Influence of Instructional Materials on Pre-school Children’s Learning Achievement in Number Work in Matungu Division, Kakamega County

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the influence of instructional materials on preschool children’s learning achievement in number work in Matungu Division Kakamega County .The use of instructional materials in teaching number work is minimal hence low achievement. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the use of instructional materials influences their achievement of children in learning number work with special reference to the influence of Audio –Visual materials on children learning achievement in number work, the effect of printed materials in children’s learning achievement in number work and the effect of community resources on children is learning achievement in number work. The literature reviewed on audio-Visual materials, Visual resources, printed resources and community resources in relation to academic achievement in number work. The study adopted descriptive survey. The population was 45 pre-schools 15 private pre-school, 30 public schools, 90 pre-school teachers and 850 pre-school children .The sample of the study included 14 pre-school teachers 9 public schools and 5 private pre schools,28 pre-school teachers and 255 pre-school children .Data was collected by using various instruments such as number work test was administered to children to determine the performance ,questionnaires were used to collect data from pre-school teachers, observation schedules was used to establish types of instructional/ materials available and observation check list was used to a certain types of printed materials and how they were used. The data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative method and was presented in table and graphs. The findings of this study revealed that in adequate instructional materials had an effect on children’s performance in number work in preschool. The schools that had instructional materials children were able to carry out different activities and had good mastery of the content. While the pre schools that lacked the instructional materials the performance was poor and children could not master the content easily . In conclusion from the study carried out it clearly indicated that the use of instructional materials is minimal in Public school as compared to private .Audio-Visual materials are in-adequate lack of adequate instructional materials has contributed to low performance in number work. Visual materials help in conceptualizing the concept clearly learners also use them during their free time, from the findings most pre- schools had visual materials and they help the learners to acquire the concept easily. Printed materials help in mastering the concept taught due to a lot practice and also teachers to plan adequately learners with adequate printed materials perform better than those who are lacking from the findings lack of printed materials leads to poor achievement in number work community materials had an impact in the learners learning achievement learners with community materials acquired the concepts faster as compared to those who didn’t have. The community materials extracted from the community children manipulate them with a lot of easy and they are familiar with them hence the accusation of the concept become easier. and therefore there is need to use instructional materials in teaching number work because children learn by doing hence need materials to manipulate. The study recommended that the same study to be carried out in different division and schools using different research instruments. Also the government to set aside some funds to cater for ECD Education