Affect and mathematical competence are each multifaceted constructs. Accordingly, the studies in this Special Issue address multiple pathways between the two in young children. This commentary highlights the variability of these pathways and asks how affective variables are specifically related to core mathematical activities such as problem…

"Success stories," i.e., cases in which mathematical problems posed in a controlled setting are perceived by the problem posers or other individuals as interesting, cognitively demanding, or surprising, are essential for understanding the nature of problem posing. This paper analyzes two success stories that occurred with individuals of different…

A report on the early stages of a research project, The Skills and Procedures of Mathematical Problem Solving in pupils of 9-13 years (SPMPS), is given. The article explores the background to the need for such a project, both from a mathematical and pedagogical point of view. (Author/MK)