The I2 Strategy: Effects on Grade 7 Challenged Learners  
Achievement & Writing Skills in Statistics  
Beverly D. Sarno-Perez1, Douglas A. Salazar, PhD2  
1Kiwalan National High School, Department of Education (DepEd), Iligan City, Philippines  
2Department of Science and Mathematics Education, College of Education, MSU Iligan Institute of  
Technology, Iligan City, Philippines  
Received: 09 December 2025; Accepted: 14 December 2025; Published: 20 December 2025  
ABSTRACT  
Challenged learners often face significant barriers in mathematics, particularly in data analysis, where numerical  
reasoning intersects with reading comprehension. This study investigates the effectiveness of the I2 (Identify and  
Interpret) strategy as an intervention tool to enhance the statistical literacy and holistic writing skills of  
challenged learners. The study utilized a mixed-method research design involving students identified with  
frustration-level reading proficiency. Quantitative analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test revealed a  
statistically significant improvement in achievement test scores (Z = -2.341, p = .033) between the pretest and  
posttest, with a normalized gain (g) of 0.23. This indicates that the strategy successfully helped learnersbridge  
a measurable portion of the gap between prior knowledge and mastery. Furthermore, the learners' holistic writing  
skills demonstrated significant growth (Z = -2.706, p = 0.007), with the majority of participants advancing from  
"Emerging" to "Expanding" levels of proficiency. Qualitative data indicated that the I2 strategy reduced cognitive  
load by systematizing the analytical process, allowing students to better concentrate and organize their thoughts.  
Learners perceived the intervention as not only "enjoyable" but instrumental in improving their English grammar  
and vocabulary alongside their mathematical skills. The study concludes that the I2 strategy is an effective dual-  
purpose scaffold that fosters both data literacy and linguistic competence, transforming the learning experience  
for struggling students.  
Keywords: I2 Strategy, Challenged Learners, Statistical Literacy, Data Analysis, Scaffolding, and Mathematics  
Intervention.  
INTRODUCTION  
Cultivating critical thinking, embedding higher‑order thinking skills (HOTS) in assessment, and designing  
STEM‑integrated lessons are not optional add‑ons but core levers for improving mathematics learning.  
Meta‑analyses show that explicit critical‑thinking instruction yields small‑to‑moderate gains in CT skills,  
formative assessment produces small positive effects overall on achievement with larger impacts when it  
includes student self‑assessment and formal feedback, and integrated STEM approaches deliver additional gains  
in mathematics achievement (Abrami et al. 2015; Rosli et al. 2019).  
Yet despite K‑to‑12 reforms, Philippine outcomes in mathematics remain among the weakest globally: in PISA  
2018 the Philippines ranked last in reading and second‑to‑last in mathematics and science among 79 systems,  
with average mathematics 353 (below Level 1) and 81% of students below the minimum proficiency Level 2.  
TIMSS 2019 on Grade 4 corroborated this, placing the country last of 64 in mathematics (mean 297) with 81%  
below the low benchmark of 400 (Orbeta & Paqueo, 2022b; Bernardo et al., 2022). More recent evidence  
indicates the problem persists, as PISA 2022 still finds Filipino students among the lowest performers with no  
significant improvement from 2018, while foundational mathematics skills have declined across cohorts from  
2003 to 2019clear signs of a systemic learning crisis (Acido & Caballes, 2024; Igarashi & Suryadarma, 2023).  
Compounding this, there is a need for instruction and assessment solutions that systematically build reasoning  
for all learners (Orbeta & Paqueo, 2022b).  
Page 6337  
Addressing the gap in learning requires classroom‑level adoption of CT‑rich pedagogy, HOTS‑based formative  
assessment, and integrated STEM design tasks, coupled with stronger teacher preparation aligned to international  
mathematics literacy demands but explicitly closing gaps in 21st‑century contexts and skills identified in national  
teacher‑education curricula (Abrami et al. 2015; Rosli et al. 2019; Orbeta & Paqueo 2022).  
