Outlines an instructional approach that can be used to teach students to apply a strategy known as subgoal generation to multistep problems. (PK)

Analyzes multiplication word problems to identify the origin of children's difficulty. Emphasis is given to problems involving the concept of combination. (JN)

A systematic series of studies by De Bock et al. revealed a strong, deep-rooted tendency among secondary school students to apply the proportional model in non-proportional problems involving lengths, areas and volumes of similar geometrical figures. In these studies, however, items were used involving direct measures for area and volume as well…

Traditional word problems have not fulfilled the goal of mathematical sense-making for many students. Some studies have shown that authentic contexts, such as model-eliciting tasks, have the potential to engage students in making sense of realistic situations. However, there has been little research on the kinds of knowledge needed by teachers to…

Current mathematics education emphasizes the importance of a problem solving mindset in the classroom. Students need to know how they are going to use what they are learning in real life. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of anchored problem solving instruction on middle school students' mathematical abilities. The researcher…

Instructional resources that employ multiple representations have become commonplace in mathematics classrooms. This study will present computer software, LaborScale which was designed to improve seventh grade students' word problem-solving skills through computer-based multiple representations including graphic, symbolic, and audio…

A word problem concerning weights of a pail containing different amounts of nails appeared in January 1997 issue of Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School. Teachers were invited to try the problem with classes and submit examples of students' work with a brief analysis. This article contains three student solutions. Argues that posing such…

Explores why girls successful in mathematics choose advanced courses in upper secondary school less than did boys. Analyzes the results of tests and a student questionnaire (N=739) in Finland. Findings indicate that in the case of word problems and calculation without calculators, boys are significantly better than girls. Reports that the boys…

Demonstrates how teachers can move their students from the novice into the expert range of problem-solving strategies. Utilizes a problem-solving model that follows how such skills develop. (DDR)

Middle school teachers (n=53) and prospective secondary teachers (n=28) posed problems related to billiards before and after solving a sample problem. Found systematic problem generation and more problems posed before solving a sample problem. Posed problems were not always solvable. (MTE)

Methods for teaching problem-solving strategies for word problems to students with learning disabilities are described in the context of the 1989 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum and Evaluation Standards. Examples are given for using the specific strategies of diagrams, ratio equations, tables, and inverse operation…

Evaluation of the ability of 77 students who are moderately to profoundly deaf to solve arithmetic word problems found that students who are deaf experienced delays in successful work problem performance. Results support the idea that the delayed language acquisition of this population affects their capacity to solve arithmetic word problems.…

Presents a problem-solving activity, the birth order problem, and several solution-seeking strategies. Includes responses of current and prospective teachers and a comparison of various strategies. (YDS)

Nine freshmen in a ninth-grade accelerated algebra class were asked to solve five nonroutine combinatorial problems. The four mathematically gifted students were successful in discovering and verbalizing the generality that characterized the solutions to the five problems, whereas the five nongifted students were unable to discover the hidden…

This special section on cognition and mathematics contains an introduction and 13 articles on advances in the psychology of mathematics learning. The articles focus on how students learn to solve mathematics problems, including arithmetic computation problems, arithmetic word problems, and computer programing problems. (SLD)