This study examines the presence of three conceptual metaphors for fractions -- The measuring stick metaphor, Arithmetic is motion along a path, and Arithmetic is object construction -- in four common and popular Swedish mathematics textbook series for years 1-3. I analyse the introduction of fractions and the kinds of tasks students are given in…

Previous research suggests that students use metaphors when asked to explain digestive processes and nutritional uptake. In this paper, we describe the results of a study designed to gain a deeper understanding of how metaphors and anthropomorphisms are used by students when describing such processes. We applied analyses based on the…

The Matthew effect is often used as a metaphor to describe a widening gap between good and poor readers over time. In this study we examined the development of individual differences in reading and cognitive functioning in children with reading difficulties and normal readers from Grades 1 to 3. Matthew effects were observed for individual…