This gap is particularly acute in the domain of data literacy. Local assessments consistently identify the  
interpretation of statistical graphs and drawing conclusions from data as one of the least learned competencies  
in Grade 7 Mathematics (Buquing, 2024; Alcantara & Bacsa, 2017). To address this specific deficit, the Teacher  
Advancement Program (TAP) for Science and Mathematicsa strategic initiative under the Center for  
Integrated STEM Education (CISTEM) and powered by the Unilab Foundationadvocates for targeted  
interventions that strengthen content mastery and pedagogical innovation. Central to the TAP framework in  
teaching statistics is the "Identify and Interpret" (I2) strategy, also referred to as "What I See, What It Means"  
(WIS-WIM) (CISTEM | My Site, n.d.).  
The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (2012) promotes this strategy to explicitly scaffold the complex  
process of reading and summarizing graphs, tables, and figures. The strategy addresses the cognitive bottleneck  
in graph comprehension by breaking it into two distinct phases: the first part, "What I See," challenges students  
to break down a graph into individual, objective observations; the second part, "What It Means," guides students  
to create meaning from those observations and then fuse those meanings to produce a logical explanation of  
what the graph depicts. By decoupling observation from inference, this strategy enables students to take given  
data, build a visual in their minds, and effectively translate that visual into words.  
To address these gaps within the specific context of a school in Iligan City the researchers utilized a mixed-  
method, exploratory design and adopted the I2 strategy among Grade 7 challenged learners. Given that the I2  
strategy explicitly relies on reading, writing, and numeracy skills to interpret data and draw conclusions, it serves  
as a vital, dual-purpose intervention for this demographicstrengthening their statistical reasoning while  
simultaneously scaffolding the writing skills required to express it. Consequently, this paper seeks to demonstrate  
the I2 strategy's effectiveness as an intervention tool to enhance both the statistical achievement and holistic  
writing skills of this specific demographic.  
METHODOLOGY  
Research Design  
This study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design with qualitative support. Qualitative data were gathered  
through learner reflections using open-ended survey questionnaires and analyzed thematically.  
Participants and Sampling Technique  
This study utilized a purposive sampling technique to select participants from the Grade 7 learners. The selection  
process was governed by specific inclusion criteria designed to identify "challenged learners" who would benefit  
from the intervention. To be included in the study, learners were required to meet two primary conditions:  
Academic Performance: Learners were classified as having grades of "Did Not Meet Expectations"  
(below 75%) or "Fairly Satisfactory" (7579%) in both Mathematics and English.  
Reading Proficiency: Learners were identified as reading at the "instructional" or "frustration" level based  
on pre-reading assessments.  
Out of the entire Grade 7 learners at the school, a total of 12 learners met these stringent criteria. Consequently,  
all 12 identified learners were selected to participate in the study, serving as the complete sample for the research.  
Page 6338  
Research Instrument  
The researchers-developed achievement test, consisting of 20 validated items on statistical graphs, was used for  
both the pretest and posttest. Its validity and reliability were established through a try-out and item analysis,  
yielding a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.74 following the revision of eight questions. Activity  
sheets used to assess the writing skills of challenged learners were adapted from the Teacher Advancement  
Program (TAP) for Science and Mathematics. Learner experiences were captured via a researchers-developed  
self-reflection questionnaire.  
The line graphs, bar graphs, pie charts, and stem-and-leaf plots used in the activity sheets were adapted from F.  
Lim et al. (2024). Guide questions were included to assess whether learners truly understood the graphs they  
analyzed were scaffolded from lower-order to higher-order thinking skills.  
To assess the effectiveness of the I2 strategy on writing skills, holistic evaluation tool was adapted from  
Rosmawan (2017) that was also adapted from the ESL Teachers Portfolio Assessment Group, Fairfax County  
Public Schools, Virginia.. Learners output on their writing skills were evaluated by three seasoned proficient  
language teachers.  
