Usage of reading comprehension to enhance word problem-solving skills in mathematics of sixth grade students : a private school, Bangkok

Abstract

Due to the low mathematics achievement of the national assessment, O-NET, of sixth grade students in the recent years, the solution to solve this issue was needed. Several studies have shown the link between mathematics achievement and reading comprehension proficiency. However, the study regarding this problem was not focused on in Thailand. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there was a relationship between reading comprehension skill and mathematical word problem-solving skills. The random sampling method was employed in order to select the 21 participants. The participants were required to complete the pretest and posttest on reading comprehension and word problem-solving skills in mathematics before and after receiving the treatment. The treatment was designed to develop the participants’ reading strategies in reading comprehension. The research instrument was a reading strategy development activity, consisting of 15 sections for approximately eight weeks. The results showed the pretest and posttest correlation coefficients were 0.839 and 0.875, respectively. It revealed that there was high positive correlation between reading comprehension skills and mathematical word problem-solving skills. The results can serve as an encouragement to teachers and their supervisors to focus more directly on improving reading comprehension skills of students as a means to increasing students’ scores on mathematical word-solving tests