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Keeping Records While Solving Problems: A Study of Multilingual Learner and First-Language English Speaking Students

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Title: Keeping Records While Solving Problems: A Study of Multilingual Learner and First-Language English Speaking Students
Language: English
Authors: Daniel J. Heck (ORCID 0000-0001-5040-0633), Anthony Fernandes (ORCID 0000-0002-1113-523X), Johannah Nikula (ORCID 0000-0002-0553-2722), Evelyn M. Gordon (ORCID 0009-0007-3934-1856)
Source: Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education. 2026 29(4):29-62.
Availability: International Consortium for Research in Science & Mathematics Education. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ICRSME.Consultation@gmail.com; Web site: http://ejrsme.icrsme.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
Contract Number: 1348810
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Elementary Education
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
High Schools
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Multilingualism, Bilingual Students, Monolingualism, Mathematics Education, Problem Solving, Documentation, Difficulty Level, Cognitive Processes, Scoring Rubrics
ISSN: 2692-241X
Abstract: Creating written records while working on mathematics tasks may help students make sense of tasks and free cognitive resources for reasoning as they offload elements of the problemsolving process to paper. We investigated the extent of cognitive processes of multilingual learner (ML) and first-language English speaking (non-ML) students' record keeping (RK) on tasks designed with and without supports for RK and the association between evidence of students' cognitive process in RK (EC-RK) and the correctness of their solutions. Grades 7-9 (aged 12 to 16) students worked on RK-Supported or RK-Unsupported versions of three tasks, and we rubric-scored their solutions for both EC-RK and correctness. Overall, higher EC-RK scores were associated with greater correctness, confirming the utility of EC-RK for solving mathematics tasks. The presence of supports, though, did not increase the extent to which students' RK reflects their cognitive processes, yet correctness of ML students' solutions was associated with solving the RK-Supported versions of the tasks. This result suggests benefits of these supports for ML students apart from encouraging EC-RK.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495713
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Keeping Records While Solving Problems: A Study of Multilingual Learner and First-Language English Speaking Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Daniel+J%2E+Heck%22">Daniel J. Heck</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5040-0633">0000-0001-5040-0633</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anthony+Fernandes%22">Anthony Fernandes</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1113-523X">0000-0002-1113-523X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Johannah+Nikula%22">Johannah Nikula</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0553-2722">0000-0002-0553-2722</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Evelyn+M%2E+Gordon%22">Evelyn M. Gordon</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3934-1856">0009-0007-3934-1856</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Electronic+Journal+for+Research+in+Science+%26+Mathematics+Education%22"><i>Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 29(4):29-62.
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  Data: International Consortium for Research in Science & Mathematics Education. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ICRSME.Consultation@gmail.com; Web site: http://ejrsme.icrsme.com
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  Data: 34
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+8%22">Grade 8</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Creating written records while working on mathematics tasks may help students make sense of tasks and free cognitive resources for reasoning as they offload elements of the problemsolving process to paper. We investigated the extent of cognitive processes of multilingual learner (ML) and first-language English speaking (non-ML) students' record keeping (RK) on tasks designed with and without supports for RK and the association between evidence of students' cognitive process in RK (EC-RK) and the correctness of their solutions. Grades 7-9 (aged 12 to 16) students worked on RK-Supported or RK-Unsupported versions of three tasks, and we rubric-scored their solutions for both EC-RK and correctness. Overall, higher EC-RK scores were associated with greater correctness, confirming the utility of EC-RK for solving mathematics tasks. The presence of supports, though, did not increase the extent to which students' RK reflects their cognitive processes, yet correctness of ML students' solutions was associated with solving the RK-Supported versions of the tasks. This result suggests benefits of these supports for ML students apart from encouraging EC-RK.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495713
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 29
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 7
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 8
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 9
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      – SubjectFull: Multilingualism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bilingual Students
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      – SubjectFull: Monolingualism
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Education
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      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
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      – SubjectFull: Documentation
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      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Processes
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      – SubjectFull: Scoring Rubrics
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Keeping Records While Solving Problems: A Study of Multilingual Learner and First-Language English Speaking Students
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