Data Gathering Procedure  
The research procedure was carried out over a structured eight-day period, beginning with the administration of  
the pre-achievement test on Day 1 to establish baseline data. On Day 2, learners were introduced to the I2 strategy  
for interpreting statistical graphs, followed by the administration of the pre-writing skill activity. Instructional  
sessions took place from Day 3 to Day 6, with each day focusing on a specific graph type: line graphs (Day 3),  
bar graphs (Day 4), pie charts (Day 5), and stem-and-leaf plots (Day 6). The intervention phase concluded on  
Day 7 with the administration of the posttest and self-reflection questionnaire. Finally, the post-writing skill  
activity was conducted on Day 8 to assess growth in writing performance.  
Data Analysis Procedure  
Quantitative data were analyzed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test to determine significant  
differences between pretest and posttest scores of both achievement and holistic writing skills. Also, the  
Normalized Gain Score, often referred to as Hake’s Gain (Hake, 1998) were used to calculate how much the  
learners improved relative to the potential improvement could have made in the achievement test. To evaluate  
the consistency of the inter-rater reliability of the holistic writing assessments, Kendall’s Coefficient of  
Concordance (W) was computed for the three independent evaluators. This was made to measure the degree of  
agreement among the raters regarding the rank order of the challenged learners’ writing performance.  
Qualitatively, content analysis was applied to learners’ reflections to identify recurring themes. Data were  
systematically coded to preserve respondent anonymity and uphold ethical standards.  
Study Limitations  
The findings of this study are subject to several key methodological and assessment limitations.  
Methodologically, the use of a one-group pretest-posttest design with a small, purposive sample of only N=12  
learners limits the statistical power, prevents definitive attribution of gains to the I2 strategy, and means the  
results may not apply to all students or educational contexts. This constraint, coupled with the short, eight-day  
intervention period, suggests the results are best viewed as exploratory. Furthermore, writing skills assessment  
relied on a holistic evaluation tool rather than a detailed analytic scale, meaning specific details of student writing  
skills may have been missed. Finally, inter-rater consistency was challenged by variations in evaluator strictness,  
which influenced the absolute scores despite a moderate ranking order.  
Ethical Considerations  
Page 6339  
This study was conducted in strict adherence to the fundamental ethical principles of respect for persons,  
beneficence, and justice. Prior to the commencement of data collection, participants and their legal guardians  
were fully apprised of the research objectives, procedural protocols, and their voluntary right to withdraw at any  
stage without fear of academic repercussions. Written informed consent was rigorously obtained to ensure  
transparency. To preserve participant anonymity and confidentiality, personal identifiers were replaced with  
alphanumeric codes, and all research-related documents were secured accessible exclusively to the researchers  
only.  
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  
Achievement Test Results of the Challenged Learners in the Implementation  
The results of the achievement test, as presented in Table 1, indicate a significant difference between students'  
scores from the pretest and posttest. A Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test revealed that the post-test ranks were  
statistically significantly higher than pre-test ranks (z = -2.341*, p < 0.033). Notably, the rank total of difference  
scores favored the posttest. This finding suggests that the I2 strategy significantly contributed to students'  
achievement. This outcome aligns with the strategy's core function, as promoted by the Biological Sciences  
Curriculum Study (2012), which advocates for the I2 strategy to explicitly scaffold the complex process of  
reading and summarizing graphs by breaking it into the distinct phases of observation ("What I See") and  
inference ("What It Means"). Furthermore, the result is supported by the studies of Lucci and Cooper (2019) and  
Calingacion et al. (2025) that I2 strategy is instrumental in guiding and enhancing the ability of students in the  
interpretation of data.  
Table 1: Comparison of Pre- and Post-Achievement Tests  
Pretest-Posttest  
Positive Ranks  
Negative Ranks  
Ties  
N
8
Rank Average  
7.19  
Rank Total  
57.5  
Z
p
-2.134*  
0.033  
3
2.83  
8.5  
1
Based on the positive rank  
To further assess the effectiveness of the intervention, the normalized gain score was calculated. The challenged  
learners achieved a normalized gain (g) of 0.23. While this falls within the 'low gain' classification (g < 0.3), it  
represents a measurable improvement in statistical literacy among challenged learners. Given the learners'  
history of academic difficulties and 'frustration-level' reading proficiency, this gain indicates that the I2 strategy  
successfully helped learners close approximately 23% of the gap between their prior knowledge and the mastery  
level.  
