ANALISIS KESULITAN BELAJAR MATEMATIKA MATERI OPERASI BILANGAN BULAT PADA SISWA SEKOLAH DASAR DALAM KURIKULUM MERDEKA

Abstract

Integer operations are essential for developing students’ logical thinking skills, yet their abstract nature often becomes a source of difficulty in elementary mathematics learning This study aims to describe the types of difficulties faced by elementary school students in learning integer operations and to examine the factors contributing to these difficulties within the framework of the Merdeka Curriculum. The research employed a literature review approach by analyzing various scientific sources, including journals, textbooks, conference proceedings, and policy documents published within the last ten years. The findings indicate that many students struggle to understand the concepts of negative numbers, the direction on number lines, and basic operational rules, including the correct use of positive and negative signs in mixed operations. Difficulties are particularly evident when students solve word problems that require reading comprehension, interpreting context, and selecting appropriate procedures. Other contributing factors include differences in students’ prior knowledge, limited use of concrete learning media, and instructional methods that do not provide meaningful learning experiences. These results highlight the importance of implementing concrete and scaffolded teaching strategies aligned with students’ cognitive development to enhance their understanding of integer operations.