Math appreciation: Exploring the antidote for Math anxiety

Abstract

Much has been said and studied about Math anxiety providing hindrance to learners on achieving academic proficiency, and Math appreciation is seen to be the antidote in this case. It is the sum of the affirmative attitude of learners in dealing with Math-related concepts, the way they embrace cooperative learning in class, their positive response to challenges, and the way they apply into practical life the numeracy skills they learned in the four corners of the classroom. This study is focused on the mixed quantitative and qualitative exploration of the introduction of Math appreciation in the Department of Education, District of Lumban, Laguna. With nine participating elementary schools, 60 respondents in an online survey, and 9 participants in a focused group discussion, issues connected to Math appreciation were investigated. Sources of Math boredom, interventions applied, role of Math appreciation in learners’ performance, support of school and community, and a look into the education system were the main parts of the qualitative investigation. On the quantitative part, Mathematics mean percentage score (MPS) of school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 were seen to have significant difference. Learners significantly perform better when Math appreciation was in context with teaching and learning process. Five themes were developed in this study: (1) Sources of Math Boredom: Lack on the Part of the Learners and Education System, (2) Intervention to Raise Math Appreciation: Hook them in Games, Engaging Activities and Peer Assistance, (3) Math Appreciation Role in Learners’ Performance: Inner Motivation from Classroom to Everyday Life, (4) Math Appreciation Sustenance: The Support of the School and Community to each other will Pave Way for One Direction, and (5) The Education System and Math Appreciation: Focus on Learners and Teaching with Retention Emphasized. Recommendations to Math teachers and coordinators, district and division high officials, and to education curriculum developer were laid down at the end of the study.