An analysis of the mathematical thinking of selected Filipino pupils

This study explored the mathematical thinking of schoolchildren by looking into how they solve story problems. Six different types of story problems were given to nineteen selected pupils from a sectarian school in a rural place in the Philippines. There were two individual problem solving sessions using the paper and pencil worksheet format. Teaching interviews were conducted using their first language, Filipino, to determine their arithmetic concepts. Results showed that the schoolchildren are capable of solving different types of story problems using various methods. The study showed that without formal instruction, they can act out a story problem, model it and use counting strategies to solve it. This study presents pedagogical implications on the curriculum design of mathematics at the early elementary level based on the problem solving schema of the selected pupils that emerged from the study. Copyright © 2011 De La Salle University, Philippines