The impact of different approaches to the teaching of Grade 5 fraction by three experienced teachers

South African Journal of Childhood Education

 
 
Field Value
 
Title The impact of different approaches to the teaching of Grade 5 fraction by three experienced teachers
 
Creator Ubah, Ifunanya J.A.
 
Subject Mathematics Education; Elementary Mathematics; Numeracy; Primary school teachers' teaching approach addition of fraction; analysis of covariance; descriptive statistics; teaching approach; use of representations
Description Background: Many teachers for different reasons recognise the teaching of fraction as a challenge. This research explored the teaching of fraction in Grade 5 by three experienced teachers (Ben, Greg and Will) in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of different approaches to the teaching of Grade 5 fraction by three experienced teachers.Method: Three teachers and 177 learners were purposively sampled for this study. Classroom observations, interview and fraction achievement test (FAT) were instruments used for data collection. Hence, this study employed a mixed method, where both quantitative and qualitative data sets were collected at the same time, and the data were analysed at the same time in order to discuss the findings.Results: The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), whilst the qualitative data were analysed in themes. The results showed that learners of teacher Ben performed significantly better than those of teachers Will and Greg. The findings revealed that a combination of good practices and appropriate use of multiple representations by teacher Ben improved his learners’ achievement in addition of fraction more than other learners taught by the other two teachers.Conclusion: The study recommends that mathematics teachers should endeavour to facilitate learners’ conceptual knowledge of fraction by using appropriate teaching approach in their instruction, namely, learner-centred approach, activity-based learning, use of mother tongue for clarity and use of multiple representations. This recommendation will improve learners’ knowledge and conceptual understanding of fraction and algebra in its entity.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor Nil
Date 2021-02-26
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Mixed Research Method
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajce.v11i1.854
 
Source South African Journal of Childhood Education; Vol 11, No 1 (2021); 14 pages 2223-7682 2223-7674
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/854/1784 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/854/1783 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/854/1785 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/854/1782
 
Coverage Elementary school Mathematics Education Age; FET level
Rights Copyright (c) 2021 Ifunanya Julie Adaobi Ubah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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