• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.127-150
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to apply the principles of CGI(Cognitively Guided Instruction) into mathematics class in Korean elementary schools and to explore which mathematical concepts Korean students have and how they use informal knowledge and procedures to solve problems. In addition, this study tries to analyze difficulties that teachers might face when they are planning mathematics teachings based on CGI. The conclusions of this study are followings: First, the mathematics teaching based on CGI provides opportunity for students to communicate about mathematical knowledge that they know, The students are sure of their thoughts and learn from others by presentation. Second, the mathematics teaching based on CGI make students think mathematically. The students try to understand the meaning of problems and find various ways. Third, teachers should lead appropriate environment for the mathematics teaching based on CGI. They should offer proper problems and encourage their students to ask and answer questions respectively.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.789-806
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• 2010

As calls for more attention toward social minority group increases in our society recently, in the field of mathematics education more attention toward an issue about mathematics underachievers is being amplified. Thus, the present study is to examine the effects of teaching method considering students' cognitive characteristics on mathematical underachievers' problem solving and mathematical disposition. For this study, 10 fifth graders identified as mathematical underachievers based on the results of the national level diagnosis assessment and school based assessment were voluntarily selected from an elementary school in Seoul. The results of this study found out the fact that students participating in this program improved in terms of an ability both to solve problems in various ways and to explain an process of problem solving using spoken or written language and drawings. In addition, learning environment respecting students' own mathematical ideas seems to positively influence students' attitudes toward mathematics learning and mathematical dispositions. Furthermore, this study pointed out that mathematical underachievers tend to have difficulty in expressing their own mathematical thinking by reason of linguistic limitation. Finally, the findings of this study imply that for effective teaching of mathematics underachievers, these students' own informal experience and knowledge about mathematics as well as their characteristics regarding learning difficulties should be strongly considered.