Abstract:

Teachers should be aware of various alternative instructional methods and techniques to facilitate the learning of the students in the classroom. If necessary, teachers could make changes in instructional methods and techniques based on the attitudes of the students in the classroom during instruction. Because, if teachers continue to instruct the same subject with the same instructional method and technique in the classroom, the students could lose their interest in the course. Thus, it is important for teachers to have knowledge on a wide variety of alternative instructional methods and techniques and they could use these instructional methods and techniques based on the behavior of the students in the class. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of the sign language technique developed by pairing the numbers with our body on mathematical achievements and attitudes of 4th grade primary school students. In the study, a mixed technique using both qualitative and quantitative research methods was used. The study sample included 63 students (34 in study and 29 in control group) attending the 4th grade in a primary school in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır province during the 2017-2018 academic year. The study data were collected using an achievement test, attitude scale and semi-structured interview form developed by the authors. The achievement test and the attitude scale were applied as both pre-test and post-test to the control and study groups and independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data obtained. The semi-structured interview form was applied to the students in the experimental group after the implementation of the program and the collected data were analyzed with content analysis. The quantitative findings demonstrated that the sign language technique, developed by pairing the numbers with our body and utilized in the mathematics course, improved the academic achievement of the students. Furthermore, the attitude scale findings demonstrated that the attitudes of the study group towards the mathematics course improved as a result of the application. Based on the qualitative findings of the study, it can be stated that use of the sign language technique developed by pairing the numbers with our body in the mathematics course stimulated the interest and curiosity of the students for the course, enabled active participation and resulted in a more entertaining and enjoyable course.

Keywords: