This study was undertaken in order to better understand prospective elementary school teachers' motivations for working with fractions before and after taking a course designed to deepen their understanding of mathematics, as well as what instructional practices might be related to any changes detected in their motivations. Eighty-five education…

Mathematical learning disabilities (MLDs) are often associated with math anxiety, yet until now, very little is known about the causal relations between calculation ability and math anxiety during early primary school years. The main aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate the relationship between calculation ability, self-reported…

The universal emphasis in mathematics education on teaching and learning for understanding can require substantial paradigmatic shifts for many elementary school teachers. Consequently, a pressing goal of teacher preparation programs should be the facilitation of these changes during program experiences. This longitudinal, mixed methods study…

The current study tested the development of working memory involvement in children's arithmetic strategy selection and strategy efficiency. To this end, an experiment in which the dual-task method and the choice/no-choice method were combined was administered to 10- to 12-year-olds. Working memory was needed in retrieval, transformation, and…

Two hundred sixty-four students from a large southeastern U.S. university participated in this study which investigated the relationship between mathematics anxiety and learning styles in elementary preservice teachers. The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) and Style Analysis Survey (SAS) were administered. Scores were analyzed using Pearson…

Two experiments demonstrate how individual differences in working memory (WM) impact the strategies used to solve complex math problems and how consequential testing situations alter strategy use. In Experiment 1, individuals performed multistep math problems under low- or high-pressure conditions and reported their problem-solving strategies.…

This action research project is designed as a music-based intervention to address and overcome some of the risk factors for low achievement in mathematics that research has linked to poverty level. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that children who are eligible for school lunch programs in 4th grade score on average 13 points…

This article investigates the association between students' self-related cognition and mathematics performance in Hong Kong, a region that has excelled in mathematics performance in previous international studies. The five constructs of self-related cognition are: self-concept, self-efficacy, interest and enjoyment, instrumental motivation, and…

We face a world in which a college degree increasingly dictates the likelihood of life success. At the same time, there has been an ever increasing population of students who have not been prepared adequately through their high school education to meet the rigors of college/university-level content. The present study investigated the effects of a…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that reduce mathematics anxiety in preservice elementary teachers enrolled in mathematics content courses. Students enrolled in ten sections of four different, required mathematics content courses in one specific semester were chosen as the population for this study. Approximately 180 students were…

This paper describes the experiences of two pre-service primary teachers in a teacher education subject focusing on mathematics and learning difficulties. It describes how bibliotherapy was a powerful reflective tool that provided them with the opportunity to respond cognitively and affectively to their own schooling. By analysing readings about…

Questionnaires completed by 147 professionals and interviews completed by a subgroup of 15 individuals measured attitudes about mathematics. Each subgroup member admitted to negative feelings. Reasons offered for mathematics difficulties focus on three major areas: (1) conceptual or intellectual considerations, (2) motivation, and (3) the…

This study investigates associations between the classroom environments perceived by high school students and their level of mathematics anxiety. A revised and updated version of the Plake and Parker Revised Mathematics Anxiety Ratings Scale (RMARS) was used to assess students' mathematics anxiety. A revised version of the What is Happening in…

Studied the construct validity of the revised Math Anxiety Rating Scale (L. Alexander and C. Martray, 1989) using a sample of 815 college students. Results show that the revised measure may represent a more parsimonious and valid measurement approach than the original scale for assessing mathematics anxiety. (SLD)

Development of mathematical problem solving skills is an age old problem in mathematics. This paper details the design of a component of a first year university mathematics course in which group work and mathematical communication skills, especially writing skills, are used as a tool to develop non-routine problem solving skills. In this design…