Writing Results of the Challenged Learners in the Implementation  
Inter-Rater Ratings of Pre- and Post Holistic Writing Skills  
Table 2 presents the summary of the concordance analysis for both the pretest and posttest phases. The analysis  
yielded a coefficient of W = .442, χ2 (11) = 14.590, p = .202 for the pre-writing activity, and W = .525, χ2 (11)  
= 17.333, p = .098 for the post-writing activity.  
Table 2: Test of Concordance for Inter-Observer Ratings on Holistic Writing Skills  
Assessment  
Phase  
Raters (k)  
Kendall's W  
χ2  
df  
p
Page 6340  
Pretest  
3
3
0.442  
0.525  
14.59  
11  
11  
0.202  
0.098  
Posttest  
17.333  
df = degrees of freedom  
These coefficients indicate a moderate level of agreement among the three evaluators. The increase in the W  
value from the pretest (.442) to the posttest (.525) suggests a slight improvement in scoring consistency as the  
study progressed. However, the results did not reach statistical significance (p > .05). This lack of significance  
is attributed to the small sample size (N=12), which limits the statistical power to detect strong concordance, as  
well as distinct variations in the scoring severity of the evaluators (e.g., Scorer 3 consistently assigned higher  
ratings compared to Scorers 1 and 2). Despite these variations in absolute scores, the moderate W values confirm  
that the evaluators maintained a relatively consistent standard regarding the ranking of student performance.  
Table 3: Distribution of Descriptive Ratings for Writing Skills (Pretest vs. Posttest)  
Mean Score  
Range  
Descriptive  
Level  
Pretest  
Status  
Posttest  
Status  
Interpretation of Skill Level  
None  
No evidence of idea development;  
uses single words, pictures, or  
patterned phrases; copies from a  
model with little awareness of  
mechanics.  
1.00 1.99  
2.00 2.99  
3.00 3.99  
4.00 4.99  
Emerging  
Beginning  
Developing  
Expanding  
Majority  
Significant  
Minimal  
None  
Minimal  
Significant  
Majority  
Begins to convey meaning but  
writes predominantly in phrases or  
simple sentences; uses limited  
vocabulary  
and  
temporary  
(phonetic) spelling.  
Writes sentences around an idea but  
may lack cohesion; run-on  
sentences are common; errors in  
capitalization and punctuation often  
interfere with meaning.  
Organizes  
ideas  
write  
logically  
and  
begins  
to  
a
paragraph;  
with  
experiments  
compound/complex sentences and  
verb tenses (though inconsistent);  
errors sometimes interfere with  
meaning.  
None  
Some  
Writes single or multiple paragraphs  
with main ideas and supporting  
details; uses transitions and varied  
vocabulary; errors do not detract  
from meaning.  
5.00 5.99  
Fluent  
Page 6341  
None  
Few  
Writes multiple paragraphs with  
clear introduction and conclusion;  
uses complex sentences effectively  
and precise vocabulary; occasional  
errors do not detract from meaning.  
6
Proficient  
Descriptive Interpretation of the Holistic Writing Skills  
To further contextualize the quantitative inter-rater ratings, the learners’ writing performance was interpreted  
using the study’s specific 6-point holistic rubric (Rosmawan (2017) . This descriptive analysis highlights the  
qualitative shift in writing skills following the intervention.  
