This study investigated the effectiveness of a schema strategy on the addition and subtraction word problem solving performance of four sixth and seventh grade students with learning disabilities. Students were taught to map features of the word problem onto problem schemata diagrams, first for one-step problems and then for two-step problems. A…

Ongoing work toward developing a learning environment that will perform real-time diagnoses of students' difficulties in solving mathematical word problems is described. The learning environment designed consists of a microworld and expert modules. The microworld (or toolbox) is a collection of mouse-driven interfaces that facilitate a transition…

Two training procedures were constructed to teach children with learning deficiencies to solve simple addition and subtraction word problems. Each training procedure was evaluated in a separate multiple baseline design across subjects. The experiments were designed to prepare for the development of computer assisted training programs. Two female…

This is a project in an emerging line of research investigating children's informed knowledge of mathematics questions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the ability of students who had not received multiplication or division instruction to solve multiplication and division word problems. The study consisted of videotaped interviews with 89…

An overview is presented of information processing analyses of knowledge and performance in three areas of the elementary mathematics curriculum: basic addition and subtraction facts, complex procedures such as multicolumn subtraction, and the solution of word problems. Theories of the knowledge associated with "expert" performance are discussed.…

Describes journal writing with first-graders to promote math relevancy. Children brainstormed situations requiring mathematics, wrote about them in journals, and shared journal entries with classmates. After children solved a word problem that the teacher created from journal entries, they wrote their own word problems, worked in pairs to check…

Describes a mathematical investigation of gold--how it is weighed, stored, used, and valued. For grades 3-4, children estimate the value of treasure chests filled with gold coins and explore the size and weight of gold bars. Children in grades 5-6 explore how gold is mined and used, and how the value of gold changes over time. (PVD)

This article describes a way in which the computer can be used by students in exploring patterns and solving problems associated with number theory. BASIC programs are described, along with classroom questions and procedures that aid in implementation. (Author/KR)

After a year of instruction, 70 kindergarten children were individually interviewed as they solved basic, multistep, and nonroutine word problems. Thirty-two used a valid strategy for all 9 problems, and 44 correctly answered 7 or more problems. Modeling provided a unifying framework for thinking about problem solving. (Author/MDH)

Presents an alternative to traditional story-problem instruction in which students write their own mathematics stories about familiar situations involving problems that can be resolved with the aid of mathematics. Provides excerpts from a typical class discussion to resolve the problem. (16 references) (MDH)

Discusses the role of teacher questioning in the development of a child's concepts of and about mathematics. Proposes the development of mathematical concepts and procedures in problem-solving situations through questioning that engages student thinking and decision making. (MDH)

Investigated gender-related differences in the process of solving routine word problems using a nine-step strategy in (n=153) sixth- and (n=149) eighth-grade students. Females were slightly better than males at following the prescribed problem-solving process. Includes test items. (39 references) (MKR)

Discusses the two overgeneralizations "multiplications makes bigger" and "division makes smaller" in the context of solving word problems involving rational numbers less than one. Presents activities to help students make sense of multiplication and division in these situations. (MDH)

Describes seven number-sense skills for elementary and middle school grades. Provides eight short stories for grades three through eight designed to develop students' number-sense skills in which students replace missing data so that the story makes sense. (MDH)

This study of 60 eighth grade students found differences among students with learning disabilities and students who were low, average, and high achieving, on perceptions of ability and achievement; attitude toward mathematics; knowledge of mathematical problem-solving strategies; and knowledge, use, and control of problem representation…