Computation and Word-Problem Errors among Grades 4 and 5 Students with Mathematics Difficulty

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Computation and Word-Problem Errors among Grades 4 and 5 Students with Mathematics Difficulty
Language: English
Authors: Jessica Mao (ORCID 0009-0007-5582-7143), Chi Ma (ORCID 0009-0003-8331-0185), Yixian Huang (ORCID 0009-0000-6138-8748), Linling Shen (ORCID 0000-0002-3116-0491), Cinthia B. Herrera (ORCID 0009-0005-5536-288X), Sarah R. Powell (ORCID 0000-0002-6424-6160)
Source: Assessment for Effective Intervention. 2026 51(3):131-143.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Grade 5
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Computation, Word Problems (Mathematics), Error Patterns, Elementary School Students, Grade 4, Grade 5, Mathematics Education, Learning Problems, Misconceptions, Learning Strategies, Subtraction, Problem Solving, Arithmetic
DOI: 10.1177/15345084251398525
ISSN: 1534-5084
1938-7458
Abstract: Students with mathematics difficulty (MD) often struggle with both computation and word-problem solving, which are foundational skills emphasized in national standards such as the Common Core State Standards. As most past-error analysis research has primarily focused on a single mathematical topic, little is known about whether students with MD demonstrate error patterns consistently across both computation and word problems. The present study in a Southwestern U.S. state examined error types and consistency that Grades 4 and 5 students with MD made on 22 computation problems and 10 word problems. Using a researcher-developed coding protocol adapted from prior literature, we identified that the most common errors were miscalculation, regrouping subtract smaller integer, and wrong operation in computation; and wrong schema, miscalculation, copy, and regrouping in word problems. The majority of students did not demonstrate overlapping errors.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505590
Database: ERIC
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