Mathematics Teacher--A Reading Teacher?

The extent of any relationship of problem solving in mathematics to reading was investigated. A review of similar research studies indicated a need for further research because of the lack of agreement among authorities concerning this relationship. Two contrasting populations of third-grade students were selected for the study. One group was from a city school in a large metropolitan area in western New York. The second was from a village school in a farming community in northern Indiana. All were from upper-lower and lower-middle class backgrounds. The children were given reading and arithmetic tests, and the correlation coefficients were computed. In each instance, the total reading and problem-solving achievement scores were converted to percentile ranks. A positive relationship between problem solving in arithmetic and reading was found for both groups, but it was not judged to be of sufficient magnitude to be an accurate predictor of performance of one variable from the other. It was, however, concluded that the arithmetic teacher must teach certain reading skills. Tables and references are included. (NH)