Improving the Performance of Grade 5 Pupils in Simplifying Series of Operations Using theOrder of Operations Task Cards

Abstract

Introduction

In the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum in the Philippines, pupils should be able to connect the relationship between addition and subtraction, addition and multiplication, and also multiplication and division. The order of operations including grouping symbols such as parenthesis, brackets, and braces are introduced in the Grade 5 level. Thus, the PMDAS / GMDAS rule is taught and emphasized when teaching simplifying series of operations. As the researcher taught this learning competency, she observed that pupils got mostly zero, one or two out of 5 items in their formative test. Pupils were correct with the first step but going through the process, they got confused. They mistakenly perform multiplication first before division and, then add first before subtraction without applying the rule in solving order of operations. In this research, the use of the order of operation task cards was carried out to determine its effect on the performance of Grade 5 pupils in simplifying series of operations.

Methods

The order of operation task cards was made by the researcher. Each task card contained a problem to be solved by the 30 Grade 5 pupils as respondents. The tasks were given to pupils during the applications of learning towards the mastery of learned skills. It was performed in pairs, by groups, and individuals. A pre-test was conducted before the intervention was utilized and the posttest was administered immediately after using the order of operations task cards. Likewise, an interview was conducted to find out where pupils made mistakes so that it will be corrected immediately.

Results

Statistical results revealed that there was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest mean scores of the respondents. This means that the use of the order of operations task cards was effective in improving the performance of the Grade 5 pupils of Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School, School Year 2018-2019.

Discussions

Based on the findings, it was concluded that the use of operation task cards as an intervention to improve the performance level of Grade 5-Venus pupils in simplifying series of operations is effective. Since some pupils thought that it was very difficult for them to interpret the problem, it is recommended that they need to be familiarized first with the phrases and terms that suggest operations to form the mathematical sentences. This will help them interpret the phrases accurately and will lead them to the correct solution.