Increasing the Mastery in Mathematics of Grade Six Learners through the Utilization of "I Love Math!"

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Math is not just an academic subject as it pervades life situations on a daily basis. Yet, most learners exhibit a negative attitude towards it. In Bukal Sur Elementary School, Grade 6 MPS was 51.6% in 2015, 47.54% in 2016, and 50.24% in 2017 (TMEPA 2015-2018). This fluctuating results signify the implementation of an intervention. This is made especially so in June 2017 when Grade 6 students will be governed by the new K to 12 Curriculum. Adjusting to the challenges brought by the curriculum shift, the researcher deemed it significant to use an ICT-integrated instructional material aligned with the contents of the new curriculum. Hence, the research-based "I Love Math!" is hereby utilized.

METHODS

The researcher made use of the quasi-experimental method. The study considered the results of the pre-test and post-tests given to Grade Six-Humble learners in evaluating their mastery level in Math. Then, the significant difference in the mastery level before and after the utilization of I Love Math was analyzed. This study also used the descriptive-survey method of research for the analysis of the significant difference in the mastery levels when classified according to their preferred learning styles.

RESULTS

The pre-test results reveal that the mastery levels of respondents were Nearing Master in Number & Number Sense, while Mastery Least in four other content areas. The post-test results show that there is Mastery in the Number & Number Sense and in Geometry, and Nearing Mastery in 3 other content areas. From the pre-test mean of 12.27 and a 31.35% MPS, the post-test registered an increased mean of 30.82 and 75.40% MPS. Fourteen out of 45 or 31% were activists, 13 or 28% were reflectors, 5 or 11% were theorists, 3 or 7% were pragmatists, and 15 or 33% prefer 2 or more learning styles. It was also found that there is no significant difference in the mastery level when they were classified according to their preferred learning styles. However, there is a significant difference in the mastery level before and after the utilization of I Love Math!

DISCUSSIONS

The findings denoted the importance of ICT-interventions like "I Love Math!" especially in the initial years of the Kto12 Curriculum implementation. With the identified considerations on the ILM content and structure, the researcher may conduct another cycle of related research with the revised version of the ILM and implement the same to more respondents.