PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION SKILLS, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ABILITY OF SOLVING MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS IN ARGENTINEAN SCHOOLCHILDREN

The aim of this study is the analysis of the association between the ability of solving mathematical problems and the executive functions: planning and organization in children on school age. This research was executed in two schools of public administration of Mendoza City, Argentina. The sample was compounded by 143 students, both sexes, among 8 and 11 years old, belonging to a middle-low socioeconomic standard of living. In order to evaluate children's executive functions and mathematic achievement, the Rey Figure Test (Rey, 1999), Porteus Maze Test (Porteus, 2006) and the subtest "Applied problems" (Woodcock and Mufioz Sandoval, 1996) were administrated. The results showed that the ability of solving mathematical problems was significantly associated to planning and organization skills in those students. In addition, we noticed that the capability of the students to solve mathematical problems, varied significantly according to their organization skill.