One of the basic concepts of math lessons is counting. In mathematics, numbers are considered the most difficult lessons for some children, especially when it comes to sorting. Of the various subjects taught at the elementary school level, mathematics is one of the most difficult subjects for students to master. Nonetheless, the students need to master this subject, as it is essential for solving problems in their everyday lives. There are many factors that cause students to avoid mathematics lessons. One is that it requires concentration and higher order thinking skills.
In order to learn mathematics, it is the teacher’s duty to deliver the subject in a fun and engaging way while making it easy for students to understand. To present a concrete experience, especially in mathematics, Siti Aisyah, a teacher of SDN Labuhan Jambu state elementary school in Sumbawa regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), started looking for media or a teaching aid so that the students’ learning experiences were tangible and easy to understand.
Siti Aisyah had the idea to create what she calls a “Numbers Boutique”—a visual aid made from materials in the surrounding environment. The tools and materials needed to create this medium are as follows:
- Sufficient amount of used cardboard
- Colorful metallic paper
- Pencil
- Tape/glue
- Colorful buffalo paper
- Marker
- Ice cream sticks
- A pair of scissors
The Numbers Boutique is a visual aid of various pictures of clothing—shirts and pants.
The children are asked to arrange or sort the pictures of clothing in an orderly manner, starting from the smallest number first.
After sorting, the Numbers Boutique displays a perfect sequence of numbers.
The learning activities that use the Numbers Boutique medium consists of three 35-minute sessions of class time. According to Aisyah, her students were more interested in participating in the learning session after implementing the Numbers Boutique. Based on the data from observation and evaluation of the use of the Numbers Boutique, it appears that there has been an improvement in learning.
| No. | Component | Remark |
| 1 | Average student grade or mark | 55.5% |
| 2 | Total number of students | 21 |
| 3 | Number of students taking part | 21 |
| 4 | Number of students who completed | 15 |
| 5 | Completed presentation | 55.71% |
Aisyah admitted that there were several obstacles that emerged while applying the Numbers Boutique learning method, noting that it was not large enough and that there was only one medium. In addition to this, there were not enough pictures of clothing with numbers on them.
However, these obstacles did not dampen Aisyah’s efforts. She formulated a plan to overcome these obstacles, increasing the number of visual aids so that they are available and making them larger so that all of the students can see them clearly.