This experimental study examined the effectiveness of using manipulative Homemade Algebra Tiles (HAT) in improving competency of integers among Grade 7 students with mathematical learning difficulties. The researcher conducted this study hoping to help Mathematics teachers and researchers to bridge the gap and misconceptions about Mathematics as a “difficult subject”. Mathematics may not be enticing to all but at least became interesting and easier using HAT.
Thirty four (34) identified Grade 7 students with difficulty in learning mathematics of Depot Ancestral Domain National High School were randomly selected and assigned into control and experimental groups. This study utilized standardized test, taken from textbooks utilized in the school. Posttest scores of control group (13.41) was far behind the experimental group (24.53) after the intervention given to the experimental group and conventional lecturing to that of the control group. This implies that HAT has statistically significant impact to the scores of the experimental group (p-value=.000). The use of this manipulatives helped the students with mathematical learning difficulties in performing integers and change their misconception that performing integers is difficult into easier and fun.

Keyword: Algebra Tiles, Mathematical Learning Difficulties