Action Research Title:

Mathematical Skills of Grade 8 Students of Ramon Torres Dulao

National High School in Relation to Academic Performance: Basis for
Intervention

I. Context and Rationale

Students considered Mathematics as the hardest subject in school.

Teaching Mathematics is really a great challenge in the part of a teacher.
Additionally, learning Mathematics in elementary is very different from learning
Mathematics in high school. Mastering the basic skills in Mathematics is the
foundation of education.

Study shows there are approximately 66% of students who are fine or are
in love with math and 64% finds Math to be enjoyable ( Anushka Tripathi, B.E.
from BMS Institute of Technology, 2021). Today, a wide variety of disciplines
require the students to have knowledge of certain mathematical tools. Students
of the biological sciences, finance, business and management are now finding
that they routinely need to perform calculations which require them to have a
firm understanding of basic ideas in algebra and calculus ( Loughborough
University Library). Weakness in mathematical skills not only influences the
students’ scientific learning but it may also represent a major drag for their
employability. Among other requirements, employers seek competent employees
in relation to Math’s literacy ( Tariq, 2004).The term “math’s literacy” was
introduced to indicate the ability to apply mathematical concepts to the work
context( Hoyles et al., 2002). Math’s literacy includes basic numeracy, but implies
further cognitive skills, and can be easily generalized to any other context,
including science.

As being defined, mathematical skills is a term used in some countries to

refer to math skills learned by preschoolers and kindergarten students including
learning to count numbers (usually from 1 to 10 but occasionally including 0),
learning the proper sequencing of numbers, learning to determine which shapes
are bigger or smaller, and learning to count objects on a screen or book.

Students’ academic performance plays a vital role in producing graduates

who could compete globally and be a future leader in the country.

This study differs from other studies which aim to give proper
interventions to this problem to develop students’ interest in Mathematics subject
and able to master mathematical skills.
 As a common problem of students at Ramon Torres Dulao National High
School, the researcher desire to solve this problem. Specifically on algebra which
they find difficult to learn. On the absence of a Remedial Math Teacher and
tutors, action research on Mathematical skills in relation to academic performance
as basis for intervention was proposed. Particularly, it is considered to answer
such problems before they promoted to Grade 9. This will serve as a guide to
teachers to identify the students with poor mathematical skills and subjected for
intervention.

Students with poor mathematical skills tend to have a low academic

performance which leads to a failing grade in other subjects especially in science.
This may result to disappointment not only to the teacher but the whole
educational community and later on will affect the society.

Furthermore, among the 8 subjects in school Math has the lowest MPS
each grading period. Lack of knowledge in basic mathematical skills is considered
as the cause of this problem in educational system that will result to students’
academic performance.

Doing this research will help the teachers to improve students’

mathematical skills to improve students’ academic performance.Various programs
and strategies will be implemented to address this problem.
II. Action Research Questions

This study aims to answer the following questions:

What are the mathematical skills of Grade 8 students of Ramon Torres Dulao
National High School in relation to academic performance as basis for
intervention?

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:

1. Is there a significant difference between the mathematical skills and

academic performance of Grade 8 students of Ramon Torres Dulao
National High School?
2. Is there a significant difference between mathematical skills and academic
performance of Grade 8 students of Ramon Torres Dulao National High
School when grouped according to age, sex and section?
3. What are the interventions uses by the Math teachers to solve the problem
in mathematical skills of Grade 8 students of Ramon Torres Dulao National
High School?

III. Proposed Innovation, Intervention and Strategy

Department of Education Spiral Curriculum was designed to encourage

students to apply their previous learning to later topics and new situations and it
also allows a logical progression from simple to complex ideas.

Despite the use of modern teaching methods, the availability of modern

teaching materials and the provision of specialized training for all teachers,
teachers still find in teaching mathematics because their students have problems
in learning it.
 However, there are issues that lead to the mathematical education such as
the use of ICT in Mathematics, language problem, learning environment and the
change of curriculum.

In Ramon Torres Dulao National High School, Math teachers conducted an

item analysis in order to identify the least learned skills and to determine the
students who have poor mathematical skills. Then, remedial classes were given
to reinforce students’ low academic performance in math.

As experienced in every day teaching, students experienced difficulties in

understanding the lesson especially in algebra since the basic mathematical skills
in elementary and grade 7 was not mastered very well.

Future researchers will use this action research as a reference for the related
research and provide them strategies and activities as intervention for their
program. As the new adviser of Math club our proposed plan is to have a peer
tutorial to develop students’ mathematical skills to develop their academic
performance as well.

