The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of using concrete and virtual manipulatives relevant fractions subject to 3rd grade students' understanding of fractions and motivation towards mathematics lessons. The study group consists of 61 students studying in three different classes at the 3rd grade level of a private primary school in…

Given its pedagogical appeal, the number line is a commonly used representation in the teaching and learning of fractions. However, behind its apparent simplicity, this mathematical object may involve layers of complexity when looked at from the perspective of affordances as is the case in this study. In particular, this in situ exploration…

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effects of digital teaching materials on 4th graders' academic achievement on fractions subject and attitudes towards mathematics and computers. The study was planned with a pretest and posttest control group design. The participants of the study were 60 students studying in a public elementary…

We analyzed item responses provided by a nationwide sample of 990 in-service U.S. middle grades mathematics teachers to a novel survey focused on fraction arithmetic. The survey targeted four components of reasoning in terms of measured quantities: "Referent units," "Reversibility," "Partitioning and iterating," and…

Background: Within the ambit of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the use of technology-based tools within teaching and learning is advancing rapidly at education institutions globally, including the teaching and learning of mathematics. Learners and teachers have challenges with teaching and learning fractions in mathematics. A learner's…

This study investigated relations between the distribution of practice problems in textbooks and students' learning of decimal arithmetic. In Study 1, we analyzed the distributions of decimal arithmetic practice problems that appeared in 3 leading math textbook series in the United States. Similar imbalances in the relative frequencies of decimal…

A solid foundation in mathematics is beneficial not only for individuals' concurrent and later academic achievement, but also for future career success and financial stability. Rational number knowledge plays a pivotal role in mathematical success, yet it is often regarded as a challenging area to grasp comprehensively. The dissertation aims to…

The mathematical domain of fraction division continues to be an area of great difficulty for many teachers and preservice teachers (Lo and Luo, Journal for Mathematics Teacher Education 15:481-500, 2012; Newton, American Educational Research Journal 45:1080-1110, 2008; Rizvi and Lawson, International Education Journal 8(2):377-392, 2007; Young and…

This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the current knowledge of Primary Teachers and Primary Pre-service Teachers on the misconceptions of primary school students about the subject of fractions. The qualitative research method of case study was used to conduct the research. The data were collected with semi-structured forms that…

The book synergizes research on number across two disciplines--mathematics education and psychology. The underlying problem the book addresses is how the brain constructs number. The opening chapter frames the problem in terms of children's activity, including mental and physical actions. Subsequent chapters are organized into sections that…

Computational models of learning can be powerful tools to test educational technologies, automate the authoring of instructional software, and advance theories of learning. These mechanistic models of learning, which instantiate computational theories of the learning process, are capable of making predictions about learners' performance in…

Productive struggle is an essential part of mathematics instruction that promotes learning with deep understanding. A video scenario is used to provide a glimpse of productive struggle in action and to showcase its characteristics for both students and teachers. Suggestions for supporting productive struggle are provided.

To provide effective fractions instruction, teachers need deep understanding of fraction concepts (i.e., content knowledge) and skill in using visual representations of fractions to support student learning (i.e., pedagogical content knowledge); yet, research indicates that many pre- and in-service teachers lack knowledge in both areas. The…

There is anecdotal evidence that many elementary teachers integrate mathematics lessons and art activities by having students first make colorful, rich material that is subsequently used in an instructional activity. However, it is unclear whether such activities effectively promote learning and transfer of mathematical concepts. The goal of the…

Students show deficient understanding on fraction division and supporting that understanding remains a challenge for mathematics educators. This article aims to describe primary students' understanding of partitive fraction division (PFD) and explore ways to support their understanding through the use of sequenced fractions and context-related…