This study examined how word-problem characteristics influenced students' learning and retention of word-problem knowledge during and after an intervention. The participants were 221 fourth-grade students (average age at pretest = 8.8 years) who experienced word-problem difficulties (WPD) and had received a word-problem intervention in third…

Evidence in South Africa of poor performance on word problems points to particular challenges among learners relating to difficulties with, on the one hand, making sense of mathematical word problems and, on the other, moving beyond inefficient counting based calculation methods. While many studies in mathematics education in South Africa have…

The purpose of this study was to explore the paths by which word-problem intervention, with versus without embedded prealgebraic reasoning instruction, improved word-problem performance. Students with mathematics difficulty (MD; n = 304) were randomly assigned to a business-as-usual condition or 1 of 2 variants of word-problem intervention. The…

This study compared the problem-solving abilities of ChatGPT and 58 pre-service teachers (PSTs) in solving a mathematical word problem using various strategies. PSTs were asked to solve a problem individually. Data was collected from PSTs' submitted assignments, and their problem-solving strategies were analyzed. ChatGPT was also given the same…

The invention of problems is a fundamental competence that enhances the didactic-mathematical knowledge of mathematics teachers and therefore should be an objective in teacher training plans. In this paper, we revise different proposals for categorizing problem-creation activities and propose a theoretical model for problem posing that, based on…

Author Pam Harris argues that teaching real math--math that is free of distortions--will reach more students more effectively and result in deeper understanding and longer retention. This book is about teaching undistorted math using the kinds of mental reasoning that mathematicians do. Memorization tricks and algorithms meant to make math…

Combinatorial proofs of binomial identities involve establishing an identity by arguing that each side enumerates a certain set of outcomes. In this paper, we share results from interviews with experienced provers (mathematicians and upper-division undergraduate mathematics students) and examine one particular aspect of combinatorial proof, namely…

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into mathematical problem-solving has shown significant potential to enhance student learning and performance. However, while AI tools offer numerous benefits, they are prone to occasional conceptual and arithmetic errors that can mislead users and obscure understanding. This research examines such…

This study explores gender-based differences in sixth-grade students' potential for mathematical creativity through the interrelated processes of problem solving (PS) and problem posing (PP), grounded in a multidimensional framework of creativity--encompassing fluency, flexibility, and originality. A total of 346 sixth graders from public schools…

Problem solving and proofs have always played a major role in mathematics. They are, in fact, the heart and soul of the discipline. The using of a number of different proof techniques for one specific problem can display the beauty, and elegance of mathematics. In this paper, we present one specific, interesting geometry problem, and present four…

The multiplication principle (MP) is foundational for combinatorial problem-solving. From a units-coordination perspective, applying the MP with justification entails establishing unit relationships between the number of options at each independent stage of a counting process and the total number of combinatorial outcomes. Existing research…

In this cross-national study, we explore the different ways of reasoning-and-proving (RP) presented in three 8th grade textbooks, one from each country: Turkey, Norway, and Slovakia. While the analysis revealed that all three textbooks contain similar numbers of problems involving some form of RP, differences exist in terms of the dominating ways…

There is a growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of modified schema-based instruction (MSBI) for teaching word problem-solving alongside other important skills, such as self-determination and mathematical discourse and reasoning. Yet the majority of studies have not been conducted in naturalistic instructional arrangements. We report…

The aim of this paper is to review recently calculus curriculum reforms and research studies that document what types of understanding students develop in their precalculus courses. We argue that it is important to characterize what difficulties students experience to solve tasks that include the use of foundational calculus concepts and to look…

Many studies highlighted the importance of mathematical justification in problem-solving. This paper describes students' mathematical justifications for solving derivative problems collaboratively, especially before and after the use of technology was allowed. We asked two undergraduate students who were preservice mathematics teachers in a paired…