Spoken Language and Mathematics

Teachers and learners use spoken language in the three part mathematics lesson advocated by the National Numeracy Strategy (NNS). This document recognises the importance of language by emphasising 'the correct use of mathematical vocabulary' in the raising of standards. Research into the use of vocabulary in science suggests that the use of scientific words does not necessarily demonstrate conceptual understanding. Pupils and teachers appear to ascribe different meanings to scientific words because of their relative positions on the novice/expert continuum. To explore whether mathematical words could cause similar problems, data collected from six groups of teachers and learners was subjected to discourse analysis to provide evidence of how spoken language was used and how meaning and understanding were achieved. The implications of the findings on the use of language by both teachers and learners in the NNS mathematics lesson, including vital areas for reflection by teachers, are fully considered.     

Attention problems,phonological short-term memory,and visuospatial short-term memory: Differential effects on near- and long-term scholastic achievement

The current study examined individual differences in children's phonological and visuospatial short-term memory as potential mediators of the relationship among attention problems and near- and long-term scholastic achievement. Nested structural equation models revealed that teacher-reported attention problems were associated negatively with composite scholastic achievement (reading, math, language), both initially and at 4-year follow-up in an ethnically diverse sample of children (N = 317). Much of this influence, however, was attenuated by phonological short-term memory's contribution to near-term achievement and visuospatial short-term memory's contribution to long-term achievement. Domain-specific reading and math models showed similar results with some exceptions. In all models, measured intelligence made no contribution to later achievement beyond its initial influence on early achievement. The results contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms associated with individual differences in children's scholastic achievement, and have potential implications for identifying early predictors of children at risk for academic failure, and developing remedial programs targeting phonological and visuospatial short-term memory deficits in children with attention problems.