Logarithms, pivotal in advanced mathematics and real-world applications, often present challenges to students who resort to rote memorization without grasping their essence. While the emotional dimensions of learning mathematics are increasingly recognized, research in this area remains limited. This dissertation addresses this gap by examining a…

Number sense is a key indicator of students' future academic success. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds often come to kindergarten lacking number sense skills that other students acquire before they begin formal schooling. Small-group intervention that is focused on number sense skills is an effective way to address this foundational…

Analogy is a powerful learning mechanism for children to learn novel, abstract concepts from only limited input, yet also requires cognitive supports. My dissertation sought to propose and examine number lines as a mathematical schema of the number system to facilitate both the development of rational number understanding and analogical reasoning.…

This dissertation conducted two studies that examined two methods of instructional planning to effectively match students to a whole number computation intervention that would best meet their needs. Study 1 was a systematic synthesis of all studies that used brief experimental analysis (BEA) to determine an effective mathematics intervention for…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a teaching procedure derived from an analysis of joint control to teach math skills to students with autism spectrum disorder. Given the limited amount of evidence on teaching procedures derived from the analysis of joint control to teach students with autism, additional investigations on this topic were…

Exponential functions are an integral component of the secondary mathematics curriculum with which students struggle. Inherent difficulties students have had around the topic of exponential functions suggested a need for thinking about and examining the teaching and learning related to this content. This study presented the mathematical ideas made…

Extensive research has documented students' difficulty understanding and applying the Empirical Law of Large Numbers, the statistical principle that larger random samples result in more precise estimation. However, existing interventions appear to have had limited success, perhaps because they merely demonstrate the Empirical Law of Large Numbers…

The purpose of this qualitative, single-case study was to examine teachers' perceptions of using guided notes to improve the proficiency rate of middle-grade students in mathematics number systems. This study was conducted in one school system in North Carolina where students were failing to meet the state standards for mathematics achievement at…

Recent studies show that English learning students are a growing population within the United States school system. Language barriers have been shown to negatively influence reading scores as well as math scores, and math scores are a predictor of future academic success in many subject areas. This qualitative action research study demonstrates…

Despite the importance of mathematical understanding for academic and occupational success, students in the United States are not meeting necessary levels of mathematics achievement. Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) provide a framework for schools to allocate resources to best support students. Universal screening, a key element of MTSS,…

Even though algebraic ideas are addressed across a number of grades, algebra continues to serve as a gatekeeper to upper mathematics and degree attainment because of the high percentage of students that fail algebra classes and become halted in their educational progress. One reason for this is students not having the opportunity to build on their…

Research evidence suggests that early mathematics education received before kindergarten can positively influence later mathematics learning. Given these findings, there is a need for the development of interventions and strategies that can successfully target young children's mathematical deficiencies in number sense, and more specifically,…

Developing a positive relationship with mathematics in early elementary is vital for success in future mathematics education. Students who do not develop an understanding of mathematical number sense in early grade levels struggle to make connections in later courses. Mathematical discourse sessions, specifically Number Talks, encourage students…

This mixed methods action research study examined the implementation process and impact of a 9-week Number Talk intervention to build number sense in kindergarten students. Fifty-eight kindergarten students engaged in daily Number Talk lessons for 9 weeks. Qualitative data were collected to evaluate the strengths and challenges of the…

Number Talks, created in the early 1990s by Ruth Parker and Kathy Richardson, have gained popularity in the mathematics education community over the past decade with the publication of the book series "Number Talks" (Parrish, 2010, 2014), and especially since the publication of "Making Number Talks Matter" (Humphreys &…