The current paper overviews a nine-month PhD study that investigated the impact of learning mathematics through sequences of challenging tasks on the mathematical competence and attitudes of Year 2 students (n = 59). Adopting a Self-Determination Theory lens, a pragmatist paradigm and a mixed-method design, the study found that at all levels of…

This study investigated direct and indirect pathways from listening comprehension (LC) to reading comprehension (RC) via fluent word reading (FWR) in grades 1-3, and path equivalence across these grades. LC's total effects predicting RC range from 0.45 to 0.59 in grades 1-3, a stronger relationship than found in previous studies. Overall, LC's…

The array is a powerful tool that builds students' understanding in multiplication. Students' interactions with the array changes through the course of an instructional sequence, which can be viewed as a process of "reification." In this paper, I report the findings of a research study conducted with 45 Year 5 students in Sydney. The…

The problem of rote-based learning in mathematics is well documented. Mobile technology can provide a potential solution, especially when application (app) design is based on sound pedagogical principles and gamification elements. However, an inventory of available mobile apps for mathematics reveals that many of the available apps are guided by a…

This paper examines the use of two theoretical models to analyse the complex process of changing teaching practice. The models were considered complementary in forming a theoretical framework. Analysis of one teacher's change, from the second cycle of a designbased research project for an onsite collaborative professional learning program,…

In mathematics education, subject matter knowledge matters! This paper reports findings from a study of relationships between teachers' understandings of content, the tasks they design and their interpretations of student thinking. A combined methods approach was used to gather multiple data sets from 64 upper primary teachers. The study found…

iRead is an EU Project involving literacy games in Spanish, German, Greek, and English for L1 and L2 acquisition. Content is selected dynamically from a large database using linguistic rules based on the player profile. The teacher can view pupils' progress based on automated game sequences or assign games manually. This project strives to…

Game Based Language Learning (GBLL) is an approach to language learning in which learning happens in the process of playing a game. GBLL has several potential benefits including enhanced reading, writing, and cultural awareness. This paper provides a brief overview of Cipher -- Faoi Gheasa, a GBLL app for Irish and learners' feedback on the game.…

In this contribution, we present a follow-up work-in-progress on an innovative system for facilitating small-group online discussions using an avatar during a video conference. A previous study has shown that the system had an effective, understandable, and more participatory interaction. Here, we examine long-term usage and its effects on…

Learning to read is a critical skill; yet only a small portion of children in the United States are reading at or above grade level. Attention is one crucial process that affects the acquisition of reading skills. The process involves selectively choosing task relevant information and requires monitoring competing demands. Many books for beginning…

We investigated how 53 elementary teachers interpreted the impact of the contexts in which they work on their mathematics instruction, and what those interpretations reveal about the agency individual teachers were able to achieve. Latent class analysis revealed two distinct classes, with teachers in one class perceiving that their contexts had a…

Despite curriculum expectations, many students, including a disproportionate number of girls, do not 'just know' (retrieve) single-digit addition facts by Year 3. The current study employed structured interviews to explore which strategies Year 3/4 students (n = 166) used when solving more difficult addition combinations. Results revealed that…

In this paper we compare the early years mathematics curricula of Germany, South Africa, and Australia in relation to the place value concept. Place value is an important topic as it underpins much of the number work completed by learners in the early years of schooling. We found that there were differences between the three curricula that could…

Informed by teaching statistics across curriculum areas strategies, this study investigated the skills of 36 pre-service teachers (PSTs) who designed numeracy activities that focused on the statistics strand of the Australian curriculum. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the PSTs designed numeracy…

The study was carried out to determine whether Turkish primary school 1st graders experienced reading loss during the summer holidays and whether giving book support to disadvantaged students during the summer holidays was effective in preventing this loss. The research was conducted with 26 students at a rural primary school. The pretest-posttest…