Enhancing Students' Multiplication Skills Involving Whole Numbers: Basis for Mathematics Drill
Keywords:
Mathematics Multiplication skills Drills Enhance Struggling Remedial Intervention Memorization Deductive OperationAbstract
INTRODUCTION
Mathematics in its widest sense in the development of all types of format deductive reasoning. Generally, it is said to be science of calculation. Mathematics should be visualized as the vehicle to train a child to think, reason out, analyze, and articulate logically. Apart from being specific subject, Mathematics should be treated as a concomitant to any subject involving analysis and meaning. Cocke(n.d.) said that Mathematics is a way to train the minds of children in the field of reasoning. He also added that Mathematics as a subject has a lot of practical utility in the future especially for the students who are in the Higher Secondary level.
METHODS
The participants of the study were Grade 7 students of Mabini National High School. A total of 51 students took part in this study; 15 male and 9 female students in section A and 18 male and 9 female students in section B. The participants were drawnfrom two class groups only. These participants encountered difficulties in multiplying whole numbers.
RESULTS
The researchers utilized multiplication worksheet as an assessment tool to identify the multiplications skills level of 51 Grade 7 students in Mabini National High School. The worksheets were collected and checked after the respondents accomplished it. The results were analyzed by the researchers and it was revealed that the respondents' low level of multiplication skills. Through the given exercises, it was also observed that there were learners who were not able to answer items in the multiplication worksheet. The researchers found out that there were learners who do not possess basic multiplication skills which was evident by the percentage of 0%, 2% and 10%. It has also been found out that there were students who tend to use addition instead of multiplication in accomplishing the assessment.
DISCUSSIONS
The proposed intervention program aims to improve the mathematical ability of struggling students in Grade 7 at Mabini National High School through the employment of an integrative and innovative scheme.
More specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:
What is the multiplication skills level of students?
What are the difficulties encountered in multiplying whole numbers?
What are the proposed drills in enhancing students' multiplication skills?
