Olympiad potential for identifying mathematical giftedness in elementary schoolers

Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education, Faculty of Primary Education, Primary Education Department, Samara, Russia

^* Corresponding author: zubova@pgsga.ru

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the possibilities of identifying the mathematical giftedness in elementary schoolers with the help of Olympiad problems. For this, the authors clarify the concept of “mathematical giftedness”, show the relationship between the concepts of “mathematical giftedness” and “mathematical abilities”, and indicate the most significant abilities of elementary schoolers from the set of mathematical giftedness. The role of mathematical Olympiads in identifying mathematically gifted elementary schoolers is substantiated. This role consists in creating situations where the participants of the Olympiad are forced to make mental efforts to perform the following actions: analysis of a problem situation to identify essential relationships, modeling a new way of action to solve the proposed problem, combining available methods of action to apply in a new situation in limited time. The criteria for compiling Olympiad tasks for identifying mathematically gifted students are formulated, the most important of which is the clear focus of each task on demonstrating a mathematical ability of a certain type, as well as the selection of the mathematical content of the Olympiad problems strictly from the elementary course of mathematics. The problems of one Olympiad should be based on the content of different sections of the elementary mathematics course. The examples of the Olympiad problems based on the content of the elementary mathematics course are provided and the substantiation of their role in demonstrating the mathematical abilities of the Olympiad participant in solving them is given. The results of observing the educational achievements of students (during their entire stay at school) who showed mathematical abilities at the Olympiads are provided as well as the prospects and certain difficulties of further research on ways to solve the problem.