Mathematical Language Strategies which may help Paul Swan The Newman Five Point Analysis This technique was developed by a teacher who wanted to pinpoint where her students were experiencing language problems in mathematics It was developed to determine where the breakdown in understanding is occurring Newman Analysis References Bana, J., Marshall, L., and Swan, P. [2005] Maths Terms and Tables. Perth: Journey Australia and RIC publications

Mathematical Language Strategies which may help Paul Swan Newman Analysis 1.Reading: ‘Please read the question to me. If you don’t know a word leave it out.’ Reading error If a student could not read a key word or symbol in the written problem to the extent that it prevented him or her proceeding further an appropriate problem solving path. Newman Analysis References Bana, J., Marshall, L., and Swan, P. [2005] Maths Terms and Tables. Perth: Journey Australia and RIC publications

Mathematical Language Strategies which may help Paul Swan The Newman Analysis 2. Comprehension: ‘Tell me what the question is asking you to do.’ Comprehension error The student is able to read all the words in the question, but had not grasped the overall meaning of the words and therefore, was unable to identify the operation. Newman Analysis References Bana, J., Marshall, L., and Swan, P. [2005] Maths Terms and Tables. Perth: Journey Australia and RIC publications

Mathematical Language Strategies which may help Paul Swan Newman Analysis 3. Transformation: ‘Tell me how you are going to find the answer.’ Transformation error The student had understood what the question s wanted him/her to find out but was unable to identify the operation, or sequence of operations, needed to solve the problem. Newman Analysis References Bana, J., Marshall, L., and Swan, P. [2005] Maths Terms and Tables. Perth: Journey Australia and RIC publications

Mathematical Language Strategies which may help Paul Swan Newman Analysis 4. Process skills: ‘Show me what to do to get the answer. Tell me what you are doing as you work.’ Process skills error The child identified an appropriate operation, or sequence of operations, but did not know the procedures necessary to carry out the operations accurately. Newman Analysis References Bana, J., Marshall, L., and Swan, P. [2005] Maths Terms and Tables. Perth: Journey Australia and RIC publications

Mathematical Language Strategies which may help Paul Swan Newman Analysis 5. Encoding: ‘Now write down the answer to the question.’ Encoding Error The student correctly worked out the solution to a problem, but could not express the solution in an acceptable written form. Newman Analysis References Bana, J., Marshall, L., and Swan, P. [2005] Maths Terms and Tables. Perth: Journey Australia and RIC publications