Reports a study to examine secondary school students' (n=200) responses to two figurally and spatially similar problems from mathematics and science that require different responses before and after instruction. Results indicated that most students gave the same response to both questions. Reasons for this pattern are discussed. (MDH)

Presents an account of the historical evolution of the definition of variable and the way the concept is currently treated in textbooks. Shares activities to promote student discussion on the use of variables as constants, as quantities that vary, and as parameters. Provides a reproducible worksheet. (MDH)

Fifteen learning-disabled (LD), 33 attention disordered (AD), and 28 normal adolescents were assessed with 2 performance measures and 3 behavioral measures while working on mathematics problems. Findings support theoretical predictions that LD and AD children have difficulty with repetitive stimuli, contributing to mathematics deficits. (SLD)

Describes study of eighth grade students that was designed to determine whether gender of the protagonist in mathematics story problems can play a significant role in mathematics learning. The use of the Secondary-School Attitudes toward Women Scale is described, and correlations among individual difference and task-outcome variables are analyzed.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive correlates of RD-grade skill in arithmetic, algorithmic computation, and arithmetic word problems. Third graders (N = 312) were measured on language, nonverbal problem solving, concept formation, processing speed, long-term memory, working memory, phonological decoding, and sight word…

Middle school prealgebra students (n=157) learned about functions in a 20-day unit that emphasized: (1) representing problems in multiple formats, (2) anchoring learning in a meaningful thematic context, and (3) discussing problem-solving processes in cooperative groups. They produced smaller pretest-to-posttest gains on symbol manipulation tasks,…

This document is designed to assist teachers by providing practical examples of real world applications of high school mathematics. Fifteen problems are presented that individuals in industry and business solve using mathematics. Each problem provides the contributor's name, suggested skills required to solve the problem, background information…

Although many common problem-solving errors within the realm of school mathematics have been previously identified, a compilation of such errors is not readily available within learning disabilities textbooks, mathematics education texts, or teacher's manuals for school mathematics texts. Using data on error frequencies drawn from both the Fourth…

This publication is an abstracted compilation of 15 investigations selected from other journals. The information includes purpose, rationale, research design and procedures, findings, interpretations, abstractor's comments, and references. This journal includes the following reports: (1) "A Constructivist Approach to Numeration in Primary…

This report describes a computer-based instructional system, the Story Problem Solver (SPS). SPS provides students with instruction about the semantic structure of story problems. It was developed to test a specific schema theory of knowledge organization in long-term memory. For this reason SPS depends explicitly upon a theory of the relationship…

This article describes the Mathematical Problem Solving Assessment-Short Form, an evaluation tool to assess various affective factors, cognitive and metacognitive factors, and strategies associated with mathematical problem solving of middle school students. The theoretical basis for the test is discussed and an actual student protocol is used to…

Two experiments assessed whether children's difficulty with word problems can be attributed to difficulty in comprehending abstract or ambiguous language. The subjects were 38 first-, 36 second-, and 36 third-graders. The resulting theory of arithmetic word problem solving may represent a theoretical problem-solving model. (TJH)

Item characteristic curves were compared across gender and socioeconomic status (SES) groups for the university entrance mathematics examination in Turkey to see if any group had an advantage in solving computation, word-problem, or geometry questions. Differential item functioning was found, and patterns are discussed. (SLD)

Describes seven problems designed to enhance the development of four types of student communication in mathematics: (1) describing observations; (2) justifying solutions and solution processes; (3) documenting thinking; and (4) completing or creating mathematical problems. (MDH)

The impact of personalizing mathematical word problems and rewording them for explicitness was tested with 68 second and 59 fifth graders. Second graders benefited from personalization and rewording in combination; fifth graders benefited from personalization, not rewording. Personalization makes problems more motivating and easier to represent…