H. Lee Swanson

An important part of mathematics programs in elementary schools are word problems. In many current theories on the development of children's mathematical problem-solving, a fundamental component is working memory. Children with math disabilities have limitations in working memory and to date, there have not been any intervention studies that have tried to develop strategies to compensate for working memory demands as they relate to problem solving in children with math disabilities.

A growing number of children enter school in the United States with Spanish as their first language. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2005 indicated that only 15% of Hispanic students in fourth grade read at or above the proficient levels compared to 40% of White or Asian American students. Currently, approaches to the assessment and identification of children for special education services who have limited English proficiency are not consistent. For English Language...

This postdoctoral program trained four postdoctoral fellows in research design and statistical methods within the areas of reading, math, and cognition. The training program included mentoring faculty with expertise in intervention research and statistical methods.

The purpose of this project is to examine the cognitive processes through which working memory (WM) affects word problem solving accuracy in the elementary grades. In addition, the investigators will examine whether children at risk for mathematical difficulties in grade 1 have less working memory and greater difficulty solving word problems compared to average achievers of comparable age over time. Considerable research shows that people's ability to solve word problems depends largely on t...