The Effects of Reading Ability on Mathematics Achievement

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Date

2010-05

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Masters of Education

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility that reading ability, specifically math reading ability, affects mathematics achievement among elementary school students, specifically fourth graders, with varying levels of reading achievement. The experimental group consisted of one classroom differentiated into three small groups of students leveled by reading ability. The intervention used was the Thinking Maps flow map approach to problem solving. The measurement tool used was the Anne Arundel County Public School topic tests and benchmark assessments. This study involved the use of a pretest/posttest design to compare data from before the implementation of the intervention (September - February, 2009) to data from after the intervention was complete (March 26, 2010). Achievement gains were noteworthy, though there was no statistical significance found. In addition, results could be attributable to a number of intervening factors. Further research would be beneficial to determine the true success of this approach to problem solving and expand on the results in this study.