The application of decomposition strategies (i.e., associative or distributive strategies) in two-digit multiplication problem solving supports algebraic thinking skills essential for later complex mathematical skills like solving algebra problems. Use of such strategies is also associated with improved accuracy and speed in mathematical problem…

The ideas of measurement and measurement comparisons (e.g., fractions, ratios, quotients) are introduced to students in elementary school. However, studies report that students of all ages have difficulty comparing two quantities in terms of their relative size. Students often understand fractions such as 3/7 as part-whole relationships or…

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…

The issue of college readiness persists in higher education, with many students entering college unprepared for the demands of college-level coursework. This challenge is particularly pronounced in math-intensive fields, where students frequently encounter struggles in corequisite math courses. The problem statement asserts that underprepared…

This study was designed to fill a need to explore the hypothesis that students who participate in middle school bands and or chorus have higher math cognitive functioning than their non-music peers. Using the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP), this study identified specific math domains that middle school music students showed higher functioning…

Concerns about low mathematics achievement have created a push to increase national mathematics proficiency levels through research and policy. Efforts have largely focused on early mathematics interventions for students with or at risk for mathematics learning difficulties implemented within multi-tiered response to intervention (RTI) frameworks.…

This sequential explanatory mixed methods study explores elementary mathematics teachers' perceptions regarding their mathematical self-efficacy, how teachers describe their perceptions about their prior mathematical learning experiences and their impact on their instructional practice in the elementary mathematics classroom. In support of this…

This dissertation explores the reimagination of mathematics education through a Bourdieusian perspective. The conceptual framework includes Bourdieu's well-defined terms: capital, field, habitus, and doxa. A thorough review of mathematics education documents finds that mathematics education has not yet considered, mathematics capital, from a…

Gifted students' often go unchallenged in the classroom, and this lack of tailored instruction can lead to decreased motivation, which, in turn, influences underachievement, which is a significant concern since these children, theoretically, should be our highest achievers. This 4-week (i.e., eight instructional days) semi-randomized,…

The study investigated best practices to increase students' skills in math fluency and computation and reduce math anxiety. The studies used in this Systematic Literature Review were analyzed using the TAPUPAS framework to ensure the studies chosen were quality and were relevant to the research questions. The results of these analyzed studies…

Proficiency in mathematics is fundamental for academic success and is linked to numerous skills that are essential for success in the real-world. Despite its importance, many students struggle with math, leading to nationwide declines in math proficiency. This decline highlights the need for effective interventions that are accessible, able to be…

Many approaches have been taken to study gender (in)equities in mathematics education, including studies of students' achievement on standardized tests, participation in postgraduate degrees and careers, participation in the classroom, and students and teachers' mathematics identities. In this dissertation, I used Baxter (2003b)'s Feminist…

Tangible coding toys have been promulgated as useful learning tools for young children to learn computer science and mathematics concepts and skills. Although research shows coding toys can support mathematics for early childhood aged children, little is known about the specific design features of coding toys that afford mathematical thinking…

The present study investigated the math self-efficacy of homeschool parents and whether there was a correlation between parental math self-efficacy (PMSE) and parents' choice of mathematics curriculum. A simple random sample of parents with at least one child enrolled in Classical Conversations (N = 223) completed a survey to measure their math…

The purpose of this quantitative ex post facto study is to determine if and to what extent is there a statistically significant difference in math aptitude, as measured by SAT-Math scores, between African American male and female public high school students enrolled in a STEM program versus those enrolled in a non-STEM program in a high school of…