The effects of blended instruction and visual representations on area problems involving quadratic expressions for secondary students with mathematics learning difficulties (original) (raw)

Title of Document: THE EFFECTS OF BLENDED INSTRUCTION AND VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS ON AREA PROBLEMS INVOLVING QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH MATHEMATICS LEARNING DIFFICULTIES Tricia Kay Strickland, PhD, 2011 Directed By: Associate Professor Paula Maccini Department of Special Education University of Maryland, College Park The current study examined the effect of an instructional package on the algebra performance of secondary students with mathematics learning disabilities or difficulties (MD) when applied to the grade-appropriate algebra content of quadratic expressions. The instructional package included a blend of research-based instructional practices for secondary students with LD (i.e., concrete-representation-abstract instruction, graphic organizers, and components of explicit instruction) and the process standards recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics process standards (i.e., problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, conne...