From Reading Comprehension to Word Problem Solving Skills: A Directional Framework for Teaching and Learning Mathematics 7

Abstract

This research study focused on assessing the effectiveness of team teaching in reading comprehension skills and word problem-solving skills in terms of noting details, inferring and applying, and their significant relationship with each other. The respondents of the study were selected learners of Victorino Mapa High School, Division of Manila for the school year 2018-2019. There were 70 learners composed of 37 Grades 7 to18 as the experimental group and 33 Grades 7 to 20 as the control group. The researcher was the Mathematics teacher of the two sections, while the experimental group was taught reading comprehension skills by an English teacher. This study used a quasi-experimental design as it involved two groups. The data were analyzed using statistical tools such as percentage, mean, t-test, and Pearson's r. The study revealed both groups improved their scores in reading comprehension and word problem-solving tests in the posttest. The experimental group performed better than the control group in both skills. In reading comprehension skills were no significant difference between learning gains of two groups in noting details, inferring, and applying. In word problem-solving skills, the overall result showed that there was a significant difference between the learning gains of the two groups. This led to the conclusion that the experimental group who received treatment, gained understanding in solving mathematical problems. The applying skills got the lowest level of performance both in the control and experimental group even during pretest and posttest. This implied that learners have difficulty in solving mathematical equations, especially in linear equations in one variable. It was also found out that reading comprehension skills and word problem-solving skills were significantly related to each other. Based on the results of the study, the researcher recommends that teaching reading comprehension skills and word problems-solving skills should go hand-in-hand.