Critical thinking (CT) is a type of convergent thinking explored when students learn mathematics. This study aims to obtain a comprehensive representation of students' mathematical Critical Thinking (CT) abilities, based on the mathematical ability level. Data were obtained from 35 students using CT skills tests and semi-structured in-depth…

After some studies on students with Down syndrome (DS) who learned algebra and problem solving and few single case studies on analytic geometry, here the experience on analytic geometry was extended to 6 adolescents with DS, who attended mainstream schools. They were taught individually in the afternoon, one day per week, for 9 months by the same…

This latent class analysis study used a bias-adjusted three-step approach to empirically identify mutually exclusive clusters of teacher professional qualifications based on commonly studied indicators of teacher quality. We then examined the relationship between cluster membership and the mathematics gains of adolescents at risk for mathematics…

Students with a mathematics learning disability face many challenges learning algebraic curricula. To support this population, targeted supplementary instruction beyond what is provided by a classroom teacher may benefit their learning outcomes. In this context, video modeling designed in accordance with an established instructional design…

This paper presents study that investigates brain activity (using ERP methodology) of male adolescents when solving short problems in algebra and geometry. The study design links mathematics education research with neuro-cognitive studies. We performed a comparative analysis of brain activity associated with the translation from visual to symbolic…

In this article, we describe how using prediction during instruction can create learning opportunities to enhance the understanding and doing of mathematics. In doing so, we characterize the nature of the predictions students made and the levels of sophistication in students' reasoning within a middle school algebra context. In this study, when…

In an attempt to study the emerging questions about design of mathematical tasks that could support the solving of challenging problems, we designed two settings of interactive diagrams that share an example represented as an animation of multi-process motion but differ in their organizational functions. The interactive settings, each comprising…

There is a common opinion that mathematics is difficult for persons with Down syndrome, because of a weakness in numeracy and in abstract thinking. Since 1996, some single case studies have suggested that new opportunities in mathematics are possible for these students: some of them learned algebra and also learned to use equations in…

The dual purpose of this study was (1) to design instruction in problem representation and solution of algebraic word problems in order to improve the algebraic problem solving skills of learning disabled (LD) adolescents; and (2) to devise and evaluate the effectiveness of instructional procedures for teaching LD adolescents to represent and…

In this paper, I explore two beliefs about learning and teaching that I argue are prevalent among educators. The first is the belief that subject matter expertise is sufficient for success in teaching. The second belief is that to learn a specific content area, one needs to begin with an understanding of the formal structure and abstract…

Secondary education of students with learning and behavioral disabilities is an issue of great importance. Unlike elementary schools, secondary schools require substantially more independent functioning, assume the effective use of student planning and study skills, and often lack the classes in basic skills needed by some learners. Further, new…