The research on the relation between reading comprehension level and math problem solving achievement of 5th grade students

In this study, the relation between reading comprehension achievement and problem solving skills of 5th Grade students was examined. In the study, at first stage, the effects of some fctors such as gender, students? pre-primary education situation, socio-econemic level and the educational level of students? families were investigated. Besides, the effect of reading comprehension skill on achievement in Polya?s problem solving stages was studied. Rational scanning model (İlişkisel tarama modeli) was used in the study.The study took place in 2009 ? 2010 Academic Year with 5th Grade primary school students in Ankara. The sample consisted of 614 5th Grade students of 9 different schools, chosen randomly,and schools had both high, medium and low socio-economic levels. In order to gather the data, `Test for Reading Comprehension? and `Test for Problem Solving Skills? were applied. Application was carried out in 3 hours by the researcher, then whole students? scores of those two tests were calculated. The data were analyzed with SPSS programme, using the analysis of correlation, unilateral variance analysis (tek yönlü varyans analizi) and t test.Depending on the findings of the research, there is a significant relation between the reading comprehension and problem solvving achievement of 5th Grade students. This relation is actually high at comprehensionof the roblem and planning stages. In both tests, the achievement of female students is higher and more significant compared to that of males? achievement. Students? pre-primary education situation, high educational level of students? families, and schools? socio-econemic level have positive effects on students? achievement. Depending on the findings of the study, deficiency of reading comprehension skill makes other learning difficult and it also causes some troubles within the process of comphension of the problem and planning, and poorly affects the achievement.Keywords: Reading Comprehension, Problem Solving.