Improving Problem-Solving Performance of Students with Mathematics Difficulties Project Summary/Abstract This application addresses Broad Challenge Area (12): Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Specific Challenge Topic, 01-OD-101: Efficacy of Educational Approaches Toward Promoting STEM. This project will test the efficacy of a fully developed intervention (Schema-Based Instruction, SBI) with third grade students identified with mathematics difficulties (MD). Over a 15-year period, SBI has been evaluated using primarily quasi-experimental designs and has yielded positive outcomes for students with and without MD. Specifically, this study will (a) investigate the effectiveness of SBI intervention in improving the mathematics problem-solving performance of third graders with mathematics difficulties (MD), (b) determine whether SBI intervention will lead to improved attitudes about mathematics, and (c) determine whether child characteristics (scores at pretest on computation, attentive behavior, metacognition, reading ability) and treatment fidelity moderate the effects of SBI intervention relative to a control condition. Given the focus of the study on addressing the chronic and pervasive mathematical difficulties of children in primary school, this proposal is directly responsive to the public health of individuals. This study will take place in elementary schools in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis that has a diverse student population and is representative of low-income neighborhoods. The participants will be approximately 260 third graders across the two years of the study. A randomized design will be used in this study. In each of approximately 40 participating third-grade classrooms, students identified as experiencing mathematics difficulty will be randomly assigned to a SBI or control tutoring intervention group. Verification of their mathematics difficulties will be determined based on scores ( STUDY TITLE: Improving Problem-Solving Performance of Students with Mathematics Difficulties Project Narrative The mathematical underachievement of students in the United States is particularly severe for students with disabilities, limited-English proficient (LEP) students, students from impoverished backgrounds, and minorities (National Mathematics Advisory Panel, 2008). The proposed two-year study will address the mathematical problem solving difficulties of third grade students who are identified as having mathematics difficulties (N = 260) by providing small group tutoring using schema-based instruction (SBI) that is known to improve mathematics outcomes for students with mathematics difficulties. Given the focus of the study on addressing the chronic and pervasive mathematical difficulties (i.e., problem solving) of children in elementary schools in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis that has a diverse student population and is representative of low-income neighborhoods, this proposal is directly responsive to the public health of individuals.Public Health Relevance
