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The effects of fine motor movement and tactile stimulation on the math problem solving of students with attention problems

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Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of fine motor physical activity with tactile stimulation during two conditions of math problem solving, visual and auditory. Eight 4th and 5th grade students with attention problems participated. Using an alternating treatments design, students solved as many math story problems as they could, presented on worksheets or verbally during two conditions, with and without tactile stimulation during 20 min. Motor behavior, recorded from videotape, and number of correctly completed word problems were measured. Results suggest that fine motor manipulation of a tactile stimulation object reduced excessive motor movement and increased task completion of students with attention problems.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the administrators, counselors, teachers, parents and children from the Sugar Creek Elementary school—North Montgomery School Corporation, Crawfordsville, IN, who made this study possible.

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Correspondence to Suneeta Kercood.

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Kercood, S., Grskovic, J.A., Lee, D.L. et al. The effects of fine motor movement and tactile stimulation on the math problem solving of students with attention problems. J Behav Educ 16, 303–310 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-007-9042-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-007-9042-1

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