The examination of metacognitive skills of fifth grade students in terms of their levels of solving verbal math problems

In this study the relationship between meta-cognitive skill levels and problem solving skill levels of fifth grade primary school students has been investigated. The research has been conducted at four primary schools in Seyhan borough of the province of Adana in 2005-2006 academic year. The research has been conducted on a total of 269 students of which 127 are females and 142 are males. In order to determine meta-cognitive skill levels of the students ?Meta-cognitive skills scale? which was developed via modification by the researcher, and in order to establish problem solving levels ?Problem Solving Skills Test? which was developed by the researcher has been used. The data has been collected processed by SPSS 11.5 statistical package program. The results show that there is a significant relationship between meta-cognitive skill levels and problem solving skill levels of the students. There is no indication that there is a significant difference on meta-cognitive skill levels and problem solving achievement levels of the students in terms of gender. However, in terms of socioeconomic status there is a significant difference between lower and middle class and lower and upper class students in terms of problem solving skill levels and metacognitive skill levels they demonstrate. Key Words: Mathematics education, problem solving, problem solving skills, wordproblems, metacognition.