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Spatial skills

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  • 50: Covariational reasoning
  • 49: Teaching and learning equivalence
  • 48: Early development of functional thinking
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  • 46: Building and breaking 2D and 3D shapes
  • 45: Teaching logical reasoning
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30 January 2020

Infographic showing Thinking spatially processes, Knowing about space, Representation and Reasoning

What does research suggest about early development of spatial skills?

  • Students who have good early spatial skills are more likely to have success across mathematics and other subjects, for example, such skills may be linked to the development of a mental number line
  • Spatial skills are important for mathematical reasoning and useful when finding strategies for solving more complex mathematical problems
  • Spatial skills may be two or three dimensional and viewer- or object-centred and students should have more early experience of using spatial skills in each of these aspects
  • Sex differences in spatial abilities may be linked to quantity of play with spatial toys including home puzzle play; it may be particularly beneficial to improve spatial skills for girls and other underrepresented groups
  • It is possible to improve spatial skills with training; providing students with spatial scaffolding when learning a new concept may enrich their understanding
  • More research is needed on spatial skills in the early years and more professional development is needed to ensure primary and early years teachers are confident in teaching them

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