Attitudes of Mathematics Teachers Towards the Utilization of Mental Arithmetic in Mathematics Education at the Basic Education Stage (Field Study in Lattakia City)

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the attitudes of mathematics teachers toward employing mental arithmetic in teaching mathematics at the basic education stage in Lattakia City. The study population consisted of all mathematics teachers at this stage، totaling 270 teachers، from whom a simple random sample of 87 was selected. A questionnaire was developed as the study tool، comprising 20 items in its final form. The findings revealed that1- the overall level of teachers’ attitudes toward using mental arithmetic in mathematics instruction was low،2- Significant mean score differences were found in teachers’ responses according to gender and academic qualifications،3- while no significant  mean score difference appeared with respect to years of teaching experience. In light of these results، the study recommended guiding mathematics teachers to connect mental arithmetic with students’ daily lives، thereby enhancing their appreciation of mathematics and increasing their interest in it. It also emphasized the importance of subjecting teachers to training courses on mental arithmetic and its effective application in the educational process.