As children transition from the early to later grades of elementary school, they become increasingly skilled at employing a variety of techniques -- such as rehearsal and organizational strategies -- for remembering information. Developmental changes in strategy use have been well documented, but little is known about the extent to which these…

Feedback is generally considered a beneficial learning tool, and providing feedback is a recommended instructional practice. However, there are a variety of feedback types with little guidance on how to choose the most effective one. We examined individual differences in working memory capacity as a potential moderator of feedback type. Second-…

Understanding contingency table analysis is a facet of mathematical competence in the domain of data and probability. Previous studies have shown that even young children are able to solve specific contingency table problems, but apply a variety of strategies that are actually invalid. The purpose of this paper is to describe primary school…

This study investigated the role of strategy instruction and working memory capacity (WMC) on word problem solving accuracy in children with (n = 100) and without (n = 92) math difficulties (MD). Within classrooms, children in Grades 2 and 3 were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions: verbal-only strategies (e.g., underlining…

There is mounting research evidence that contests the metaphysical perspective of knowing as mental process detached from the physical world. Yet education, especially in its teaching and learning practices, continues to treat knowledge as something that is necessarily and solely expressed in ideal verbal form. This study is part of a funded…

Although current categories of learning disabilities include as specific disabilities calculation and mathematical problem solving [see IDEA reauthorization, 2004, Sec. 300.8(c)(10)], the majority of research focuses on calculation disabilities. Previous studies have shown, however, that deficits in word problem solving difficulties are persistent…

Mathematics concepts are most often taught using auditory, sequential instructional methods. Not only are these methods ineffective when used with visual-spatial learners, they may be detrimental to both academic and emotional progress. Ways in which visual-spatial learners process information are explained. One child's story is presented,…

This article presents a lesson plan in which students learn about water in solid, liquid, and gaseous phases through trade books, demonstrations, and artwork. The author illustrates the stages of the lesson plan in the sequence they were conducted in the classroom with a group of students in grades one and two. Each stage targets specific learning…

Discusses numeracy strategy. Focuses on gaining insight into student understanding of number. Discusses the benefits of this long-overdue numeracy strategy. (ASK)

Second-grade children were explicitly supplied with zero, one, two, or three components of information to specify the respective contributions of various sources and amounts of acquired strategy-utility information. Metacognitive knowledge was evidenced only when the training regiment included the complete set of critical metacognitive components.…

The study compared strategies chosen by second-grade learning disabled (LD) children with short-term memory problems, but with differences in naming facility, and same-age and younger nondisabled children. Subjects with poor naming abilities demonstrated selected strategy failures, while subjects with good naming abilities demonstrated more…

In study involving three experiments, high and low metamemory children aged five to seven were differentiated according to metamemory scores. Results showed children's performance differed significantly when demand of memory task fell within their knowledge of memory, and when task required more sophisticated strategy; children's ability to…

The relationship between processing style (either auditory or visual) and sentence and imagery strategies was investigated with a sample of 80 second-grade children. Assignment to auditory- and visual-processor groups was based on subjects' recall of 16 pictograph sequences, four of which included visual interference and four of which included…

Presents a problem solving strategy developed by a second grade student that goes beyond modeling an intuitive or informal interpretation of an operation to solve division problems. Concludes that good teaching should build on pupil's existing preinstruction knowledge and recognize a pupil's attempts at creative solutions. (MDH)

Two experiments with 42 second graders, 55 fourth graders, and 36 fifth graders investigated previous findings of a lack of strategic advantage for expert children dealing with information in their area of expertise. Results from using an expert-novice paradigm suggest that expert children's task advantage is mediated primarily by nonstrategic…