Symbols-only training improved kindergarteners' performance on difficult place value items, but base-10 blocks training did not¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr1·q3·i3large
Currency · newest study 2014 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i3 On the 27 items children originally performed at chance, there was a significant Test × Condition interaction (ηp2=.19) favoring symbols-only training. → Mix 2014
Evidence¶
Mix 2014¶
Mix, Kelly S., Prather, Richard W., Smith, Linda B., & Stockton, Jerri DaSha. (2014). Young Children's Interpretation of Multidigit Number Names: From Emerging Competence to Mastery. Child Development. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12197
q3 · i3 · causal · r1
Experiment 3 assigned 24 kindergarteners to symbols-only or base-10 blocks training (five lessons over 2 weeks). On difficult numerals items, a Test × Condition interaction, F(1, 22) = 5.03, p = .01, ηp2=.19, favored symbols-only training; "there was a significant increase from pre- to posttest for the symbols-only group."
"there was a significant increase from pre- to posttest for the symbols-only group, t(11) = 4.24, p = .001, but not for those who received training with blocks (Mpretest = .50, SD = .10; Mposttest = .51, SD = .13), t(11) = .32, p = .75"
Discussion¶
Learner Variables¶
- Number Sense — outcome: instruction changes it
- Operations and Place Value — outcome: instruction changes it
Related Claims¶
- Base-10 blocks training was followed by a significant drop in kindergarteners' numerals-condition scores — related
- Kindergarteners use partial-knowledge heuristics such as digit recognition and the word hundred to interpret multidigit numerals — related
- Children from kindergarten through second grade perform significantly above chance on simple multidigit numeral identification and comparison tasks — related
- Manipulatives Improve Math Learning — reports the opposite
- Neither numerical training significantly improves Arabic number comparison performance — related
- Children perform better with written numerals than with base-10 blocks or dot arrays on multidigit tasks — related
- Children can learn the meanings of novel number symbols through an artificial symbol learning paradigm, performing above chance on a subsequent symbolic comparison task — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
symbols-only-training-improves-difficult-items |
title |
Symbols-only training improved kindergarteners' performance on difficult place value items, but base-10 blocks training did not |
description |
Symbols-only training improved kindergarteners' performance on difficult place value items, but base-10 blocks training did not |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2014 |
source_checked |
2026-10-20 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-17 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — mix-2014 |
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