As shown in Table 3, the pre-intervention phase was characterized by learners clustering in the "Emerging" and  
"Beginning" stages. Qualitatively, this reflects a significant struggle in data literacy; prior to the intervention,  
learners mostly used patterned phrases, relied on phonetic spelling, and showed little awareness of proper  
mechanics, often copying models rather than generating original interpretations  
However, a marked upward shift was observed in the posttest, where the majority of learners advanced to the  
"Expanding" level. This transition indicates that the I2 strategy successfully scaffolded learners to move beyond  
simple sentence construction. By the posttest, learners began to organize ideas in a logical order and attempt  
paragraph writing. While they still exhibited inconsistent verb tensesa characteristic of the "Expanding"  
levelthey demonstrated the ability to use compound sentences and vocabulary appropriate for interpreting the  
graphs, signifying a fundamental improvement in their ability to convey meaning.  
Comparison of Pre- and Post- Holistic Writing Ratings  
A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to evaluate the impact of the intervention on the challenged learners'  
holistic writing skills. The analysis was based on the consolidated inter-observer ratings from three evaluators.  
The results revealed a statistically significant improvement in writing performance (Z = -2.706, p = .007).  
As indicated in Table 4, nine learners demonstrated positive ranks (improved writing scores), while only one  
learner showed a negative rank, and two learners retained their pretest scores. The low p-value (p = .007)  
confirms that the observed improvements in writing composition are not due to chance. This suggests that the I2  
strategy, combined with the scaffolded activity sheets, effectively enhanced the challenged learners' ability to  
articulate their statistical interpretations in written form.  
Table 4: Comparison of Pre- and Post-Holistic Writing Ratings (Inter-Observer)  
Pretest-Posttest  
N
Rank  
Average  
Rank  
Total  
Z
p
Positive Ranks  
Negative Ranks  
Ties  
9
1
2
5.89  
2
53  
2
-2.706*  
0.007  
Based on the positive rank  
Perceptions Drawn from the Challenged Learners using the I2 Strategy  
The study utilized the I2 strategy as an intervention tool to assist challenged learners in interpreting and drawing  
conclusions from statistical graphs. Table 5 presents the perceptions drawn from the learners' responses to the  
Page 6342  
question, “How do you find the I2 strategy helpful and interesting while understanding and learning  
Mathematics? Why?”  
The qualitative data indicates that the learners perceived the I2 strategy as a highly effective tool. The impact  
extended beyond the simple remediation of mathematical errors; it fundamentally altered both their cognitive  
approach to problem-solving and their affective attitude toward learning.  
Learners explicitly reported that the strategy helped them "concentrate better" (L5, L11) and "sharpen their  
minds" (L3). This suggests that the I2 strategy reduced the cognitive load for students who typically find it  
difficult to process dense information. By decomposing the complex task of graph analysis into two manageable  
steps"What I see" and "What it means"the strategy provided a clear, replicable structure. Instead of feeling  
overwhelmed by visual data, learners utilized this method to organize their observations. This scaffolding  
enabled learners who were previously "struggling" to transition from random guessing to systematic, step-by-  
step thinking.  
A significant finding was that learners recognized the strategy’s value in enhancing linguistic proficiency, not  
just numerical skills. Respondents noted that the activity “enhances some grammars" (L4) and aids in "speaking  
or reading in English" (L9). This impact is particularly critical given that these participants were identified as  
instructional or frustration-level readers. The I2 strategy effectively bridged the gap between mathematics and  
literacy; by compelling students to articulate their observations and interpretations, they were actively practicing  
sentence construction and vocabulary usage. Consequently, the intervention transformed a mathematics lesson  
into a dual-purpose literacy exercise that learners perceived as relevant to their future careers, noting that it  
"helps in future work in companies" (L9).  
Historically, challenged learners exhibit avoidance behaviors toward mathematics due to fear of failure.  
However, study participants admitted that the activity was "enjoyable" (L8, L11). This feedback marks a  
substantial shift in the learners' emotional relationship with the subject. The I2 strategy acted as a support system  
that fostered a sense of competence. When the approach made the analytical work feel "easy" (L3, L18), the  
learners' self-efficacy grew, naturally increasing their intrinsic motivation to participate.  
Table 5: Learners’ Perception in Using the I2 Strategy  
Themes  
Code  
Ease of Use  
Quotes  
Data interpretation  
easier to handle.  
