ERIC Number: EJ1247124
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Apr
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0663
EISSN: N/A
Constructing Written Arguments to Develop Fraction Knowledge
Kiuhara, Sharlene A.; Gillespie Rouse, Amy; Dai, Ting; Witzel, Bradley S.; Morphy, Paul; Unker, Becky
Journal of Educational Psychology, v112 n3 p584-607 Apr 2020
Making sense of fractions is critical for building the mathematical competence of upper elementary students with and at-risk for a mathematics learning disability. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of teaching students with and at-risk for learning disabilities an intervention in which they learned to construct written arguments to develop their fraction knowledge. We sequenced the intervention using the 6 stages of Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). The effects were tested using a pre-posttest cluster-randomized controlled trial in which 10 teachers were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Measures included a far-learning fraction test and proximal writing measures that assessed quality of mathematical reasoning, total number of rhetorical elements, and total words written. Teachers in the treatment condition received 2 days of professional development before implementing the six-lesson intervention, 3-4 times per week for 30-45 min. Clustering effects were corrected to examine differences in pretest-to-posttest change scores using individual scores for students in the SRSD group (n = 28) and control (n = 31). Results favored students in the SRSD condition from pre- to posttest on fraction test (g = 0.60); quality of mathematical reasoning (g = 1.82); number of rhetorical elements (g = 3.20), and total words written (g = 1.92). Special education students in the SRSD condition (n = 16) demonstrated greater gains in fraction scores from pretest to posttest compared to their nondisabled peers (n = 12, g = 1.04). The findings from this study support the genre knowledge hypothesis of writing-to-learn.
Descriptors: Persuasive Discourse, Mathematics Skills, Knowledge Level, Fractions, Elementary School Students, At Risk Students, Learning Disabilities, Intervention, Instructional Effectiveness, Mathematical Logic, Students with Disabilities, Content Area Writing, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Children, Learning Strategies, Mathematical Concepts, Misconceptions, Suburban Schools, Special Education
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A