Argues that evaluation of mathematics word-problem-solving instruction is important in basal curriculum programs. Reviews research literature on mathematical problem-solving and presents guidelines for evaluation of word-problem-solving instruction in basal mathematics programs. (PCB)

Four of the author's favorite calculus word problems are presented. These aid students in recognizing and applying concepts in contexts unlike those in typical textbook problems. (MNS)

Sixty-four adults were tested on simple addition and multiplication problems presented in Arabic digit or English number-word format. Overall, response times and error rates were much higher with the word format, but more important, presentation format interacted with arithmetic operation and problem size. (DR)

Children aged four through six years were given identical addition and subtraction calculations presented in three problem-type formats: nonverbal problems, story problems, and number-fact problems. Results suggest that children's earliest calculation ability is based on experiences combining and separating sets of objects. Contains 34 references.…

This article offers suggestions to teachers of hearing-impaired students on teaching basic mathematical problem-solving skills. Eight suggestions include allowing time for problem solving, encouraging persistence, providing open-ended problems, using problems based on student experiences, and using appropriate evaluation strategies. (DB)

Describes the "Two-Eight" instructional model for students who have arithmetic computational skills but lack the ability to select appropriate strategies to solve problems. Offers examples showing the replacement of the actual values used in a word problem with the simple numeric values of 2 and 8 to create a parallel, solvable problem. (DMM)

Comparison of problem preferences of six meaning-oriented and five number-oriented junior high school students found that the successful meaning-oriented students preferred solving multistep and nonroutine problems, whereas the less successful number-oriented students preferred simple routine problems. However, in graded situations all students…

Examines ways in which teachers can develop children's abilities to mathematize their world by articulating mathematical problems in situations, then solving and discussing their solutions. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

The common teaching practice habit of connecting mathematics classroom activities with reality is still substantially delegated to wor(l)d problems. A growing body of empirical research suggests that the practice of word problem solving in school mathematics does not match this idea of mathematical modeling. Presents some classroom activities that…

Studied the relation between reading comprehension and task-specific strategies used in arithmetic word problems. Results with 20 9-year-olds of different competencies in reading and mathematics show a linear relation between reading comprehension and target strategies used in the word problems as well as a relationship between reading and IQ.…

Studied structures and relationships in one-step additive and multiplicative problems solved by 450 students in grades 2, 3, and 4. Results show that the facility ratio of the problems differs by structure, situation, and the sequence of data. The ability to solve one-step problems increases with age, but relative problem difficulty is grade…

Thirty-three college students with deafness and 10 typical students were given 30 mathematics problems to solve, 15 that were word problems. As the complexity of the descriptive information in the word problems increased along with the complexity of the problem situations, the performance of students with deafness decreased. (Contains references.)…

In this paper, the author looks at some classic problems in mathematics that involve motion in the plane. Many case problems like these are difficult and beyond the mathematical skills of most undergraduates, but computational approaches often require less insight into the subtleties of the problems and can be used to obtain reliable solutions.…

EQUALS is a teacher advisory program that helps elementary and secondary educators acquire methods and materials to attract minority and female students to mathematics. The program supports a problem-solving approach to mathematics, including having students working in groups, using active assessment methods, and incorporating a broad mathematics…

This booklet is one in a series of teacher inservice materials developed in an effort to translate the findings of a study of problem-solving instruction into materials that provide teachers with new knowledge about mathematical problem solving, current instructional practices, and recommendations for problem-solving instruction. The need for…