Provides a model for teachers to engage children in understanding problems and communicating their solutions in order to lead them toward becoming mathematically powerful learners. (Author/NB)

Presents solutions to the Pumpkin Puzzler problem that appeared in the October 2001 issue of this journal. (Author/NB)

Presents solutions to the Football Frenzy problem that appeared in the November 2001 issue of this journal. (Author/NB)

Provides problems to illustrate the potential power of mathematical intuition when confident problem solvers take the time to "play" with a problem and follow their instincts. (MKR)

Describes a study that investigates the difficulties students have with word problems and aims to find out what can be done to help students achieve some success with word problems while working independently. Concludes that a problem-solving approach to teaching mathematics and word problems is beneficial. Contains 20 references. (ASK)

Represents a college professor's view of children doing math after seven consecutive years of working with approximately 150 children solving word problems. (ASK)

To better understand how teachers can capitalize on the power of story problems, Jacobs and Ambrose analyzed teacher-student conversations in problem-solving interviews. They identified eight categories of teacher moves that, when timed properly, were productive in advancing mathematical conversations. (Contains 2 tables.)

This study extends the debate concerning the mathematical skills deficit of bioscience undergraduates towards a deeper understanding of their mathematics learning, since only through the latter can appropriate and effective explicit teaching be implemented. Three hundred and twenty-six first-year bioscience undergraduates, from three pre- and four…

Problem solving lies at the heart of mathematical learning. Children need opportunities to write, discuss, and solve problems on a regular basis. The problems must incorporate grade-appropriate content and be "accessible and engaging to the students, building on what they know and can do." Teachers also play a key role in establishing a classroom…

Research studies have shown that students encounter difficulties in transitioning from arithmetic to algebra. Errors made by high school students were analyzed for patterns and their causes. The origins of errors were: intuitive assumptions, failure to understand the syntax of algebra, analogies with other familiar symbol systems such as the…

Students struggling with mathematics may benefit from early interventions aimed at improving their mathematics ability and ultimately preventing subsequent failure. This guide provides eight specific recommendations intended to help teachers, principals, and school administrators use Response to Intervention (RtI) to identify students who need…

This article describes techniques that can be used to enhance mathematics instruction for English language learners. Using the strategies suggested in this article, such as scaffolding instruction and accommodating their linguistic needs, mathematics teachers can help ELLs both succeed and increase their mathematics achievement. (Contains 3…

Background: Understanding and solving problems involves different levels of representation. On the one hand, there are logico-mathematical representations, or problem models (PMs), which contain information such as "the size of the flock changed from 31 sheep to 42" while, on the other hand, there are more qualitative representations, or…

This article illustrates effective instructional strategies for English Language learners. (Contains 5 figures.)

Computer-assisted instruction systems have been broadly applied to help students solve math word problem. The majority of such systems, which are based on an instructor-initiating instruction strategy, provide pre-designed problems for the learners. When learners are asked to solve a word problem, the system will instruct the learners what to do.…