Sekundarni povzetek: |
Slovenian students are achieving good results in math, yet the attitude on this subject remains negative. The automaticity of multiplication facts is one of the main learning objectives in 4th grade math. If the student does not automate multiplication, he or she may solve assignments at a slower rate and make mistakes during the process. Failure may contribute to a change in their attitude toward multiplication and, later on, math. This can be avoided by effectively addressing the issue. On the basis of extensive theoretical and research assumptions, the purpose of the research was to scientifically corroborate and formulate a practice program for the automaticity of multiplication facts with a cognitive-behavioral method, test it in practice, and then ascertain its effectiveness. In the theoretical section, we introduced the importance of math, the difficulties students face when learning math, multiplication, the automaticity of multiplication facts, the most common multiplication mistakes, successful strategies for automating multiplication, the connection between reading and multiplication, the cognitive behavioral approach, and the effectiveness of the cognitive behavioral approach. We also stressed the factors and elements that affect the efficiency of the cognitive-behavioral approach as well as described the cognitive-behavioral method adjusted to help with reading. In the empirical section, we used a qualitative research approach. We conducted a study involving six 4th grade students from different departments of an elementary school who are not included in the additional technical examination, and who, after a five-minute examination, exhibited problems with the automaticity of multiplication facts. They were included in the practice program with a cognitive-behavioral method adjusted to automate multiplication. Class teachers, the psychologist, and the students’ parents also participated in the research. The training program was conducted at each individual student's home. We held 6 meetings with each student and one of their parents, during which the parent and student received instructions for practicing multiplication, followed by an evaluation of the execution. The parents practiced multiplication with their children for 10 minutes every day. Before we carried out the practice program for the automaticity of multiplication facts with the cognitive-behavioral method, we obtained information about the student's knowledge, interest, and attitude toward multiplication by surveying their parents and teachers as well as interviewing the students themselves. Before we carried out the practice program with the cognitive-behavioral method, we verified the student's prevailing sensory style and adjusted and created the accessories accordingly. We adjusted the instructions for carrying out the practice program at each level for the parents. After the practice program with the cognitive-behavioral method was carried out, we examined the student's progress in multiplication and the efficiency of the program by giving the parents, teachers, and students evaluation questionnaires. At the end, we carried out another five-minute examination of the automaticity of multiplication facts with each student. During the examination of the automaticity of multiplication facts, all of the students increased the speed at which they solved the assignments (they spent less than 5 minutes for 39 calculations), reduced mistakes, and improved their automaticity of multiplication facts. Parents and teachers noticed a progress in speed and mistake correction, and they also confirmed an improvement in regard to the attitude toward and interest in multiplication. The parents and their children gave the practice program for the automaticity of multiplication facts a positive review and said that they were pleased with its execution. |