Teaching Mathematics Word Problem Solving to Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) emphasizes the teaching of “Big Ideas” in mathematics. This study focuses on the part–part–whole (PPW) relationship as a crucial aspect of word problem solving involving addition and subtraction. The research evaluates the effects of conceptual model-based problem-solving (COMPS) with the concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) sequence on teaching addition and subtraction word problem solving to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a multiple-probe design across the participants, the study evaluates the impact of the intervention on students’ performance across three types of word problems: join-in, take-away, and combine. Results demonstrated significant improvements in students’ problem-solving abilities on criterion tests. In addition, students successfully generalized their skills to solve problems with new contexts. The findings of this study provide implications for future research and educational practice.