This study examined effects of a schema-based direct instruction strategy on the word problem-solving performance of three third- and fourth-grade students with learning disabilities. The intervention was successful in increasing the percentage of correct solutions to word problems for all three students. Maintenance was seen two to three weeks…

Presents activities designed to introduce a mathematical idea having several applications for determining the optimal location for a radio station's transmitter and the best locations for a fire station. Includes student worksheets and solutions. (KHR)

This article presents a graduated word problem sequence in mathematics, beginning with simple words; progressing to phrases, sentences, and paragraphs; advancing to paragraph word problems with extraneous information; and finally having students create their own word problems. Results from 67 elementary students with learning disabilities support…

Students with language and learning disabilities may have difficulty solving mathematics word problems. Use of a sequential checklist, identifying clues and keywords, and illustrating a problem can all help the student identify and implement the correct computational process. (DB)

This study investigated the effectiveness of a schema strategy on the mathematical word-problem-solving performance of four sixth- and seventh-grade students with learning disabilities. The schema strategy led to substantially improved word-problem-solving performance for all four students and these results were maintained at two- and four-week…

Three teaching strategies for problem solving proved to be successful with undergraduates with deafness enrolled in mathematics courses. Strategies included giving an explanation to a peer observer in sign language, visualizing the problem-solving process prior to starting to solve a problem, and observing the teacher modeling the analytical…

In the course of solving relatively routine word problems, 7th grade students made a substitution for a word or phrase in the original problem statement. This practice is referred to as "wordwalking". Invokes the relative ambiguity of natural language and the precision of mathematical expressions to explain the dynamics of wordwalking. (Contains…

This study compared the effectiveness of 3 procedures for teaching 62 elementary students with learning disabilities to identify the correct algorithm in solving addition and subtraction word problems. The group receiving strategy teaching and sequencing practice problems and the group receiving strategy teaching only scored higher than…

The difficulties that primary students experience when dealing with real-world related word problems have been discussed extensively. These difficulties are not only related to complex, non-routine problems but already occur with respect to routine problems that involve the application of a simple algorithm. Due to difficulties with the…

This paper reviews the current theory and research on algebra/mathematics word problems. First, the major research findings are identified and summarized along with the theoretical perspectives that produced the research. The findings are then interpreted from the perspectives of traditional and wholetheme approaches. Also, a sample methodology of…

Four informal assessment techniques to detect student mistakes in math, increase motivation, and improve achievement include the following: building models and generating word problems, thinking aloud, building mathematical sentences, and making mathematical sentences to answer questions in word problems. (DB)

RIDGES is a mnemonic device designed to give upper elementary and high school students a structure to follow when solving word problems. RIDGES stands for Read the problem; I know statement; Draw a picture; Goal statement; Equation development; and Solve the equation. (VW)

An alternative explanation is presented for the pattern of relative difficulty of arithmetical word problems to that suggested in a 1983 article. It is argued, that for many problems, much of the symbolic manipulation is accomplished externally, not internally. (MNS)

Describes the history of the 14th-century mathematician and some samples of his work with word problems. Introduces ways of using historically original sources as a way to interest students and teach mathematics. (KHR)

Describes how mathematical puzzles and riddles can be implemented in the classroom to engage students in rich mathematical explorations and logical reasoning. (YDS)