Effect of Math Games to the Numeracy Skills of Selected Grade 1 Pupils in Multi-Grade Schools in Remote Area of Oras West District of DepEd-Eastern Samar Division

Aim:The study investigated the difference between the numeracy skills of grade 1 pupils in multi-grade classrooms in remote areas before and after the implementation of math games as intervention for the poor numeracy skills of the learners.Methodology: This study utilized quantitative research approach and quasi-experimental design, specifically, onegroup pretest-posttest design.The participants of the study were purposely selected grade 1 pupils from three (3) different multi-grade schools in Oras West District of DepEd-Eastern Samar Division.The research instrument used in this study was adopted pretest and posttest questionnaires named Rapid Mathematics Assessment (RMA) Toolkit for Grade 1, a standardized test developed by the University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development and the Research Triangle Institute International under the ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines program.Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage counts, mean, and standard deviation were utilized in describing the numeracy skills of the grade 1 pupils during the pretest and posttest.Meanwhile, inferential statistics such as t-test for dependent sample was utilized in investigating the significant difference between the numeracy skills of the learners before and after the implementation of math games.Results: Results revealed that there was an improvement to the numeracy skills of grade 1 pupils following the implementation of the math games.This was supported by the statistically significant mean score increase of 10.8 points in their performance from pretest to posttest with p<.0001 which indicate that math games in a multi-grade classroom is highly effective in enhancing the numeracy skills among grade 1 pupils.Conclusion: Math games significantly improved the numeracy skills of grade 1 pupils in multi-grade classrooms of Oras West District.It is recommended that the multi-grade teachers, together with the multi-grade schools, and curriculum developers to consider the integration of gamified instruction as a core strategy in early numeracy teaching.