Difficulties Encountered by Grade 10 Students in Mathematics 10

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This research attempted to determine the difficulties encountered by the grade 10 students in Mathematics 10 in Tinurik National High School during the school year 2017-2018. Specifically, this research sought to answer the following questions: 1.) What are the difficulties encountered by the grade 10 students in Mathematics 10 in Tiurk National High School in terms of the following as perceived by themselves and by the teacher: a. Sequences, b. Polynomials, c. Polynomial Equations, and d. Polynomial Functions; 2.) Is there a significant difference between the perceptions of the two sets of respondents? ; 3.)What is the degree of seriousness of the factors affecting the difficulties in Mathematics 10 as perceived by the grade 10 students and teachers in Tinurik National High School in terms of:1.1.Community-Related Factors1.2. Teacher-Related factors, 1.3. Family-Related Factors; 4.) Is there a significant difference between the perceptions of the two groups of respondents to the degree of seriousness of the contributory factors to the difficulties in Mathematics 10? And 5.)What is the implication of this study to Mathematics instruction?

METHODS

The research employed the descriptive normative survey in gathering the data needed. Relatively, in order to find answers to the problem, framed questionnaires were used.

RESULTS

After the thorough analysis and interpretation of the gathered data, the research resulted in both the teachers and students perceiving Mathematics 10 as "moderately difficult" and there is no significant difference between the perceptions of the two groups. The results also revealed that both the teachers and the students perceived the teacher-related factors, by the mean of scores 22.75 and 99.25 for the teachers and the students respectively, as very serious issues affecting the students' difficulty in Mathematics 10. The second highest component based on the data is the family-related factors as perceived by both by the teachers and the students. As shown on the table, 85.25 is the students' mean of scores 19.75 is the teachers' mean of scores.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the findings, the teachers and the students have the same perceptions on the students' difficulties in Mathematics 10. Both the students and the teachers perceived all the mentioned topics as "moderately difficult" except Polynomial function.