Strategy Instruction in Mathematics

Mathematics performance is conceptualized as a problem-solving situation consisting of cognitive and metacognitive processes associated with (a) representing the problem, (b) planning a solution, (c) carrying out the operations entailed by the plan, and (d) monitoring the course of solution. Strategies for accomplishing these activities have been instructed within a variety of instructional models, three of which are discussed: direct instruction, self-instruction, and mediated performance (guided learning). Strategy instruction studies representative of each method have been applied to mathematics computation tasks and to word problem solving. These studies are reviewed with a focus on what makes for effective strategy instruction for learning disabled children. Conclusions center on the need to deal explicitly with problem representation and conceptual understanding of the task, task-specific planning and computation skills, and general organizational frameworks for systematically monitoring solution progress. Finally, it is recommended that strategy instruction studies make provision for component practice sufficient to develop efficient access to and use of the available knowledge base as well as of the instructed strategies.