Mathematics teachers are often asked, "What is the most difficult topic for you to teach?" Their answer is teaching students to count. The concepts can be challenging and slippery to apply in problems. Many times, no rigid procedures or formulas can be used to solve the problems directly, and students simply do not know where or how to approach…

The author analyzes the problem-solving nature of spelling, notes its cognitive components, and reviews research findings relevant to learning disabled students. He emphasizes the need to understand spelling developmentally and chart-succeeding stages. (CL)

A distinction is made between estimation and checking, and an analysis of standard errors made on calculators when pupils are checking answers is given. (MP)

Interviews conducted with each of 35 sixth graders who made errors on the Metropolitan Achievement Test showed little evidence that poor reading abilities affected children's success on word problems. (DT)

This article recommends a holistic approach to student problems in mathematics. Teachers need to be aware of all paradigms (e.g., developmental, behaviorist, psychoanalytic) explaining causes of problems in mathematics. Examples of misunderstandings resulting from insufficient knowledge, insufficient mathematical vocabulary, and overgeneralization…

This study investigated how preadolescents and adolescents solve problems involving three temporal dimensions. Specifically examined was the question of whether speed and space information would influence the time judgments of 90 subjects 9, 12, and 15 years of age who solved 16 word problems describing the displacements of two cars. The problems…

This study investigated sex differences in chemical problem solving among Nigerian secondary school chemistry students (100 males and 100 females). Male students excelled over the female students in the following problem-solving processes: (1) problem understanding; (2) construction and execution of solution plans; (3) exhibition of structural…

This report illustrates a network of procedures which can be used to solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of fractions. This network, which is based on a skills hierarchy, is used to classify seven levels of student competency. The determination of student competency depends upon the careful construction of error-diagnostic tests.…

Suggests that student errors in mathematics be used as motivational devices and starting points for mathematical explorations, involving problem solving and problem posing activities. It is further suggested that errors can foster a deeper and more complete understanding of mathematical content and nature of mathematics itself. (PK)

This article outlines the last step in a five-step process for preparing students to engage in a systematic mathematics problem-solving and decision-making process. The lesson plan teaches students to reread the problem, reexamine the question, check selection of operation, and recheck calculations and compare answers. (JDD)

These proceedings include two lectures followed by working group and topic group contributions in reduced format. The two lectures were by Heinrich Bauersfeld, speaking on contributions to a fundamental theory of mathematics learning and teaching, and Henry Pollak, speaking on the relationship between applications of mathematics and the teaching…

Research was conducted investigating properties of skill in learning, in the domain of elementary algebra. Thinking-aloud protocols indicate that early knowledge of the subjects studied was fragmentary, rather than involving systematically flawed procedures. Computational models, developed to simulate observed errors, focused on the role of…

This collection of four papers deals with problem solving and the measurement of problem solving. "Climbing Up the Competence Ladder: Some Thoughts on Meaningful Assessment of Problem-Solving Tasks in the Classroom" by K. C. Cheung uses the metaphor of a competence ladder to represent the problem-solving continuum with progressive…

This issue contains abstracts and critical comments on 11 articles, plus an editorial comment entitled "A Teacher Shortage?". Studies included concern solution processes on addition and subtraction examples; numerical rule induction; individual differences in performance on manipulative, pictorial, and symbolic tasks; the effect of a…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 20 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: use of word information cues by beginning readers; the relationship between problem solving and oral reading strategies; the ease with which children learn…