SCHEMA BASED INSTRUCTION
ABBIE HUTCHINS
EASTERN UNIVERSITY
OVERVIEW
• What is Schema Based Instruction (SBI)?
• Why should teachers use SBI?
• When can teachers/students use SBI?
• How do teachers implement SBI?
• Examples of SBI
WHAT IS SCHEMA BASED INSTRUCTION?
• Schema Based Instruction, or SBI, “involves teaching students how to
identify word problem types based on a given problem’s underlying
structure, or schema.”
• Three main kinds of schemas: Additive, Multiplicative, and Combination
Schemas
• IRIS CENTER, “Schema Instruction”
WHY SHOULD TEACHERS USE SBI?
• Word problems are often a challenge for students with
learning disabilities, as well as those without
• SBI gives students a framework to approach word
problems
• “Identifying keys words is not enough; students need a
better strategy, especially for those with learning
disabilities” (Dingfelder, 2007)
WHEN CAN TEACHERS/STUDENTS USE THIS
STRATEGY?
• When teaching word problems in the math or science classroom.
• Can be used by students when working independently or during assessment.
• Can be used anytime there are words that need to be deciphered through in
order to solve a mathematical equation!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER EXAMPLE
• Here is an example of what a student graphic organizer
might look like to help them remember what a Combine
(Addition) Schema is:
PROCEDURE
• 1. Teach your students what the different kinds of schemas
(problem structures) are, and practice setting up the
structure for each of those problems.
PROCEDURE CONT.
• Teach your students how to solve a problem in the schema with
an unknown part:
• 1. First read the problem.
• 2. Identify the problem type (schema)
• 3. Change the words into the schema structure.
• 4. Then, solve the problem.
EXAMPLE
• Sam and Lisa have $30.84 together. If Sam has $10.50,
how much money does Lisa have?
This Photo by Unknown Author is
licensed under CC BY-NC
1. READ THE PROBLEM
2. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM TYPE
Combine Schema
3. PUT THE INFORMATION FROM THE WORD PROBLEM
INTO THE SCHEMA TEMPLATE
Sam’s Money ($10.50) + Lisa’s Money (?) = $30.84
4. SOLVE THE PROBLEM
$10.50 + ?(Lisa’s Money) = $30.84
-$10.50
0
-$10.50
+
?
= $20.34
?
= $20.34
Lisa’s money = $20.34
CONCLUSION
• SBI is a helpful tool for assisting your students in mastering word
problems.
• There are many resources available to assist you in teaching your
students to use schemas, such as graphic organizers that help them
recognize and categorize the different types.
• SBI is research based and proven to be effective, and worth trying
in your own classroom!
REFERENCES
•
Dingfelder, S. 2007. (April n.d.). Schema based instruction improves math skills.
Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr07/schema
•
Jitendra, A. K., Griffin, C. C., Deatline-Buchman, A., Sczesniak, E. (2007).
Mathematical word problem solving in third-grade classrooms. Journal of Educational
Research, 100, 283–302.
•
Page 6: Schema instruction. (2019, n.m. n.d.). Retrieved from
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/math/cresource/q2/p06/#content