How mathematics attitude of mothers in rural area affects their children’s achievement

Abstract

Math attitude has been considered as the essential variable determining students’ math achievement. It has been perceived that mothers and children math attitude play a significant part in children math achievement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was specifically to describe the role of the mother in assisting their children’s math achievement. This research was conducted in Manggarai Regency, a rural area in East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia to investigate how mother’s perspective and attitude about mathematics can help their children to shape their idea about math and lead them to shape their math attitude. Most families here are from low-income communities and have low levels of formal education. Total 90 students of the age ranging from 9 to 12 (4th to 6th grade) selected based on their mathematics test achievement and their mothers participated in the study. Four mothers who felt able to communicate were investigated further through interviews. Data were obtained through mathematics achievement test results, questionnaire, and an interview. The data analysis and interpretation showed that mothers’ perspective and attitude about mathematics affected their children’s math attitude. Although the relationship were not very strong, the significant relationship between these two variables should be acknowledged. Mothers with better math attitude performed better to assist their children’s math achievement. Parent especially mother serve as consistent role models for their children as their children closely observe the mothers’ attitude. The math attitude is shown to the children in the way the mothers consider mathematics as a valuable and understandable subject. Students can get a better learning result if besides supported by teachers’ quality of teaching, and they also receive full attention from their mothers on what they are learning. The findings lead to the recommendation to design an activity to engage parents especially mother in the math activities in school so that they can support their children at home.