What are the issues surrounding the use of word problems in the math curriculum?

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Juniper Bell
7 years ago
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1 Word problems are consistently used as practice exercises and illustrations throughout math curriculum. Despite this prevalence many students have difficulty solving word problems based on the complex and varied nature of these exercises. Success in solving word problems is reliant on a student s knowledge of language and structure ability to interpret vocabulary in mathematical terms and actual mathematic knowledge and ability. The difficulty level of each of these factors can vary greatly between problems and ability levels can vary greatly between students. Based on this complex interaction traditional teaching strategies for solving math word problems (e.g. key words step-based problem solving models) are rarely universally helpful. Instead research suggests that strategies emphasizing comprehensive understanding of word problems especially in how individual problem elements relate to each other and the problem as a whole (e.g. schema-based instruction) are most effective in helping students improve their word-problem-solving ability. Students with learning disabilities and other obstacles to learning (e.g. ESL/EFL populations) have been shown to benefit from this type of instruction as well but may require additional instruction in specific areas in order to achieve the same levels of success. General: Barlow A. T. (2010). Building word problems: What does it take? Teaching Children Mathematics 17(3 [Annual Focus Issue: Teaching Mathematics in a Flat World ]) Bebout H. (1990). Children s symbolic representation of addition and subtraction word problems. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education 21(2) 123. Capraro R. M. Capraro M. M. & Rupley W. H. (2012). Reading-enhanced word problem solving: A theoretical model. European Journal of Psychology of Education 27(1) / 6

2 Dunlap W. (1980). Teaching strategies for solving word problems in math. Intervention in School and Clinic 15(4) Englard L. (2010). Raise the bar on problem solving. Teaching Children Mathematics 17(3) Gooding S. (2009). Children s difficulties with mathematical word problems. (M. Joubert Ed.) P roceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathmatics 29 (3) Hershkovitz S. & Nesher P. (1999). Tools to think with: Detecting different strategies in solving arithmetic word problems. International Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning Ilany B. S. & Margolin B. (2010). Language and mathematics: Bridging between natural language and mathematical language in solving problems in mathematics. Creative Education 1 (3) Kapa E. (2001). A metacognitive support during the process of problem solving in a computerized environment. Educational Studies in Mathematics 47(3) Lee K. Ng S. F. Bull R. Pe M. L. & Ho R. H. M. (2011). Are patterns important? An investigation of the relationships between proficiencies in patterns computation executive functioning and algebraic word problems. Journal of Educational Psychology 103(2) Littlefield J. & Rieser J. J. (1993). Semantic features of similarity and children s strategies for identifying relevant information in mathematical story problems. Cognition and Instruction 11(2) 2 / 6

3 Schoppek W. & Tulis M. (2010). Enhancing arithmetic and word-problem solving skills efficiently by individualized computer-assisted practice. Journal of Educational Research 103(4 ) Swanson H. L. (2011). Working memory attention and mathematical problem solving: A longitudinal study of elementary school children. Journal of Educational Psychology 103(4) Learning Disabilities: Alter P. (2012). Helping students with emotional and behavioral disorders solve mathematics word problems. Preventing School Failure 56(1) Babbitt B. C. & Miller S. P. (1996). Using hypermedia to improve the mathematics problem-solving skills of students with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities 29(4 ) 391. García A. (2006). Solving arithmetic word problems. Journal of Learning Disabilities 39(3) Gersten R. Chard D. Jayanthi M. Baker S. Morphy P. & Flojo J. (2008). Mathematics Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities or Difficulty Learning Mathematics: A Synthesis of the Intervention Research. Review of Educational Research 79(3) Giordano G. (1992). Heuristic strategies: An aid for solving verbal mathematical problems. Inter vention in School and Clinic 28 3 / 6

4 (2) Jitendra A. K. & Star J. R. (2011). Meeting the needs of students with learning disabilities in inclusive mathematics classrooms: The role of schema-based instruction on mathematical problem-solving. Theory Into Practice 50(1) Jitendra A. & Xin Y. P. (1997). Mathematical word-problem-solving instruction for students with mild disabilities and students at risk for math failure: A research synthesis. Journal of Special Education 30 (4) Maccini P. McNaughton D. & Ruhl K. L. (1999). Algebra Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities: Implications from a Research Review. Learning Disability Quarterly 22(2) Powell S. R. (2011). Solving word problems using schemas: A review of the literature. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice 26 (2) Stellingwerf B. P. & Van Lieshout E. C. D. M. (1999). Manipulatives and number sentences in computer aided arithmetic word problem solving. Instructional Science 27(6) Xin Y. P. Jitendra A. K. & Deatline-buchman A. (2005). Effects of mathematical word problem solving instruction on middle school students with learning problems. The Journal of Special Education 39 (3) / 6

5 Other: Beal C. R. & Shaw E. (2009). An online math problem solving system for middle school students who are blind. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching 5(4). Retrieved from erlot.org/vol5no4/beal_1209.htm Delgado A. M. (2007). The Effects of Multimedia Technology on the Learning of Math Story Problems of Elementary and Middle School Deaf Students (Master s thesis). Lamar University Beaumont Texas. Retrieved from Hyde M. Zevenbergen R. & Power D. J. (2003). Deaf and hard of hearing students performance on arithmetic word problems. American annals of the deaf 148(1) Kempert S. Saalbach H. & Hardy I. (2011). Cognitive benefits and costs of bilingualism in elementary school students: The case of mathematical word problems. Journal of Educational Psychology 103(3) Lean G. (1990). Linguistic and pedagogical factors affecting children s understanding of arithmetic word problems: A comparative study. Educational Studies in Mathematics 21(2) / 6

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