"Yes, it’s very important because answering the  
activities is very easy with the strategy." (L3)  
Helpful  
"Yes, it could help you understand the questions easily,  
the what I see and what it means is helpful for people  
who are struggling in math especially in line, bar  
graph, pie chart and stem and leaf plot" (L10)  
Learn the graph  
"I think the I2 and mathematics is important to me to  
learn and how to solve the number and how to  
describe the solution. I learn the bar graph, line  
graph, pie chart and how to learn the graph and how  
to describe the solution" (L6)  
Solve the problems  
"I find the I2 strategy helpful and interesting while  
understanding learning mathematics because it helped  
me understand the topic easier and it helped me solve  
problems about charts and graphs and interpreting  
graphs, charts and stem-and-leaf plot" (L12)  
Page 6343  
Holistic  
Concentration  
"Yes because I believe that doing this activity is useful  
development  
for improved concentration." (L5)  
"It helps me think about the questions." (L7)  
"I found out that the I2 strategy helpful and interesting  
because I enjoyed answering those questions and I  
learned a lot using the strategy because it’s so easy  
but because it helps me improve my concentration and  
learning skills." (L11)  
Enhance grammar  
"I think that it is enjoyable because it enhances some  
grammars and observations." (L4)  
English speaking and  
reading  
"The I2 strategy is helpful because it improves your  
skills beyond just understanding Math. It sharpens  
your mind and enhances your English speaking and  
reading, which is useful for future work in companies,  
financial agencies, or weather forecasting.” (L9)  
Observation  
"Yeah because it’s good for observations, making  
interpretation, organizing and analyzing" (L2)  
Long-term value  
Enjoyment and interest  
"I found out that the I2 strategy helped and interesting  
because I enjoyed answering those questions and I  
learned a lot using the strategy because it’s so easy  
but because it helps me improve my concentration and  
learning skills." (L11)  
Willingness  
Future ready  
"Yes because I am willing to do this activity again  
because I think it is somewhat useful and I was  
thinking about how much I enjoyed it" (L8)  
"I found the I2 strategy helpful because it improves  
your skills. It doesn't just help you learn and  
understand Math; it also stimulates your brain and  
improves your English speaking and reading skills.  
This helps prepare you for future work in companies,  
financial agencies, or weather forecasting." (L9)  
In summary, the qualitative data suggests that the I2 strategy is effective not merely because it simplifies the  
content, but because it systematizes the thinking process. It empowers challenged learners by providing a  
concrete entry point ("What I see"), thereby lowering the barrier to complex analytical tasks and cultivating a  
learning environment where they feel capable, focused, and engaged.  
CONCLUSIONS  
Based on the detailed results and discussion provided, here are the formal conclusions drawn from the study.  
These conclusions synthesize the quantitative statistical data and the qualitative student feedback regarding the  
implementation of the I2 (Identify and Interpret) Strategy among challenged learners.  
The intervention proved effective in improving the academic performance of challenged learners in statistics.  
The statistical analysis of the achievement test (Z = -2.341, p < 0.033) confirms that the improvement was not  
due to chance. Although the normalized gain (g = 0.23) is classified as "low gain," in the specific context of  
Page 6344  
learners with "frustration-level" reading proficiency and a history of academic difficulty, this represents a  
substantial educational victory. Therefore, the I2 strategy successfully scaffolds the learning process, allowing  
students to close nearly a quarter (23%) of the gap between their prior knowledge and mastery. It is a viable  
intervention for remediation in mathematics.  
One of the most profound conclusions is that the I2 strategy transcends simple mathematical calculation; it  
functions as a linguistic scaffold. The shift in writing proficiency from the "Emerging/Beginning" stages  
(copying models, phonetic spelling) to the "Expanding" stage (logical organization, compound sentences) is  
statistically significant (Z = -2.706, p = 0.007). By forcing a distinction between "What I see" (observation) and  
"What it means" (interpretation), the strategy provides the necessary structure for students to organize their  
thoughts before writing. Hence, the I2 strategy effectively improves data/ statistical literacy. It transforms  
students from passive observers who copy text into active analysts who can articulate mathematical reasoning  
using appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures.  
