This study revealed some of the factors that influence preservice elementary teachers' instructional planning in word problem solving by examining preservice teachers' conceptions of how to teach word problem solving. Twenty-one interviews of preservice teachers were conducted before and after the mathematics methods course and the protocols were…

This document is designed to assist teachers by providing practical examples of real world applications of high school mathematics. Fifteen problems are presented that individuals in industry and business solve using mathematics. Each problem provides the contributor's name, suggested skills required to solve the problem, background information…

Although many common problem-solving errors within the realm of school mathematics have been previously identified, a compilation of such errors is not readily available within learning disabilities textbooks, mathematics education texts, or teacher's manuals for school mathematics texts. Using data on error frequencies drawn from both the Fourth…

This publication is an abstracted compilation of 15 investigations selected from other journals. The information includes purpose, rationale, research design and procedures, findings, interpretations, abstractor's comments, and references. This journal includes the following reports: (1) "A Constructivist Approach to Numeration in Primary…

This report describes a computer-based instructional system, the Story Problem Solver (SPS). SPS provides students with instruction about the semantic structure of story problems. It was developed to test a specific schema theory of knowledge organization in long-term memory. For this reason SPS depends explicitly upon a theory of the relationship…

This article describes the Mathematical Problem Solving Assessment-Short Form, an evaluation tool to assess various affective factors, cognitive and metacognitive factors, and strategies associated with mathematical problem solving of middle school students. The theoretical basis for the test is discussed and an actual student protocol is used to…

Two experiments assessed whether children's difficulty with word problems can be attributed to difficulty in comprehending abstract or ambiguous language. The subjects were 38 first-, 36 second-, and 36 third-graders. The resulting theory of arithmetic word problem solving may represent a theoretical problem-solving model. (TJH)

Item characteristic curves were compared across gender and socioeconomic status (SES) groups for the university entrance mathematics examination in Turkey to see if any group had an advantage in solving computation, word-problem, or geometry questions. Differential item functioning was found, and patterns are discussed. (SLD)

Describes seven problems designed to enhance the development of four types of student communication in mathematics: (1) describing observations; (2) justifying solutions and solution processes; (3) documenting thinking; and (4) completing or creating mathematical problems. (MDH)

The impact of personalizing mathematical word problems and rewording them for explicitness was tested with 68 second and 59 fifth graders. Second graders benefited from personalization and rewording in combination; fifth graders benefited from personalization, not rewording. Personalization makes problems more motivating and easier to represent…

This practicum was designed to improve third grade students' problem-solving abilities through the use of problem-solving strategies. The project was implemented in a suburban elementary school that has a high percentage of students with limited or no English language skills. Activities were designed to increase the students' interest in solving…

Anchored instruction and anchored assessment are described and illustrated through a mathematics problem from the Jasper problem solving series developed at Vanderbilt University in Nashville (Tennessee). Anchored instruction is instruction situated in a context complex enough to provide meaning and reasons for why information is useful. Problems…

To generate a useful means of analyzing think-aloud protocols of individual students, and to determine the extent to which practical information might be derived from transcripts and videotapes, this project focused on the problem-solving behaviors of 17 sixth-grade students videotaped while solving routine textbook word problems. Using a…

Employee and facilitator manuals are provided for two courses developed for a workplace literacy program: Mathematics on the Job I and II. Each 10-session course begins with a preassessment and ends with a postassessment. Components of each 2-hour session are objectives, informational materials, and problems or exercises. The facilitator copies…

The Mathematics Assessment Questionnaire was designed to sample thoughts and feelings of students in grades 7 through 9 in relation to solving mathematical word problems. Test development studies began in 1986-87 with a review of research and literature and the writing of sample statements that were evaluated by 16 experienced teachers and…