Improving Mathematical Problem Solving In Grades 4 Through 8. A Practice Guide

EDUCATOR’S PRACTICE GUIDE WHAT WORKS CLEARINGHOUSE Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8 NCEE 2012-4055 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) publishes practice guides in education to bring the best available evidence and expertise to bear on current challenges in education. Authors of practice guides combine their expertise with the findings of rigorous research, when available, to develop specific recommendations for addressing these challenges. The authors rate the strength of the research evidence supporting each of their recommendations. See Appendix A for a full description of practice guides. The goal of this practice guide is to offer educators specific, evidence-based recommendations that address the challenge of improving mathematical problem solving in grades 4 through 8. The guide provides practical, clear information on critical topics related to improving mathematical problem solving and is based on the best available evidence as judged by the authors. Practice guides published by IES are available on our website at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/publications_reviews.aspx#pubsearch. IES Practice Guide Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8 May 2012 Panel Staff John Woodward (Chair) University of Puget Sound Madhavi Jayanthi Rebecca Newman-Gonchar Kelly Haymond Instructional Research Group Sybilla Beckmann University of Georgia Mark Driscoll Education Development Center Megan Franke University of California, Los Angeles Patricia Herzig Independent Math Consultant Asha Jitendra University of Minnesota Kenneth R. Koedinger Carnegie Mellon University Philip Ogbuehi Los Angeles Unified School District NCEE 2012-4055 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Joshua Furgeson Mathematica Policy Research Project Officer Joy Lesnick Institute of Education Sciences This report was prepared for the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences under Contract ED-07-CO-0062 by the What Works Clearinghouse, which is operated by Mathematica Policy Research. Disclaimer The opinions and positions expressed in this practice guide are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions and positions of the Institute of Education Sciences or the U.S. Department of Education. This practice guide should be reviewed and applied according to the specific needs of the educators and education agency using it, and with full realization that it represents the judgments of the review panel regarding what constitutes sensible practice, based on the research that was available at the time of publication. This practice guide should be used as a tool to assist in decision making rather than as a “cookbook.” Any references within the document to specific education products are illustrative and do not imply endorsement of these products to the exclusion of other products that are not referenced. U.S. Department of Education Arne Duncan Secretary Institute of Education Sciences John Q. Easton Director National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance Rebecca A. Maynard Commissioner