Mathematical word problem-solving skills are crucial for students across their lives, yet solving such tasks poses challenges for many. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of mathematical word problems that are associated with students' performance is important. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the…

Successful adoption of proven effective practice strategies such as distributed practice may contribute to much-needed improvement in mathematics performance. However, it is not yet fully understood if distributed practice is beneficial for long-term retention of complex procedural knowledge and, if so, for which initial practice performance level…

Relying on self-report to understand how children solve cognitive tasks has limitations, particularly with young children. Recent advances in eye-tracking technology allow researchers to leverage this tool to measure young children's strategies for solving cognitive tasks. The current study focuses on young children's mental rotation ability given…

Digital game-based learning (DGBL) has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance students' learning effectiveness. Concept mapping, recognized as a valuable tool for knowledge construction, has been widely implemented in educational settings. However, research indicates challenges when integrating concept maps into games, particularly when the…

This study investigated the extent to which domain-general and domain-specific antecedents contributed to pre-algebra's initial level and growth rate among students who experience word-problem difficulty (WPD). We examined if such a profile differs for English-language learners (ELLs; n = 75) and non-ELLs (n = 55) with WPD. We assessed 130 U.S.…

At a research university near the east coast, a college algebra class has been restructured into two large lectures a week, an active recitation size laboratory once a week, and an extra day devoted to active group work called Supplemental Practice (SP). SP was added as an extra day of class where the SP leader has students work in groups on a…

Mathematical problem-solving is a core content of primary school education. Therefore, it is necessary to provide all students with a meaningful way of acquisition of problem-solving skills. The objective of this research was to verify the effectiveness of a problem-solving routine based on the Pólya's model and the use of cognitive strategies…

Digital technologies have the potential to revolutionize education by enhancing quality, fairness, and efficiency. However, equitable access to these technologies remains a challenge. ILSAs (international large-scale assessments) have shown that the relationship between digital use and performance varies across countries and over time. To fully…

Children with mathematical difficulties need to spend more time than typically achieving children on solving even simple equations. Since these tasks already require a larger share of their cognitive resources, additional demands imposed by the need to switch between tasks may lead to a greater decline of performance in children with mathematical…

A solid foundation in mathematics is beneficial not only for individuals' concurrent and later academic achievement, but also for future career success and financial stability. Rational number knowledge plays a pivotal role in mathematical success, yet it is often regarded as a challenging area to grasp comprehensively. The dissertation aims to…

The knowledge base on various forms of structuring students' learning by ability grouping is more robust than that on teachers' instructional practices being implemented within these groupings. The present study examines if student-reported mathematics teachers' instructional practices vary among schools with different degrees of implementing…

Background: Base-ten thinking (BTT) -- children's ability to reason in tens and ones is a crucial measure of Foundation Phase learners' mathematical performance in South Africa. Aim: The study looks at the six learners using BTT to solve additive tasks through two different assessments. Setting: Six purposely selected Grade 3 learners in…

Algebraic thinking and strategy flexibility are essential to advanced mathematical thinking. Early algebra instruction uses 'missing-operand' problems (e.g., x - 7 = 2) solvable via two typical strategies: (1) direct retrieval of arithmetic facts (e.g., 9 - 7 = 2) and (2) performance of the inverse operation (e.g., 2 + 7 = 9). The current study…

Over the past two decades, the perennial low success rates of elementary students in mathematical problem solving and the difficulties experienced by teachers in meeting the various needs of their students with this type of task have become quite a hot topic. While there is a general consensus among education scholars about the crucial role played…

National mathematics achievement results show that elementary students in the United States are not increasing in cognitive ability or critical thinking skills (NAEP, 2020). For this increase, mathematically promising students require more opportunities for cognitively demanding mathematics instruction. As a result, this descriptive study focused…