ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to investigate and determine the different teaching strategies in Mathematics in developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students of San Jose National High School for the school year 2021-2022. The respondents used in this study were the 35 teachers under online learning and blended learning modalities. Based on the survey, (1) lecture (35 teachers or 100%), problem solving (21 teachers or 60%) and inductive (19 teachers or 54%) method of teaching are the top three teaching strategies that were used by the Mathematics teachers of San Jose National High School; (2) problem solving (15 teachers or 43%) was the most used teaching strategy that developed the critical and problem solving skills of the students, followed by collaboration (6 teachers or 17%) and discovery approach (5 teachers and 14%); (3) Google Meet (12 teachers or 34%), Google Classroom (12 teachers or 34%) and Jamboard (10 teachers or 29%) were the top three ICT applications that the teachers used to make these teaching strategies more effective to address the needs of the students in blended learning modality and (4) appropriate LAC sessions, mentoring and coaching can be done to assist the teachers and help them improve their teaching strategies.
Keywords: teaching strategies, mathematics, problem – solving skills, critical thinking skills
Introduction
Teaching in this modern period is increasingly becoming more complex and technical to be effectively actualized with traditional tools alone. Over the years, teachers’ teaching styles have changed significantly. Education for the modern world requires more than transmitting knowledge. Teachers should have deep subject knowledge, but they also need to develop a rich repertoire of teaching strategies which include direct instruction to the whole class, guided discovery, group work, supporting self-study, and individual inquiry.
According to DepEd Memorandum 356, Series of 2010, teaching and learning for understanding is a transformation but very systematic approach to 21st century Mathematics education which many of our Mathematics teachers and students will surely welcome. It will provide our students a solid foundation and a strong transition from school to work and from school to life. An effective teacher constantly renews himself or herself as a professional in his or her quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies in lessons.
Having said these facts, teachers should think of alternative ways of teaching the students in a more comprehensive way despite the distance learning modality that we are using at present.
Based on the summary of the IPCRF Rating of the Mathematics teachers of San Jose National High School for School Year 2021 – 2022, the top 3 bottom indicators that the teachers got the lowest ratings are as follow: 1. Applied a range of teaching strategies to develop critical and creative thinking, as well as other higher - order thinking skills; 2. Displayed proficient use of Mother Tongue, Filipino and English to facilitate teaching and learning, and 3. Adapted and implemented learning programs that ensure relevance and responsiveness to the needs of all learners.
This research study will be focusing on the different strategies of the Mathematics teachers to address the needs of students to develop their critical and creative thinking as problem solvers.
Teachers, therefore, need to apply teaching strategies that would help students engage in higher-order thinking tasks such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation; Study ideas, solve problems and apply what they have learned; Construct hypotheses and make decisions; Provide meaning and organization to experiences; Work collaboratively with others; Connect real-life work between school and what will take place in the rest of their lives and address cultural influences and individual learning styles.
It is in this light that this study is being proposed. It aims to fully find out the different strategies of the Mathematics teachers used in teaching to help students develop critical minds and become problem solvers.
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