Action Research Proposal: Mathematics

Problem-Solving Skill and Reading

Comprehension
By; Rosalito B. Pepito

Source

It cannot be denied that problem solving is an important part of Mathematics education.

Mathematics, in general, is an important subject because of its practical role to a person and the
society as a whole. However, before a student can successfully solve a problem, he has to
possess good reading comprehension, as well as analytic and computational skills.

The Problem
Problem solving in mathematics and reading comprehension go hand in hand. Solving Math
problems entails the students to apply two skills at the same time: reading and computing. It is a
double-edged sword.

As a public-school teacher of grade 10 mathematics for more than 20 years, I have encountered
many students who are poor in both comprehension and analyzing math word problems.

Specifically, in my 2018-2019 class, only 9 out of 50 students could successfully solve word
problems with or without help from the teacher. The rest needed to be guided to understand the
problem. Approximately 82 percent find it hard to picture the situation indicated by the problem
they are trying to solve. The slower ones would even ask the meaning of a certain word in the
problem. When they have understood it, it is only then that they fully grasp the event and
situation pictured in the problem.

Obviously, the bane of these students are the understanding of the contents of the math problems
correctly and connecting the ideas expressed in it to fully grasp and find a way to successfully
solve the problem.
 The Causes
1. Limited vocabulary in mathematics
2. Lack of technique in solving word problems

The Solutions
Vocabulary

1. Develop vocabulary before the beginning of the math class

2. Establish a tutor-tutee relationship wherein a good student tutors or teaches a slower
classmate assigned to him in areas of reading comprehension and problem-solving
3. Provide interesting and challenging vocabulary activities involving mathematics
vocabulary, such as contests and games or even in quizzes using terminologies usually
used in mathematics with corresponding plus factor as part of their grades.

Comprehension

1. Organize the given information in the word problem

2. Use object representation and manipulatives to visualize word problems
3. Substitute large numbers with easier numbers, or restate the problem in simpler terms
4. Make a number sentence out of the word problem
5. Use the “trial and error” method or the “guess and check”

Plan of Action
Objectives

1. Improve the students' limited vocabulary and enhance reading comprehension ability of
the students
2. Develop the students’ techniques in solving word problems

Time Frame

This study will be conducted for one school year from August to April, 2021

Target Subjects

The target subjects for this study are the grade 7-10 students in Laureta National High School
during the academic year 2020-2021.

Activities to Be Undertaken
Persons
Target Date Activities Expected Results
Involved
School A. Inform the school head about the Granted permission to
Aug. 24, 2020
Head action research to be undertaken conduct the research
Grade 10 100% of the students and
B. Orientation of the students and co-
Aug. 27,2020 students’ co-teachers will be aware
teachers regarding the action research
Co-teachers of the on-going research
C. Improve the students’ limited
     
vocabulary words in Mathematics
Grade 10 1. Survey the Mathematics vocabulary 100% of the students will
Aug. 28 ,2020
students skill of the students. be surveyed
3. Establish a tutor-tutee relationship in
Grade 10 100% of the slow pupils
Sept. 1-Nov. 20, reading comprehension and problem-
students, will learn from their
2020 solving wherein a good pupil tutors a slow
Teacher tutor-classmates
classmate assigned to him
Nov. 23 up to Grade 10 4. Provide interesting and challenging 100% of the students will
 Persons
Target Date Activities Expected Results
Involved
participate more actively
the end of the students, vocabulary activities involving Math
in discussions and
school year Teacher vocabulary such as in contests and game.
activities
D. Develop the pupils' techniques in
     
solving word problems
100% of the students will
Nov. 23 up to Grade 10 1. Draw a graph, chart, graphic organizer be able to organize the
the Dec break, students, or list to help the students organize their given data and connect
of 2020 Teacher information found in the word problem. the ideas expressed in the
problem
2. Ask the students to make representation 100% of the students can
Grade 10
January 4-15, of objects so they will be able to visualize manipulate and be aided
students,
2021 the problem clearly. They can use ruler, by these materials in
Teacher
play money, realia, blocks, dice, etc. solving word problems
100% of the students will
3. Substitute large numbers by simpler
Grade 10 be able to simplify the
Jan. 16-Feb. numbers and use them instead of what are
students, problem and substitute
12,2021 given in the problem, Problems can also
Teacher simpler numbers for the
be restated in much simpler terms.
given numbers
4. From the given problem, make a
number sentence by substituting the
Grade 10 100% of the students will
English sentences into Mathematics
Feb.15-19,2021 students, be able to master writing
sentences. Another technique is to
Teacher the number sentence
translate the problem into a dialect most
understood by the students.
100% of the students will
Grade10 5. Solve by "trial and error" or "guess and
be able to apply the
Feb. 22-26,2021 students, check" by using the answers provided in
guess and check
Teacher multiple choice problems.
technique

Evaluation Criteria
The result of this research shall be reported after 100% of the Grade 10 students have improved
their Mathematics problem-solving skills.

Research Design
This action research is purely descriptive in nature and uses pre-test/post-test results and survey
results to address the student’s problem.

Data to Be Statistical
Activities
Collected Treatment
1. Conduct a pre-survey of the previous Math vocabulary
Pre-survey result Average
and reading comprehension of students
Result of the
2. Administer the pre-test Percentage
pre-test
Result of the
3. Conduct daily test on Math vocabulary Percentage
daily test
Weekly test
4. Conduct weekly test on problem-solving Percentage
result
5. Conduct a post-survey of the Mathematics vocabulary of Post-survey
Average
the pupils result
Result of the
6. Administer the post-test Percentage
post-test
The actual result of the study will be submitted to the office of the principal for adoption or
rejection so that if adoption, there will be enough time for the teachers to prepare for
implementation all throughout the campus.
 This paper will also serve as a Permission Letter to Conduct the Study entitled Problem
Solving and Reading Comprehension of Grade VII Students in Laureta National High School.

Prepared By:

ROSALITO B. PEPITO
Master Teacher I and Math Coordinator

Submitted to: Dr. Marionito L. Cervantes, HT-I for indorsement;

Approved by:

MR. EBUS D. SANDUCAN MR. ARNEL G. CABALAN, MaEd

Asst. Principal II Principal II