Instruction in Estimating Solutions of Whole Number Computations

Two related studies on teaching estimation of solutions to whole number computations to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders are reported. Meaningful instruction in a whole group setting and via individual worksheets, computer-assisted drill and practice on estimation and a computer-assisted exact computation control treatment were the methods of instruction investigated. Both rounding and front-end processes were taught. All estimation treatment groups scored better on immediate measures of the ability to estimate, and this superiority was retained in the meaningful instruction groups after 1 and 3 weeks. Meaningful estimation instruction, but not drill, transferred to estimation in verbal problems, and all estimation treatments led to increased use of the rounding process in estimation.