Some learners in South Africa perform poorly in school, especially in Mathematics. In 2010 the Department of Basic Education announced their concern regarding the pass rate. The National Education Department circulated a report in 2008 on some Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners who took part in a research project and only achieved level one and two in literacy (vocabulary), as well as numeracy (Mathematics). Several factors contribute to this shocking situation, such as the absence of the use of meta-cognitive strategies, number strategies, as well as language strategies. The prime goal of this study was to investigate the use of meta-cognitive strategies and Mathematical vocabulary during problem solving by Grade 7 learners. Three primary schools were invited to participate in the qualitative investigation. From these schools three top achievers (one per school) and three under-achievers (one per school) were invited to participate in the quantitative investigation. The study includes the results of the quantitative aspects of the investigation. Learners had to answer questions about predictions, achievements, control, as well as evaluation during the quantitative investigation. During this process, most of the learners predicted that they would do well and evaluated that they did well, but their marks for the questions about their achievements and control were in fact different. It is important to inform Mathematics teachers and learners about meta-cognitive strategies and Mathematical vocabulary, and the influence it can have on the learners’ achievements, as well as the positive effect during the learning of Mathematics. / MEd (Mathematics Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Some learners in South Africa perform poorly in school, especially in Mathematics. In 2010 the Department of Basic Education announced their concern regarding the pass rate. The National Education Department circulated a report in 2008 on some Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners who took part in a research project and only achieved level one and two in literacy (vocabulary), as well as numeracy (Mathematics). Several factors contribute to this shocking situation, such as the absence of the use of meta-cognitive strategies, number strategies, as well as language strategies. The prime goal of this study was to investigate the use of meta-cognitive strategies and Mathematical vocabulary during problem solving by Grade 7 learners. Three primary schools were invited to participate in the qualitative investigation. From these schools three top achievers (one per school) and three under-achievers (one per school) were invited to participate in the quantitative investigation. The study includes the results of the quantitative aspects of the investigation. Learners had to answer questions about predictions, achievements, control, as well as evaluation during the quantitative investigation. During this process, most of the learners predicted that they would do well and evaluated that they did well, but their marks for the questions about their achievements and control were in fact different. It is important to inform Mathematics teachers and learners about meta-cognitive strategies and Mathematical vocabulary, and the influence it can have on the learners’ achievements, as well as the positive effect during the learning of Mathematics. / MEd (Mathematics Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014