THE EXAMINING TWO APPROACHES FOR FACILITATING THE PROCESS OF ARITHMETIC WORD PROBLEMS SOLVING

Resumo

This paper focuses on two approaches for facilitating the process of word problems solving. The first approach distinguishes different kinds of occurred errors and the second one recognizes various required and underlying knowledge. The first approach applies Kinfong and Holtan's framework of occurred errors and the second approach applies Mayer’s theory (1992) of underlying knowledge for solving word problems. The main aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between different kinds of occurred errors and various required knowledge in solving Arithmetic word problems. The research methodology is a semi experimental method. The subjects include 89 eight grade students (male and female). The research tools are a descriptive math test regarding six word problems and a directed interview. The results indicate that in solving the arithmetic word problems, increasing students' errors result from lack of linguistic, semantic, structural and communicational knowledge. This study explored that the possible connection between the two approaches for facilitating solving word problems is very important. That is because clarity of this relationship may increase math teachers’ insight about the nature of different kinds of occurred errors and the different aspects of knowledge necessary for solving word problems.