The Effect of Teaching Math Through Music on Achievement, Attitude and Retention of the Students in Primary Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of multiplying with natural numbers in mathematic courses and teaching sub-acquisition based on this matter through music/songs on the academic achievement, attitudes and the retention of the learned things and opinions of the students at the third grade of primary schools. In accordance with this purpose, the study was performed of 52 students at the third classes of the Dr. Teoman Bilge Primary School in Konya province in the academic year of 2012-2013. In the study, controlled the pretestposttest experimental research model was used. The Mathematic Achievement Test and Attitude Scale, developed by the researchers, were applied to all the third grade students and experimental and control groups were formed; two groups with equal knowledge levels and attitudes were chosen by lot among those groups. In the study, the chapter of "multiplying with natural numbers" and sub-acquisition of this chapter were processed in experimental group in accompany with especially composed for this topic; and in the control group, traditional methods were used for the same unit within the context of the program. The application was carried out in 16 sessions within 8 weeks. The data of the study was collected through 'the achievement test for the mathematic course and attitude scale towards mathematic course'. 'The achievement test for mathematic course' was repeated as 'the retention test' four weeks after the first application. Moreover, the 'reflective diaries' which the students in the experimental group wrote at the end of every lesson teaching were used as another data collecting tool in order to determine the effect of teaching through music on the opinions of the students at qualitative levels. SPSS 18 package program was used in the analysis of data and t test results were evaluated. In the analysis of qualitative data obtained from reflective diaries, content analysis technique was used.