Investigation of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students' mathematical communication competencies in the solution processes of mathematical literacy problems

The aim of this research is to examine the mathematical communication competencies of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in the solution processes of mathematical literacy problems. The case study method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the research. The study group consists of 6 students who were selected from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades of a public secondary school in Giresun, using a combination of convenient and criterion sampling methods. Mathematical Literacy Problems and Semi-Structured Interviews were used as data collection tools in the study. In order to evaluate the mathematical communication competencies of the students in the study, the Communication Competency Rubric, created by the researchers, was used and student performances were coded as adequate, partially adequate and inadequate. As a result of the research, it was seen that the general performance levels of the students regarding their use of mathematical communication competencies in the solution processes of literacy problems were 'partially adequate'. The students showed the highest performance in the problems at Level 0 and the lowest performance in the problems at Level 1 and Level 3. Considering the solution processes of mathematical literacy problems, it was seen that the performance levels of the students were listed as i) formulating, ii) using mathematics and iii) interpreting respectively. Students showed the highest performance in the formulation stage and the lowest performance in the interpretation stage of the problems. Depending on the results obtained from the research, suggestions were made for mathematics learning environments and different scientific studies to be conducted on the subject. Keywords: Mathematical Literacy, Mathematical Communication Competency, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students