M.A.T.H. Mastery: Maximizing Arithmetic Thinking through Heuristics (Visual Representation, Practice, and Repetition) as Learning Strategies

This study examined the impact of heuristic strategies—specifically visual representation, repetitive practice, and structured learning—on enhancing mathematical understanding among elementary students. Anchored on the premise that traditional instruction alone may not fully address learners’ arithmetic difficulties, this research sought to determine whether heuristic-based strategies could significantly improve student performance. The study employed a quasi-experimental design involving Grade 6 students of Sabangan Elementary School in Calanasan, Apayao, divided into control and experimental groups. A pre-test and post-test were administered to both groups to assess performance before and after the implementation of heuristic interventions. Findings revealed that students exposed to visual representation and repetitive practice showed statistically significant improvements in their post-test scores, compared to those in the control group. Notably, Cohen’s d values indicated large effect sizes for all three strategies: visual representation, repetitive practice, and structured learning—highlighting the substantial practical impact of these interventions on learners' mathematical performance. Although structured learning strategies also led to improved scores, they did not produce statistically significant differences between the groups. Moreover, the study found a significant relationship between students’ performance and certain demographic variables such as parents’ educational attainment and occupation, suggesting that socio-economic context plays a contributory role in academic outcomes. The study concludes that heuristic strategies, particularly visual representation and repetition, are highly effective in enhancing arithmetic thinking and should be integrated into mathematics instruction, especially for young learners in low-resource settings. These findings offer valuable insights for educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers in optimizing teaching methods to improve mathematical literacy.