The qualitative data reveals that the I2 strategy alters the cognitive approach of the learners. Students reported  
that the strategy helped them "concentrate" and made the work feel "easy." Challenged learners often feel  
overwhelmed by visual data (graphs/charts). The I2 strategy breaks this complex task into manageable, replicable  
steps. However, the strategy reduces cognitive load. By systematizing the thinking process, it lowers the barrier  
to entry for complex analytical tasks, allowing learners to focus their mental energy on analysis rather than trying  
to decode the format of the problem. In addition, historically, challenged learners exhibited avoidance behaviors  
and fear of failure regarding math. But the post-implementation feedback ("enjoyable," "willing to do this  
activity again") indicates a shift in self-efficacy. The feeling of competence generated by successfully using the  
scaffolded steps led to increased engagement. Therefore, the intervention successfully converted "math anxiety"  
into "math confidence" for these learners. The I2 strategy fosters a positive learning environment where  
challenged learners feel capable and safe to take intellectual risks.  
RECOMMENDATIONS  
Based on the findings and conclusions of this study regarding the implementation of the I2 (Identify and Interpret)  
Strategy among challenged learners, the following recommendations are proposed:  
1. For Mathematics Instruction and Remediation: Mathematics educators should utilize the I2 strategy  
specifically for learners identified with "frustration-level" reading proficiency or high math anxiety. The  
study confirms that decomposing graph analysis into distinct steps ("What I see" vs. "What it means")  
effectively lowers cognitive load. Teachers should explicitly model this separation to prevent learners  
from becoming overwhelmed by visual data.  
2. For Cross-Curricular Integration (Math and English): School administrators and department heads should  
encourage collaboration between Mathematics and English departments. Math teachers can provide data  
sets, while English teachers use the I2 framework to teach expository paragraph writing and transitional  
devices.  
3. For Assessment and Evaluation: Future studies should use more detailed scoring tools for writing skills  
to better evaluate student performance.  
4. For Future Research: As the current study was limited to a small sample (N=12), future researchers  
should replicate this study with a larger population to increase statistical power and generalizability.  
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  
The researchers wish to express their profound gratitude and appreciation to the following individuals who  
contributed to the success of this study:  
To the respondents, for their time, effort, and willingness to participate in this research. Your cooperation made  
this study possible.  
Page 6345  
To the School Administration, and specifically the School Principal, Dr. Sanny O. Delfin, for granting  
permission and providing the necessary support to implement this study. Your assistance was instrumental in  
achieving these positive results.  
To the language teachers and inter-ratersMs. Janice, Ms. Norhata, and Ms. Daisythank you for your time  
and expertise in evaluating the writing skills of the challenged learners. We deeply appreciate your patience and  
dedication in assessing the learners' outputs; your contribution was vital to the successful completion of this  
work.  
Above all, glory and praise to the Mighty Creator, for the wisdom, guidance, and blessings bestowed upon the  
researchers throughout this entire journey.  
REFERENCES  
1. Abrami, P. C., Bernard, R. M., Borokhovski, E., Waddington, D. I., Wade, C. A., & Persson, T. (2014).  
Strategies for teaching students to think critically. Review of Educational Research, 85(2), 275314.  
2. Acido, N. J. V., & Caballes, N. D. G. (2024). Assessing educational progress: A comparative analysis of  
PISA results (2018 vs. 2022) and HDI correlation in the Philippines. World Journal of Advanced  
3. Alcantara, E. C., & Bacsa, J. M. P. (2017). Critical thinking and problem solving skills in mathematics  
of Grade-7 public secondary students. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidiscipliinary Research/Asia Pacific  
Journal  
of  
Multidisciplinary  
Research,  
5(2),  
2125.  
