LEAD PROPONENT PRESCO, BERNADITH S.

MEMBER MOLINA, IVAN I.

MEMBER GALLO, JONNA V.
TITLE OF MATH MOVERS: PEER TUTORING ACTIVITIES (PTA)
RESEARCH PROGRAM TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT IN
WRITTEN PROFICIENCY IN MATHEMATICS OF THE
STUDENTS
DIVISION DAPITAN CITY

Context and Rationale

Mathematics is the science of reasoning and computations. It is one of the key

competences necessary for students’ success in school and later in life. According to the
Department of Mathematics Education in Vietnam, mathematics instruction in general,
and mathematics instruction in high schools in particular, fosters the development of
students' core competencies and helps students enhance their mathematical proficiency as
a foundation for effective learning. Additionally, it encourages the development of
society's essential skills, among which mathematical communication skills rank highly.

Quick and precise information delivery and understanding depend on effective

written communication. A learner's confidence in their capacity to learn and understand
mathematics tends to grow as their mathematical proficiency increases. As a result, in
order to excel in mathematics, students must also demonstrate written proficiency.
Written communication is widely considered to be an important skill for students to have
mastered prior to graduating college and entering the workforce (Allan, E. G., & Driscoll,
D. L.,2014)

Attributed to these are the low attention span and stress of the students, lack of
effective communication, school funding, and lack of exercise and motivation of the
teachers. Poor teaching practices and a lack of use of contemporary technologies are the
main causes of teaching methodologies. The degree to which teachers are prepared to
condition their students through teaching and learning activities greatly influences the
success of education, (Maxwell et al; 2017). As for the conditions affecting students'
health, fatigue is their primary cause. A study by the America School Health Association
(ASHA, 2021) found that providing children with a nutritious breakfast is crucial to their
long-term nutritional health. Young brains require a boost in the morning to function
properly (DOH, 2021). The mastery of the subjects by the teachers is another major
factor. Due to a shortage of instructors, some teachers are required to teach subjects
outside of their specialization. (Wright and Horn, 2013) assert that raising teacher
proficiency can enhance education. That is one of the reasons for the aforementioned gap,
along with the teachers' level of expertise.

Students need to be provided with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Giving children a
nutritious breakfast is crucial for their nutritional well-being (ASHA, 2021). Teachers
ought to use instructional materials and keep open lines of communication. The students'
attention span and learning increase to the extent that teachers are effective
communicators with them. According to (Kraft and Paypay, 2015), working together with
coworkers and the culture of trust and knowledge sharing that results from collaboration
have been linked to better student test-score gains and increased teacher effectiveness.

Teachers must create, implement, evaluate, and institutionalize standards for their
own professional development because, without the chance to enhance their teaching
methods, students' academic performance could suffer (Kishwar Naz, 2016). In any
teaching and learning process, mastery is crucial. This occurs because a teacher can only
impart what he possesses. What you don't have, you can't give. A teacher can make a
significant contribution to a country's development. Teachers have to possess a great deal
of knowledge and skills with regard to both teaching and assessment practices in order to
meet those demands and standards of quality education (Ksenia, 2017).

Action Research Questions

 This study aims to determine the level of written proficiency in mathematics among the
students of Sulangon National High School-Owaon Extension toward the improvement of
performance, School Year 2022-2023.

Specifically, the study sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the students in terms of:

1.1. age
1.2. gender
1.3. year level
2. What is the level of written proficiency of the students in terms of:
2.1 numeracy skills
2.2 critical thinking skills

3. Is there a significant difference on the level of written proficiency in mathematics of

the students that are lag behind per grade level as compared to after the Math Movers:
PTA program?

Proposed Innovation, Intervention and Strategy

SNHS-Owaon Extension aims to foster positive attitudes, fascination and excitement of

discovery through teaching and learning mathematical concepts. It is their aim for all students to
think mathematically, enabling them to reason, solve problems and assess risk in a range of
contexts. On the grounds of this, the school keeps trying everything to find any means exerting
too many efforts to reach out those individuals in need to ensure that the learners may take place
in some way or another.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the common problems and difficulties at the school
include the poor academic performance in some key subjects primarily mathematics. The concern
arise during the new normal situations due to the modular distance learning. Assessment and
activities were answered by the parents instead of the students. In line with this, searching for
solutions of the underperforming due to the circumstances dealing with the students becomes
more challenging.
 With that, the Math Movers: PTA Program which means Math Movers: Peer Tutoring
Activities Program is a school activity where students teaches their schoolmates with the guidance
of the teachers that aim to uplift mathematics competencies among learners. This project was
proposed by the researchers to uplift those students who struggle with mathematics and has a hard
time in coping written activities in Mathematics. This is a peer tutorial program headed by the
Math Movers which helps every students to facilitate mathematical task.

The peer tutoring activities are categorized based on how much assistance each learners
requires, for example:

Tutorial Category Strategies Classify

1. Numeracy Skills • Systematic and explicit instruction

• Visual representation of functions and
relationships, such as manipulative,
pictures and graphs
• Peer-assisted instruction
• Ongoing, formative assessment

2. Critical Thinking Skills • Analyzation

• Creativity
• Problem solving
The following are some step by step procedures that are being explored in order to assure the
continuous and smooth progress of the entire project:

1. The school mathematics team headed by the school math coordinator conducted
series of meeting to propose and present the project to the head teacher/principal.
2. The researchers will conduct a preliminary test to all students in SNHS- Owaon
Extension to determine which students are mathematically proficient.
3. The researchers will assess and categorize the students based on the preliminary test
result.
4. The researchers will inform the students who passed the preliminary test that they are
qualified to be a part of the Math Movers Organization.
5. The teacher/ math coordinator will create an organization for Math Movers.
6. Conducting a seminar for all Math Movers about their responsibilities, tasks and
functions.

