The Relationship Between Number Sense and Problem Solving free essay sample

An examination of the relationships between teaching and learning styles, and the number sense and problem solving ability of Year 7 students Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Jemmy Emmanuel Georges Louange BEd Honours (Mathematics Education), Sussex University, UK Principal Supervisor: Dr. Jack Bana School of Education Faculty of Education and Arts Edith Cowan University Perth Western Australia July 2007 Use of Thesis This thesis is the property of Edith Cowan University. However, the literary rights of the author must also be respected. If any passage from this thesis is quoted or closely paraphrased in a paper or written work prepared by the user, the source of the passage must be acknowledged in the work. If the user desires to publish a paper or written work containing passages copied or closely paraphrased from this thesis, which passages would in total constitute an infringing copy of the purpose of the Copyright Act, he or she must first obtain the written permission of the author to do so. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship Between Number Sense and Problem Solving or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page i Acknowledgements This might be the longest dedication ever seen in any thesis, but once it is known what I have been through, and that mine has been an incredible journey, it would be very easy to understand the rationale behind thanking all those people and dedicating this thesis to them. Moreover, I firmly believe that a man is a product of the contributions of all those who have left an impression on him, and the following people have influenced me in various ways. First and foremost I wish to thank Jesus Christ who empowered and cared for me through the following people. A big thank you goes to my Principal Supervisor, Dr Jack Bana, for his help, encouragement and patience. You managed to guide me and stood up for me even when my eyesight was nearly gone. You have been more than understanding and excellent! I extend loads of appreciation to Professor Lelia Green for making possible the impossible. In a time when everything could have gone wrong for me, you did some marvellous things. Thanks to Professor Mark Hackling for his invaluable remarks and corrections, and Dr Paul Swan for some very useful tips. My gratitude is expressed towards Linda Jaunzems for reformatting the work at a time when it seemed impossible to do so. My sincere appreciation is expressed towards my longsuffering and understanding wife Ruth and my five children, namely Manuella, Tyron, Omeara, Ezekiel and Elijah for putting up with my below par performance as a father, as I tried to balance family life and my studies. I endured till the end due to the legacy of my father Freddy Louis-Marie and my mother Raymonde Louis-Marie who taught me never to give up and to always rely on the Lord. Nancy Barbe, if there are other caring people like you in this world then they must be very few; what you did to help us goes beyond human comprehension. The same goes for Eugene, Rachel, Sharol and Gilver Louise, Michel Edmond and Barbara Souffe; you are really wonderful. Antonia and Sonny Legaie, even when you did not have much you still managed to provide for me and my family; thank you is just not enough to show our appreciation of what you have done for us. Michel and Yvonne Servina, space is insufficient within which to write the good things you have done for us; you are just two incredible people. Des Murphy and Patrice Cooke, you know that without you around I definitely would have had to give up; thanks for making the impossible happen. Bernardin Renaud, you could be a high status person but you still treat me as a brother, and what you did was just marvellous. To my brother, friend and mentor Alex and Brenda Souffe, and my sister Odile Jean-Louis; the pages of this thesis are not enough upon which to write ii bout how precious you are to me. Without you I doubt that I would have reached a successful end. To my wonderfully generous and caring sister in Law Tacey Derjacques and husband Keven Furneau, and my unforgettable mother in law Martha Derjacques; I am blessed to have you in my life, for you are responsible for so many incredible things in our lives. To my sister Stella Leeming, Antoine, Debra and Sandra Laporte; for being there all the time. The following people gave of themselves, their time and effort to support me n any way possible: Marie-Helen Dubois, Jacques L’etourdie, Bernard and Doreen Arnephy, Michael Laporte, Audrey Zelia, Lymiah Bibi, Huguette and Rodney Cohen, Mariana Collie, Grace Barbe, Raymond De Silva, Viorel and Petronella Haidau, Sandra Mathiot, Sandra Botsoi, Joel and Shirley De Commarmond, Jacqueline Ladouc e and Peter Garlett, Luan Ladouce, Alain and Julia Dingwall, John and Philomena Bradley, Shirley Choppy, Steven Larue, Betty Dick, Philippa Larue and Jocyntha Sophola; how could you people who already had nothing still manage to give so much? Giovana Neves even when you were far away you still cared for me; you are great. Without the help of Mrs Jane Denis I would never have done this PhD. Doug Reid and Stewart Campbell; you were always present to help in any way you could. Paul Halfpenny, where would I have been without your invaluable help? To my brother Saunders Rose; you have encouraged me from start to finish! The following people were involved in transcription, correction and double checking of data; Marie-Helene Dubois (Main transcriber), Melina Barra and Chayada Danuwong (Coding check), Juliette Cecile, Zelda Jean-Louis, Fiona Henriette, Sandra Mathiot, Enda Gilbert, Shirley Julie, and Jimmy Hibonne (Second Marker). To Kurt Fischer and Shaun Wellborne-Wood for help with Adobe Illustrator work. The following people have shown me love and support in times when it seemed that my world would crumble around me. Some were instrumental in just being there as a friend or family member. Others constantly kept in contact with me to encourage me, while some provided financial and/or other support. You know what you did and how I would not have survived without your priceless help.