The Relationship Between the Level of Math Anxiety and Achievement of Second Year High School Students of Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School, S.Y. 2005-2006
CHAPTER I
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
Mathematics is one of the greatest tools used for daily living, though most of the time its importance was not recognized by many people. Its application is very significant especially in today’s rapid changing world. Marvelous scientific and technological discoveries and innovations changed today’s life and culture into a modern world. With these changes that are made, there is no doubt that mathematics really does influence the way people lives. In order to keep in step with rapid changing time, the need of mathematics education is essential. However, it is one of the most important parts of school curriculum. It involves many skills that have to be enhanced, specifically in problem solving, critical thinking, analysis and computational processes. The goals of mathematics education are to value mathematics, to reason mathematically, to solve problems, to communicate mathematics, and to develop confidence. Unfortunately, instead of gaining self-confidence, many students reap low self-esteem and suffer from math anxiety when studying and learning mathematics. That is one of the major problems encountered by the students in mathematics. Math anxiety is described as “feeling of intense frustration or helplessness about one’s ability to do math works”. Students who suffer from math anxiety always have the feeling of incapability of doing activities, which involve mathematics. Moreover, other math anxious students look for other way to avoid doing any mathematical tasks. Some of these techniques are going to the restroom, sharpening pencils, talking with seatmates and work on other non-mathematical tasks. They act up sufficiently to be punished by some penalty, which tends in taking them away from mathematics (Schwieger, 1995) Some studies indicate that math anxiety is found in elementary, high school and college students. “I hate mathematics!” This was always heard from math-anxious
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
Mathematics is one of the greatest tools used for daily living, though most of the time its importance was not recognized by many people. Its application is very significant especially in today’s rapid changing world. Marvelous scientific and technological discoveries and innovations changed today’s life and culture into a modern world. With these changes that are made, there is no doubt that mathematics really does influence the way people lives. In order to keep in step with rapid changing time, the need of mathematics education is essential. However, it is one of the most important parts of school curriculum. It involves many skills that have to be enhanced, specifically in problem solving, critical thinking, analysis and computational processes. The goals of mathematics education are to value mathematics, to reason mathematically, to solve problems, to communicate mathematics, and to develop confidence. Unfortunately, instead of gaining self-confidence, many students reap low self-esteem and suffer from math anxiety when studying and learning mathematics. That is one of the major problems encountered by the students in mathematics. Math anxiety is described as “feeling of intense frustration or helplessness about one’s ability to do math works”. Students who suffer from math anxiety always have the feeling of incapability of doing activities, which involve mathematics. Moreover, other math anxious students look for other way to avoid doing any mathematical tasks. Some of these techniques are going to the restroom, sharpening pencils, talking with seatmates and work on other non-mathematical tasks. They act up sufficiently to be punished by some penalty, which tends in taking them away from mathematics (Schwieger, 1995) Some studies indicate that math anxiety is found in elementary, high school and college students. “I hate mathematics!” This was always heard from math-anxious