7. Home visitation of target client/s by every adviser in order that the project will
be explained properly to the parents for the important role they must portray in
the entire project implementation. Parents and School Agreement were also
presented and signed by them as proof that they understand the entire process
and that they are willing to help for the benefits of their children.

8. Regular session for peer tutoring will be conducted every week as well as the
assessment.
9. Monthly feedback and consulting with the tutees to ensure the progress.

Ensuring the safety of all the people involve on the project processes, the
researchers made sure to strict follow the safety standard and proper protocol amidst
COVID-19 pandemic for proper mitigation and prevention control.
Action Research Methods

A. Participants and/or other Sources of Data and Information

The participants of this study are the selected 94 students who are considered lag
behind in written proficiency in Mathematics subject of SNHS- Owaon Extension for the
school year 2022-2023. They are the learners who needs help to cope up with the math
lessons they struggle. This is based on the preliminary test and home visitation conducted
by the researchers. Since the subject were chosen and identified by the researcher in a
non-random manner, the study used purposive sampling depending on the degree of
capability of the learners. The participants are subject to involve in Math Movers: Peer
Tutoring Activities Program in the prescribe time in order to uplift their level of
performance as aimed in this project.

B. Data Gathering Methods

This study will utilize descriptive-comparative research design. A descriptive

comparative design is appropriate for existing intact units for comparison and does not
involve manipulating an independent variable (Cantrell, 2011). It is mostly used when the
purpose of the investigation is to describe the characteristics of the individual or events
and compare variables describing the research sample as they naturally exist (Siedlecki,
2020). Without modifying the independent variable, the study compared variables from
the performances of the prior activities with the current performances. In descriptive
research, researchers used the comparative design.

In gathering the data, the researcher utilized researcher-administered

questionnaires that will be completed by the respondents before and after the tutorial
activities catered. After the data has been gathered, tabulation and analyses are applied
using the determined data analyzing tool to determine the outcomes of the study.
 C. Data Analysis Plan

The responder’s performance levels that are lag behind in terms of numeracy and critical
thinking skills are determined by calculating with the assistance of frequency, distributions by
percentages and rank. On the other hand, to compute the significant difference on the level of
written proficiency in mathematics that are lag behind per grade level as compared to after the
Math Movers: PTO Program as base on the test result of the researcher- administered
questionnaires during the pre-test and post-test. Since the data are from two different groups, the
study uses a two-sample test as its statistical test. A two-sample t-test is applicable in the
comparison of two (2) mean or percentages of two (2) samples when the standard deviation is
already given. Furthermore, it is commonly used to test if a new process or treatment is superior
to a current process or treatment (Snedecor and Cochran, 1989) which is suitable in this study.

The study started in December 2020 and ended in May 2021, covering the second and third
quarters.
Action Research Work Plan and Timelines

Activities Dec Jan Feb Mar April May

2022 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023
1. Research Team Planning of research
proposal
2.Drafting part I-Introduction to Research
Methodology of the research study
3.Drafting of Pre-test and post-test
questionnaire

4. Preparation and Validation of

Questionnaire

5. Administration of Pre-test to the selected

respondents
6. Presentation of research proposal

7.Administration of the Math Movers: Peer

Tutoring program to help improved
students performance who are lag behind

8. Administration of Post-test and the

questionnaire to the respondents (SNHS-
Owaon Ext. Students)
9. Retrieval of test questionnaire and
Questionnaire

10. Data analysis, calculation and

tabulation of results

-Discussion of Results based on tabulation

11. Completion of research output

12. Final revision of output

13. Presentation of results of the conducted

research
Plans for Dissemination and Utilization

June Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023

1. Research Proposal to School

Head for school implementation of the
research output
2. Conducting a preliminary test to all
students in SNHS- Owaon Extension to
determine which students are mathematically
proficient

3.Assessing and categorizing the students

based on the preliminary test result
- Informing the students who passed the
preliminary test that they are qualified to be a
part of the Math Movers Organization.

4. Conducting a seminar for all Math Movers

about their responsibilities, tasks and
functions.

5. School implementation of the output of

the research study
6. Post Evaluation of the research study
Implementation
7.Results of Post evaluation after school
implementation, gone through series of
revisions and planning for proposal to the
district level for adoption of the study
8. District proposal of Outputs for possible
adoption
9. District implementation of the output of
the research study
10. Results of Post evaluation after district
implementation, gone through series of
revisions and planning for proposal to the
district level for adoption of the study
11. Division proposal of Outputs for possible
adoption
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Cantrell, M. A. (2011). Demystifying the research process: Understanding a descriptive

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(2015). Educating amid uncertainty: The organizational supports teachers need to serve
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Please acknowledge all the references used in the research…

SUBMITTED BY: BERNADITH S. PRESCO

(Signature over printed name)
IVAN I. MOLINA

JONNA V. GALLO