The effects of using the GoMath program on teaching computation skills for students with learning disabilities

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on teaching math computation skills to students with learning disabilities (LD) using the GoMath program and to examine the teachers’ and students’ satisfaction with this program in their teaching and learning. Four, 3rd and 4th graders with LD were taught by one special education teacher in a resource room and participated in learning computation skills for 60 minutes, 5 days per week for 12 weeks, using the Go Math program. A multiple baseline research design with A B phases across students was used to evaluate their performance. The findings indicated that all of the participants increased their addition, subtraction and multiplication computation scores using the GoMath program, and the teachers and students were generally satisfied with the program and its supplemental materials. The results of this study support the use of the GoMath program providing explicit instruction with a multisensory approach to teach math computation skills to students with LD

The effects of cognitive strategies paired with hands-on or virtual manipulatives on math instruction for students with mathematical learning disabilities to learn word problem solving skills

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using cognitive strategies with hands-on manipulatives, and cognitive strategies with virtual manipulatives to enhance problem solving skills of students with Mathematical Learning Disabilities (MLD), as well as their satisfaction with those strategies. Five, 5th graders with MLD participated in the study to learn word problem solving skills in a math class for 80 minutes, 5 days a week for 10 weeks. A single subject research design with ABC phases was used in the study. Results showed each student gained from 3.6 to 5.2 mean points of the weekly quizzes compared to the baseline. A paired cognitive strategy with hands-on manipulatives or computer-based manipulatives may strengthen the math instruction and provide further practices to benefit students with MLD to learn problem solving skills

The effects of computer assisted instruction and structured curriculum on struggling mathematics students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different instructional types used in a mathematics intervention setting. In recent years, school staff have implemented mathematics intervention programs to aid struggling students and improve student achievement. Advancements in technology have enticed many school staff to purchase computer-based instructional products that are used for mathematics intervention. Often computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is the only mathematics intervention students receive, however staff in the school of this study used a structured curriculum (SC) along with CAI Therefore, this study examined the effects of CAI compared to a SC delivered by a teacher. This study used a three-group pre/post-test design, which examined the effects of CAI, SC, and CAI with SC on mathematics achievement and students\u27 attitudes towards mathematics. The follow research questions guided data analyses: 1) Is there a significant instructional type effect on mathematics achievement? 2) Is there a significant instructional type effect on mathematics attitude? 3) What is the factor structure of mathematics attitude scores of struggling learners? Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no statistically significant instructional type effects on mathematics achievement or attitude towards mathematics. However, factor analyses of pre-survey attitude scores revealed a factor structure different from the one found in current research. Meanwhile, factor analyses of post attitude survey scores resulted in a factor structure resembling that found in current literature, which suggested a shift in struggling students\u27 mathematics attitude structures after they participated in mathematics intervention. The results of this study provided information about how school leaders and administrators can design and implement mathematics intervention programs as well as the role of CAI in intervention programs. Additionally, lapses in fidelity of program implementation may have influenced results of the study and provide recommendations for teacher professional development and monitoring in order to maintain high levels of fidelity when implementing an intervention program. Finally, the results of this study suggested that struggling learners\u27 attitude structure might be different than that of students in the larger population. The researcher discussed implications these differences may have on the design of mathematics intervention programs

Using the Concrete-Representational-Abstract Sequence to Connect Manipulatives, Problem Solving Schemas, and Equations in Word Problems with Fractions

Students with learning disabilities or learning difficulties in mathematics often have difficulties solving word problems with fractions. These difficulties limit students\u27 abilities to solve everyday math problems and develop the skills necessary for higher level mathematics. Prior research on problem solving indicates that direct instruction on problem schemas can improve problem solving performance. Previous research also suggests that instruction using the concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) sequence and instruction with virtual manipulatives can enhance understanding of mathematical concepts. However, a CRA sequence that incorporates virtual manipulatives has not been combined with schema-based instruction to help students solve word problems with fractions. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using an intervention that combined the CRA sequence with virtual manipulatives and schema-based instruction to improve the problem solving performance of students with learning disabilities or learning problems in mathematics on word problems with fractions. This sequence of instruction was combined with a mnemonic strategy called the LISTS strategy to help students remember the steps in the problem solving sequence. Using a single-case multiple baseline across participants design, the researcher provided an intervention to five students in the fifth grade that included instruction in three problem schemas for addition and subtraction (change, compare, and group). Results indicated that all students made some gains in performance on problems similar to those presented during the intervention, but the three students who were able to make connections between problem schemas and equations demonstrated significant gains in performance. The concrete models and virtual models used in the CRA sequence enhanced understanding of fraction word problems for some, but not all, students. Additionally, analysis of student performance on pre- and post-tests of problems with novel features indicated that students made only small gains in performance on fraction word problems that included difficult vocabulary, irrelevant information, or information that required different conceptualizations than those presented during the intervention