Teachers of Grade 8 mathematics will use a modern strategy or current

trends in teaching math to make the students realized that math is fun and easy.

Through this action research, students with poor mathematical skills and
academic performance will be given an immediate intervention and soon they will
learn how to deal problem solving. When this problem will not address and give
proper attention, the entire educational community will be affected.

Teachers should also attend various seminars and training workshop on the
current trends in teaching Mathematics. They could also enroll in graduate
studies for professional development. Math club will also conduct programs and
activities to help students develop their mathematical skills. Identified students
with poor mathematical skills should be given an immediate intervention.
 IV. Action Research Methods

Design of the study

This action research will use descriptive method as a research design to

gather information about the present existing situation. Descriptive method was
used in this study to identify the relationship between mathematical skills and
academic performance of Grade 8 students of Ramon Torres Dulao National High
School when grouped according to age, sex and section as basis for intervention.

Participants/Respondents

The participants of the research used in this study were the Grade 8 students
of Ramon Torres Dulao National High School. Specifically, the participants were
composed of 7 sections that have poor mathematical skills and low academic
performance. The researcher will be able to identify these students using the result
of the standardized test questionnaire given to them.

Using the qualitative procedure, the researcher used the detailed

questionnaire involving 7 sections enrolled for this school year. Non-random
sampling method with standardized questionnaire will be used in the sampling.
Before the survey, a letter of permission from the school head will be held on.
Students who met the criteria will be approached to ask willingness to participate in
the study. After that, researcher will ask them to recommend students who had the
same qualification to be the respondents. The participants will be the Grade 8
students male and female ages 13-16 who will be a part of the survey method.

Instruments

The researcher will use Standardized Test Questionnaire Survey to determine

the respondents of the study who have poor mathematical skills and academic
performance in school. After identifying them, they will be given a checklist on
mathematical skills in relation to academic performance called Student Questionnaire
on Mathematical Skills in Relation to Academic Performance to gather quantitative
data. This checklist will be divided into three parts namely: The Student Information
Sheet, First Grading Math Grade, and First Grading Daily Attendance.

The instrument used will be a self-made questionnaire that is to be validated

by a master of education aligned with their mastery on English Proficiency and
Mathematics.
 This instrument will help school to produced graduates with equipped mathematical
skills and could be globally competitive.

V. Action Research Work Plan and Timelines

PLAN OF ACTION

Activities/Action Target Persons Date Expected

Steps Subjects Responsible Output/result
Pre-implementation
Prepared letter of Principal Researcher July 2018 Approval of letter of
request asking request to conduct
permission to
conduct the study
Implementation
Establishing the Teacher Expert September Instrument used is
validity of the Teacher/Professor 2018 valid
instrument

Pre-testing of Dry –run of Researcher September Reliability of Test

Instrument respondents 2018
(reliability)
Post-testing Dry-run of Researcher October Test was conducted
respondents 2018
Gathering of Teacher Researcher October Personal information
personal Adviser 2018 and data are
information gathered
Post-
implementation
Gathering of data Grade 8 Researcher October Data are gathered
2018
Interpretation and Researcher Researcher and November Data were analyzed
analysis of data and statistician 2018 and interpreted
statistician
Recommendation, Researcher Researcher November Suggestions,
intervention and 2018 Interventions,
suggestion Recommendations
were made.
 VI. Cost Estimates

Category Quantity Cost/Unit Total Cost

Documentation 2 realm of A4 300 600

size bondpaper

Printing 4 realm A4 size 1/page 2000

bondpaper

Photocopy 315 A4 size 1/page 315

bondpaper

Travel expenses 10 back and forth 10/transportation 200

Statistician Stipend 5,000 5,000 5,000

Food expenses Adviser/Professor 150/person 750

Total 8,865.00
VII. Plans for Dissemination and Utilization

 School Head

 Mathematics Coordinator

 Master’s Degree Graduate Teachers

 Math Teachers

 School Teacher Adviser

 Math Club Officers

 Feeding Program Coordinator

 PTA Meeting

 SBM

 INSET

 Parents
VIII. References

Anushka Tripathi, B.E. form BMS Institute of Technology (2021)

University Library-Students/Loughborough University

www.lboro.ac.uk/services/learningsupport/topics/mathematicalskills/

www.ijsr.net

https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v5i9.2428

Study Skills in Mathematics

http:/www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad.