Affordances for developing mathematical proficiency in fraction word problems in South African textbooks
South African Journal of Childhood Education
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Affordances for developing mathematical proficiency in fraction word problems in South African textbooks | |
| Creator | Sibiya, Duduzile Essien, Anthony A. | |
| Description | Background: Performance in fraction word problems in primary school indicates that learners face challenges when working with fraction word problems, despite their frequent use of textbooks as learning materials.Aim: This article presents a comparative analysis of three commonly used Grade 6 mathematics textbooks, with the objective of evaluating their potential to facilitate the development and promotion of mathematical proficiency in fraction word problems among learners.Methods: Fraction word problems examples are analysed and compared across three commonly used Grade 6 textbooks using the five strands of mathematical proficiency.Results: Findings across the textbooks revealed an emphasis on the promotion of procedural fluency and productive disposition. The under-representation of the other strands, however, may hinder a holistic development of mathematical proficiency in fraction word problems and hence limit learners’ exposure to a diverse range of word problems in the textbooks.Conclusion: While the three selected Grade 6 mathematics textbooks are intended to promote the aims of the curriculum, their presentation on fraction worked-out examples and fraction word problems compromises an all-encompassing development of proficiency. This finding is pertinent to textbook developers as South Africa edges towards a new curriculum that will entail new textbook development.Contribution: The study’s results address a significant practical gap in the three selected Grade 6 textbooks regarding the development of mathematical proficiency in the presentation of fraction word problems. The study also makes a methodological contribution by operationalising the five strands of mathematical proficiency for use in the analysis of examples (in textbooks). | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2025-10-17 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajce.v15i1.1726 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Childhood Education; Vol 15, No 1 (2025); 11 pages 2223-7682 2223-7674 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1726/3538
https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1726/3539
https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1726/3540
https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1726/3541
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