Multilingual learners (MLs) encounter key language features that influence their mathematical word problem-solving processes. Much of the readily available literature surrounding MLs' experiences in the mathematics classroom explores either their content knowledge or how language affects their mathematics achievement. Far less literature has…

Word problems are a question type commonly seen in math tests and exams. Since word problems are an integral part in teaching and learning of mathematics in schools, understanding what factors that would affect students' ability to solve math word problems may help students understand where their weaknesses lie and help teachers adopt effective…

The purpose of the present study is to examine the effectiveness of the Conceptual Model-based Problem-Solving intervention program (COMPS) along with instructional scaffolds to enhance the performance of English learners (ELs) with learning difficulties in mathematics (LDM) to solve word problems. The participants were three third-grade ELs with…

In this paper, we examine whether a student's language background and other demographic factors have any relationship to their performance on prose questions in math, which we define as questions with open-ended answers containing one or more complete sentences of English. Prose questions stand in contrast to non-prose questions, which are more…

We explored the role of three math instructional practices by teachers (explicit instruction, guided practice, peer interaction) in predicting current Spanish and English reading comprehension and later Spanish and English math problem-solving performance of English learners (ELs). In this study, math was taught in Spanish. We had 26 teachers and…

Determining the most effective ways to support student-to-student talk requires some negotiating from a responsive teacher. This paper reports on a case study of two emergent multilingual students in Grade 3 (seven to eight-year-olds) who explained their strategies to each other. The transcript of their conversation was analysed using Chan and…

The National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention (NCLII), a consortium funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), prepares special education leaders to become experts in research on intensive intervention for students with disabilities who have persistent and severe academic (e.g., reading and math) and behavioral…

Typically, mathematics lessons are shaped around mathematical tasks. However, teachers frequently modify or enhance school- or district-adopted curriculum materials, often drawing on multiple sources to develop lessons. Research shows that teachers with a large percentage of students classified as English learners report modifying their materials…

Comparison is an important mechanism for learning in general, and comparing two worked examples has garnered support over the last 15 years as an effective tool for learning algebra in mainstream classrooms. This study was aimed at improving our understanding of how Modified for Language Support-Worked Example Pairs (MLS-WEPs) contribute to…

Visualisation plays a critical role in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems. It is an essential tool for enabling learners to create meaningful mental pictures necessary for solving mathematical problems. Appropriate visualisation requires good reading skills, English proficiency and an understanding of mathematical vocabulary,…

Understanding the challenges pertaining to the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems is important in order to formulate effective strategies that will address the challenges. The qualitative case study reported in this article describes the teachers' and the learners' experiences regarding mathematics word problems. Data were…

When a Year 7 student physically reacted to a prompt of another student by anxiously drumming the desk with his ruler, exclaiming "uuuuhh", the initial thought of the observing researcher, Laura, was: "this is an interesting account". This started a reflective journey of first applying robust research methodologies to the…

Mathematical modeling involves using mathematics to represent, analyze, and make predictions or decisions about real- world situations. Garfunkel and Montgomery (2016) elaborate on six components of the mathematical modeling process, including identifying the problem, making assumptions and identifying variables, doing the math, analyzing and…

This work studies mathematics word problems' use in a classroom of recent immigrants, or newcomers, to a United States public elementary school. I study how word problems foster the recontextualization of mathematical concepts in a lived reality experienced by newcomer students in their new cultural and educational setting. In this study's setting…

English learners (ELs) experience difficulty with mathematical problem solving because word problems require complex processes beyond basic math skills, such as the use of linguistic information, identifying relevant information, and constructing the appropriate problem statement. This study used a combined multiple baseline design and criterion…