Some children struggle with mathematics. Among these children, some of them may be learners with mathematical difficulties. While research has revealed multiple deficits as candidate causes for mathematical difficulties and probable subtypes, the cognitive profiles of these subtypes are not fully understood. Moreover, we have yet to discover…

We determined the relative importance of the so-called approximate number system (ANS), symbolic number comparison (SNC) and verbal and spatial short-term and working memory (WM) capacity for mathematics achievement in 1,254 Grade 2, 4 and 6 children. The large sample size assured high power and low false report probability and allowed us to…

We examined the role of executive attention, which encompasses the common aspects of executive function and executive working memory, in children's acquisition of two aspects of mathematical skill: (a) knowledge of the number system (e.g., place value) and of arithmetic procedures (e.g., multi-digit addition) and (b) arithmetic fluency (i.e.,…

This paper describes a design research study with ten second-grade students who are part of the Measure Up (MU) research and development project underway at the University of Hawai'i. Students were asked how they counted in multiple bases, specifically how they knew when to go to a new place value and why it was necessary to do so. All ten…

IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE SECOND YEAR OF ARITHMETIC INSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN, IF NECESSARY, WITH REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE PREVIOUS GRADE. THE NUMBER SYSTEM SHOULD BE DEVELOPED WITH BACKWARD AND FORWARD COUNTING AND THE INTRODUCTION OF 10 AND THE ZERO. THE WHOLE NUMBERS UNIT SHOULD DEVELOP MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION FACTS THROUGH GROUPS UP TO…

Teaching sequences designed to develop strategies for comparing numerals in grade two (in France) were analyzed. Children's strategies were noted, and an experiment confirmed underlying misconceptions concerning number. (MNS)

This teaching experiment investigated variables which affect how well children learn from manipulative aids and how to use such aids in teaching mathematics. Five small groups from one second-grade classroom were stratified by achievement and taught using (1) counting sticks; (2) Dienes blocks; (3) abacus; (4) all three materials; or (5) counting…

Illustrates the multiple strategies used by second graders to solve a problem with three addends and how their teacher tries to map their thinking into the system of mathematical notation. Describes the American Federation of Teachers' Thinking Mathematics program that the teacher uses. (MKR)

Following instructions provided in the teacher's manual, the SCOPE Mathematics Achievement Test booklet for grade 2 presents 10 mathematical concepts. Testing items are: counting number of objects in a set to 100; using ordinals to the 31st; forming numerals correctly; writing number words to 10; identifying and naming the number of 10's and 1's…