4. Bernardo, A. B. I., Cordel, M. O., Lapinid, M. R. C., Teves, J. M. M., Yap, S. A., & Chua, U. C. (2022).  
Contrasting Profiles of Low-Performing Mathematics Students in Public and Private Schools in the  
Philippines:  
5. Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. (2012). I Can Use the Identify and Interpret (I2) Strategy  
Insights  
from  
Machine  
Learning.  
Journal  
of  
Intelligence,  
10(3),  
61.  
(2012). I Can Use the Identify and Interpret (I2) Strategy [Teacher edition].  
6. Buquing, C. U. (2024). The most essential learning competencies in statistics of the Grade 7 learners.  
International  
Journal  
Of  
Multidisciplinary  
Research  
And  
Analysis,  
07(05).  
7. Calingacion, J. P., Dacera, A. L. M., Castro, M. G., Lubay, J. C., Bug-Os, R. F. F. C., & Bansale, J. C.  
(2025). Enhancing graph interpretation skills of Grade 9 students in learning microeconomics through I2  
strategy. Indonesian  
Journal  
of  
Education  
and  
Pedagogy., 2(1),  
47–  
9. F. Lim, Y., G. Nocon, E., & A. Ruivivar, L. (2024). Dynamic Mathematics for lifelong learners: Grade  
7 textbook [Book]. Sibs Publishing House, Inc.  
10. Hake, R. R. (1998). Interactive-engagement versus traditional methods: A six-thousand-student survey  
of mechanics test data for introductory physics courses. American Journal of Physics, 66(1), 6474.  
11. Hasim, S. B. M., Yasin, R. B. M., & Rosli, R. B. (2016). A Meta-Analysis Study On The Effectiveness  
Of Higher Order Thinking Skills (Hots) Based Learning In Science And Mathematics Subjects.  
Proceeding  
12. Igarashi, T., & Suryadarma, D. (2022). Foundational mathematics and reading skills of Filipino students  
over generation. International Journal of Educational Development, 96, 102688.  
7th  
International  
Seminar  
on  
Regional  
Education,  
3(1),  
13441349.  
a
Page 6346  
13. Ignacio, L. B., Cristobal, A. G. A., & David, P. C. (2022). Impact of policy implementation on education  
quality: A case study on Philippines’ low ranking in international and local assessment programs. Asian  
Journal on Perspectives in Education, 3(1), 4154. https://doi.org/10.63529/ajpe.v3i1.7663  
14. Kadir, N., Adelina, R., & Fatma, M. (2018a). Enhancing students’ mathematical problem posing skill  
through writing in performance tasks strategy. Journal of Physics Conference Series, 948, 012022.  
15. Kadir, N., Adelina, R., & Fatma, M. (2018b). Enhancing students’ mathematical problem posing skill  
through writing in performance tasks strategy. Journal of Physics Conference Series, 948, 012022.  
16. Lucci, K., & Cooper, R. A. (2019). Using the I2 Strategy to Help Students Think Like Biologists about  
Natural  
Selection. The  
American  
Biology  
Teacher, 81(2),  
88–  
17. Orbeta, A. J., & Paqueo, V. (2022a). Philippine education: situationer, challenges, and ways forward.  
18. Orbeta, A. J., & Paqueo, V. (2022b). Philippine education: situationer, challenges, and ways forward.  
19. Rosli, R., Siregar, N. C., Maat, S. M., & Capraro, M. M. (2019). The Effect of Science, Technology,  
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program on Students’ Achievement in Mathematics: A Meta-  
Analysis.  
International  
Electronic  
Journal  
of  
Mathematics  
Education,  
1(1).  
20. Rosmawan, H. (2017). The Analysis Of Student’s Writing Before And After The Implementation Of  
Read-To-Write Approach. CaLLs (Journal of Culture Arts Literature and Linguistics), 2(1), 1.  
21. Samritin, S., & Suryanto, S. (2016). Developing an assessment instrument of junior high school students’  
higher order thinking skills in mathematics. REID (Research and Evaluation in Education), 2(1), 92107.  
Page 6347