Math Learning in Grade-4 and 5: What Can We Learn Form The Opportunity-Propensity Model

Several factors seem important to understand the nature of mathematical learning. Byrnes and Miller combined these factors into the Opportunity-Propensity model. In this study the model was used to predict the number-processing factor and the arithmetic fluency in grade 4 (n = 195) and grade 5 (n = 213). Gender, intelligence and affect (positive affect for arithmetic fluency and negative affect for calculation accuracy) predicted math learning, and pointed to the importance of the propensity factors. We have to be careful not to interpret gender differences, since this is a social construct, our analyses pointed to the relevance of including antecedent factors in the model as well . The Implications of the study for math learning will be discussed below.