ERIC Number: EJ1318439
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1305-8223
EISSN: N/A
Teachers' Perspectives on Addressing Linguistic Factors Affecting Visualisation of Mathematics Word Problems
Moleko, Matshidiso Mirriam
EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, v17 n11 Article em2029 2021
Visualisation plays a critical role in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems. It is an essential tool for enabling learners to create meaningful mental pictures necessary for solving mathematical problems. Appropriate visualisation requires good reading skills, English proficiency and an understanding of mathematical vocabulary, language and structure. Although visualisation plays such a critical role, teachers often do not pay attention to linguistic factors when teaching mathematics word problems, thus making it difficult for learners to visualise and solve mathematics word problems. This background positions the study to explore teachers' perspectives on the linguistic factors that affect the visualisation of mathematics word problems and to identify appropriate solutions to these. Using a single-case exploratory study, the perspectives of six mathematics teachers were elicited through focus group discussions and reflection sessions. The data collected were analysed through thematic analysis techniques. The findings indicate strategies to address the lack of reading skills, including understanding mathematical language and the structure and ambiguities of mathematics word problems.
Descriptors: Teacher Attitudes, Visualization, Case Studies, Problem Solving, Mathematics Instruction, Word Problems (Mathematics), Teaching Methods, Language Role, Mathematics Teachers, Reading Skills, Ambiguity (Semantics), Academic Language, Vocabulary Skills, Language Proficiency, African Languages, Native Language, Language of Instruction, Grade 9, Secondary School Students, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Foreign Countries
Modestum. No: 1 Windrush Road, Hilton Derbyshire, DE65 5LB, UK. e-mail: ejmste@ejmste.com; Web site: https://www.ejmste.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A