds and feels in order to fully understand what it means
We can use our fingers to make the same number in different ways

9. Ideas for Home
Counting forwards and backwards from different starting points
Tell me the number before/after
Show me…
Which number is bigger/smaller
Counting out concrete items