Developing Skills in Evaluating Functions through PAIR Strategy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Evaluating Functions is one of the learning competencies in General Mathematics that require mastery of the pre-requisite skills like evaluating algebraic expressions and consequently basic skills in operations on integers. In the K to 12 Curriculum, subjects are taught from simple to complex as learners move to a higher-grade level. With this, learning competencies required per grade level must be mastered by the students before proceeding to a higher level so to avoid gaps in the teaching-learning process. However, the researcher found out that in her Grade 11-Parrot class, more than half of her students were below mastery level for Evaluating Functions after administering a check-up quiz during her formative assessment despite the varied strategies employed in the class. She then investigated the causes of such low performance using the problem tree. These students were found to have not mastered the basic skills in operations on integers thus they could not relate during class discussions, had difficulty in understanding the concepts and if not given immediate action would result to low performance and least mastered competencies.

METHODS

This study used "Peer-Aided Instruction and Reward (PAIR) Strategy" to develop skills in evaluating function. The respondents of this study were the 25 students who were below mastery level in evaluating functions after administering a 15-item teacher-made test during their formative assessment. The teacher-researcher then determined the causes of such low performance through data triangulation and found out that these students lacked mastery of the basic skills in operations on integers. In order to provide an immediate solution to these problems, PAIR strategy was employed.

RESULTS

Results showed that there was a significant increase in the scores of the respondents after administering a parallel 15-item teacher-made test and that their mastery in the competency had leveled up. This means that the skills in evaluating the function of the respondents were developed after employing PAIR strategy.

DISCUSSIONS

Based from the results, required competencies in the current grade level should be mastered by the learners before proceeding to a higher one to avoid gaps in the teaching-learning process; teachers should innovate or employ varied teaching strategies which could provide immediate responses to the instructional needs of the learners; and teachers who have ancillary assignments may use "PAIR Strategy" appropriately to their class.