The Influence Of Virtual Manipulatives On Second Grader\u27s Acquisition Of Place Value Concepts

The purpose of this study was to examine my own practice of teaching place value and the influence virtual manipulatives had, in addition to physical manipulatives, on place value understanding of my second grade students. I wanted to see how adding a base-ten computer applet might better meet the needs of all learners while also meeting the needs of today’s technological classroom. Through this study, I found that both physical and virtual manipulatives helped students acquire place value concepts. I found that virtual manipulatives had features that engaged students in a way that increased their mathematical language, increased students’ ability to represent more conceptual understanding of composing and decomposing numbers, and express enthusiasm towards mathematics. A pretest and posttest revealed that students’ academic performance increased. While research on virtual manipulatives and mathematical achievement is fairly recent, this study offers insight to other classroom teachers and the research community

Comparing middle school students\u27 learning and attitudes in face-to-face and online mathematics lessons

Online learning has become a staple within education for college students, and has started to enter high schools. While this instructional delivery system has been shown to work for older students, few studies have involved middle school students. If this trend toward online teaching of younger students continues, online learning could become a large part of education for middle school students, making research in this area important. Multiple positive and negative aspects have been identified for online learning. Positive characteristics include individualized pacing; electronic resources, and the opportunity for rapid or personalized feedback, while negative aspects address increased student responsibility and technological ability. Online communication may be viewed as an asset and detriment, depending upon the emotional needs of middle school students that differ from the older online student. This study examined sixth grade students\u27 academic performance in face-to-face and online mathematics units. Research participants included 46 sixth grade students attending a rural middle school in a Midwestern state. The counterbalanced, repeated measures study compared pretest and posttest scores on unit tests addressing mathematical content learned under two instructional conditions. Students alternated between online and face-to-face units, completing ten units during the school year. No statistically significant differences in overall student performance between the two conditions were found. A Two One-Sided T-Test indicated that student performance in the online and face-to-face learning in this study could be called equivalent. Students also responded to surveys in which they rated perceived learning and enjoyment of the learning condition. No significant difference in perceived learning between the conditions was found. Student-reported enjoyment was significantly higher for online learning, but that enthusiasm decreased a small but significant amount during the year, probably because of loss of novelty. Student responses concerning their reasons for preferences for instructional condition paralleled characteristics reported in the professional literature. This investigation demonstrated the equivalency of both conditions; however, additional studies with a greater number and diversity of students are warranted. Future research studies will need to determine if a blend of both instructional approaches is optimal

The Effect Of Mathematical Manipulative Materials On Third Grade Students\u27 Participation, Engagement, And Academic Performan

This study is the summary of research conducted in a third grade classroom during a unit on multi-digit addition and subtraction. The classroom teacher utilized mathematical manipulative materials throughout the course of this unit as a supplement to aid in the conceptual understanding of addition and subtraction. This study showed the effects of those manipulatives on third grade students\u27 participation, engagement, and academic performance. Data collected from teacher observations and video recordings indicated a positive relationship between manipulatives and student participation and engagement. A pre-test/post-test and student work samples were used to determine effects on academic performance. Data showed students\u27 academic performance increased, however the relationship between academic performance and manipulatives was found to require further research and study

Examining General Educators\u27 Instructional Practices Teaching Mathematics to K-8 Students with Disabilities

A disparity in the mathematics performance between students with disabilities (SWDs) and students without disabilities in K-8 grades in international schools may lead to a lack of opportunities for SWDs to take advanced mathematics classes and enter mathematics-related college programs and careers. This problem may be increased if K-8 teachers of SWDs do not use social-constructivist-based practices needed for effective mathematics teaching. The purpose of this bounded qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the constructivist-based practices teachers applied in the mathematics K-8 classrooms for SWDs. Vygotsky\u27s social-constructivism theory was used to guide this study. The research question addressed which social-constructivist principles were used to instruct K-8 SWDs to learn mathematics. Eight K-8 mathematics teachers from 5 international schools were purposefully chosen and volunteered to complete a qualitative questionnaire and to participate in a semistructured interview. Data were analyzed thematically using a priori, open, and axial coding strategies and related to the conceptual framework. Teachers reported building relationships with SWDs to guide and use differentiated instruction, fostering student efficacy, and integrating real-world context and activities in their mathematics instruction. Based on the findings, it is recommended that teachers use self-reflection to align their teaching practices with social-constructivist principles and use self-reflection and feedback opportunities with SWDs to discuss student learning. This endeavor may contribute to positive social change when administrators encourage teachers to use self-reflection and self-assessment of their mathematics instruction to lead SWDs to increased motivation, engagement, and learning, which may result in more options for college majors and career paths for SWDs