Attitudes Toward Understanding Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials of Grade Eight Yellowbell Students at Bauan Technical High School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Motivating students to learn mathematics like factoring perfect square trinomial is crucial for raising their achievement level in school as well as improving their opportunities to pursue higher academic studies. Factorization is the inverse of multiplication, so if the student has a limited capacity to think and operate algebraically, factoring will find difficult. In this study, remediation to the existing problem is necessary. Attitudes are very significant in life. The success of the student in understanding Math problems depends upon their attitudes. Developing student’s positive attitude towards learningfactoring is a great challenge to every math teacher now a days. Getting them to love algebra and eventually learn it is a quite tough job. Getting them to solve problems or do simple computations is even tougher since students don't seems to be interested in Algebra .Students who have positive attitudes and self-confidence in mathematics usually achieve better results.

METHODS

The random sampling used was the 50 Grade 8-Yellowbell students. Survey was conducted to find out the attitudes of Grade 8-Yellowbell students in Bauan Technical High School towards understanding factoring perfect square trinomials and the extent to which different factors affect the students' attitudes towards the said competency. Tabulation and listing of the data were used. The design used in this study is descriptive correlation in nature method and count frequency percentage.

RESULTS

The Grade 8-Yellowbell of Bauan Technical High School dissatisfaction on their teachers, results of lack of self-confidence. Lack of the mastery in multiplication which was commonly used in factoring is one of the factor affect the attitude of the students. The dissatisfaction was a result of not being able to complete the tasks successfully or failure to understand Mathematics. These bad experiences contributed to the students' anxiety feelings of inadequacy and shame. They do not get out of their shells. They were so timid and shy thus resulting for a very low self-esteem contributing to a very low performance.

DISCUSSIONS

The students are looking for something innovative and different. This is the responsibility of the teacher to teach their students using different intervention strategies to be implemented to develop and sustain positive attitude towards understanding factoring perfect square trinomials, conference with students and parents use of cooperative learning, and use of practice drills and exercises will a great help for the students attitude towards understanding factoring perfect square trinomials. The attitudes of grade -8 students towards understanding in factoring perfect square trinomials has been changed to more positive ones after the different methods, techniques and intervention strategies were implemented.