Students’ attitudes about math at the high school level

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to observe whether or not senior (grade 11 and 12) math students’ motivational levels and the value that they placed on math would increase if a weekly communication occurred between parents and their math teacher. The communication would give the parents information about their child’s present mark in math class and marks on any recent assessments (quiz and test), upcoming assessment dates, possible solutions to increase their child’s present math mark (rewrites, etc.) and recent attendance. This study was done in two different math classes: Math 12 Applications (middle stream in grade 12) and Math 11 Principles (highest stream in grade 11) and included 35 student participants. The study occurred from September 28th until November 9th, 2010 at Alberni District Secondary School. A questionnaire (Appendix C) was completed by the participants three times during the time-series study and the means from the study were analysed to see if change occurred. Positive change occurred in students’ motivation to study for quizzes and tests, and the value that they placed on math in and outside of school.