Literacy Struggles in Math Class: Elementary Students and Mathematical Word Problems

• In Event: Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Literacy Research Issues in the 21st Century

Abstract

Mathematical word problems inhabit a crucial space in elementary school mathematics curriculum. Elementary teachers are necessitated to develop their students' mathematical word problem solving competence. This study examined teachers' instructional practices for solving word problems and teachers' perspectives of student difficulties solving mathematical word problems. Data was collected through teacher interviews with 70 grade 2-5 teachers from 42 schools in the south central US. The results indicated that reading factors, particularly text comprehension and vocabulary knowledge, were among the most frequently cited difficulties for students solving mathematical word problems. Teachers' instructional practices, however, often failed to address student difficulties.

Authors

• Kim Skinner, Louisiana State University

• Dan Pearce, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

• Estanislado S. Barrera, Louisiana State University