Philippine E-Journals

MATHEMATICS INTEREST AND THE SCHOLASTIC PERFORMANCE OF THE GRADE 7 STUDENTS

Clifford C Balolong | Emer Anthony Docejo

 

Abstract:

Factors affecting math interest is a good benchmark for teachers in order to increase the students’ understanding and appreciation in mathematics. This study would like to determine the factors that contributed to the math interest of junior high school students and how these factors have affected their scholastic performance. The data were collected using questionnaires. These were distributed to the 210 Grade 7 students chosen using a stratified random sampling design. The factors were correlated with the grades of the students up to the 3rd Grading period. This investigation found that teacher qualities and the strategies employed strongly affect the students’ interest but factors such as math anxiety, students’ attitude and classroom condition can predict the scholastic performance. Thus, teachers may affect interest but the students’ perception can affect their grades. It is recommended that teachers utilize more strategies to raise the level of interest and give due attention to the students’ attitudes in order to address their need to understand math. create a positive learning environment employing relevant real life problems so students appreciate Mathematics as a tool that can be used in life and that the guidance office may provide counseling sessions to students with high math anxiety.