2014 PSLE Discussions and Strategy

[janet88]

zbear:

bb_ mom:

Not just history and geography, math too! Secondary school math is quite different from primary school. No more models or unitary method. Gotta abandon that. I got DD to do math before she started secondary 1.

My kids say Sec School Maths is so much easier than PSLE.

They think its really stupid to force Primary School kids to use Models n then switch to Algebra in Sec School to solve problems becos Algebra is much easier to understand n use.

So when you go to Sec School, pls give back all your Models to your Pri School as you no longer need to use them. U have to unlearn what you learn for Maths.

TOTALLY AGREE!!!
some damage done to the kids about pushing them to learn MODELS...UNLEARN models when they graduate from primary school.
spend the dec holidays building foundation for sec 1 math.

[jjxy mum]

bb_ mom:

jjxy mum:

[quote=\"bb_ mom\"]Not just history and geography, math too! Secondary school math is quite different from primary school. No more models or unitary method. Gotta abandon that. I got DD to do math before she started secondary 1.

Where did you send your dd for Maths lesson? My dd 'remind' me to teach her Sec 1 Maths after her psle....

It's called the Bb_mom math centre that opens for selective topics only. So far, I can still guide her. And the assessment books I get for her must have step by step answer key for me to study and explain.

From my time to now, not much change in syllabus, IMHO. Maybe as she goes up to sec 2 or 3, I'll have to outsource. But until then...[/quote]Oh I see.

Actually I tried to teach ds when he was in sec1, but I couldn't teach much...so I got him a tutor this year.

[bb_ mom]

janet_lee88:

spend the dec holidays building foundation for sec 1 math.

For those with kids who spent a few years grasping models, it's gonna be a challenge to get them to accept algebra. I'm not looking forward to the time when DS starts sec 1. :yikes:

[janet88]

hubby can relate better to secondary school math…but dare not let go of the tutor as he is afraid he might not be able to coach 100%.

[Nebbermind]

bb_ mom:

janet_lee88:

spend the dec holidays building foundation for sec 1 math.

For those with kids who spent a few years grasping models, it's gonna be a challenge to get them to accept algebra. I'm not looking forward to the time when DS starts sec 1. :yikes:

Models are just visual representation of algebra and they are useful for lower primary coz it enables them to solve more complex math problem without learning algebra.

[janet88]

for models, there are marks awarded for correct steps even if answer is wrong…for algebra, if it is wrong every step of the way, then it’s gone case. that’s what hubby told me.

[bb_ mom]

jjxy mum:

bb_ mom:

[quote=\"jjxy mum\"]
Where did you send your dd for Maths lesson? My dd 'remind' me to teach her Sec 1 Maths after her psle....

It's called the Bb_mom math centre that opens for selective topics only. So far, I can still guide her. And the assessment books I get for her must have step by step answer key for me to study and explain.

From my time to now, not much change in syllabus, IMHO. Maybe as she goes up to sec 2 or 3, I'll have to outsource. But until then...

Oh I see.

Actually I tried to teach ds when he was in sec1, but I couldn't teach much...so I got him a tutor this year.[/quote]It's not so much teaching that I did. I make her study and do the questions. If don't know, then I jump in. My jumping in isn't all that often. During the dec hols, yes, often since got time. But once the school year started, I get asked only couple of times a month. So sec 1 math tuition centre not in full operation.

[janet88]

since psle is over, the kids can relax a little…but please do not laze around and do nothing constructive…they are the ones who will suffer when sec 1 begins. culture shock is scary in sec 1.

oh yes, teachers are a strict bunch…discipline master is no better.

[mum2girls]

Actually do P6 kids still use models to solve the Maths questions? I don’t see my girl using models to solve most of her maths questions. In fact, I think secondary maths is really easier and more interesting than Pri school Maths. Both hubby and I did better for our Maths in Sec Sch than Pri Sch and thereafter we seem to be able to handle Maths questions better beyond that. I guess, when you grow other, the way you learn and your attitude can be quite different. You don’t just learn for the sake of learning and doing to score. Somehow you are learning for the sake of knowledge and interest…of course also to do well if possible… hmm… not sure I am correct but it seems to be so for my nieces and nephews also for both hubby and myself.

[Nebbermind]

mum2girls:

Actually do P6 kids still use models to solve the Maths questions? I don't see my girl using models to solve most of her maths questions. In fact, I think secondary maths is really easier and more interesting than Pri school Maths. Both hubby and I did better for our Maths in Sec Sch than Pri Sch and thereafter we seem to be able to handle Maths questions better beyond that. I guess, when you grow other, the way you learn and your attitude can be quite different. You don't just learn for the sake of learning and doing to score. Somehow you are learning for the sake of knowledge and interest..of course also to do well if possible.. hmm... not sure I am correct but it seems to be so for my nieces and nephews also for both hubby and myself.

For some questions, using models can be easier. But for most, there are a few ways to go about it, especially for kids who are above average in math, ie, they can already formulate the solution without the visual aid of models.

We are more comfortable with algebra coz we nebber had models....but we forgot we also used it when we were older...not in lower primary.