2018 PSLE Discussions & Strategies (Born in 2006)

[jasmineong]

Does your child use OnSponge materials? If he or she uses it, I find it helps them to be quite clear on the heuristics methods.:)

[FantasyLandDreams]

jasmineong:

Does your child use OnSponge materials? If he or she uses it, I find it helps them to be quite clear on the heuristics methods.:)

Not onsponge, but the school uses the get me thinking book though. She does not have maths tuition so far ( P4 now), that's why I would like to know the list of the more difficult heuristic methods for P5 first to mentally prepare ourselves. Thanks.

[jasmineong]

FantasyLandDreams:

jasmineong:

Does your child use OnSponge materials? If he or she uses it, I find it helps them to be quite clear on the heuristics methods.:)

Not onsponge, but the school uses the get me thinking book though. She does not have maths tuition so far ( P4 now), that's why I would like to know the list of the more difficult heuristic methods for P5 first to mentally prepare ourselves. Thanks.

The more difficult methods could be working backwords, making a list, seeing the pattern. Actually I find it may not be the method that is difficult but it is that in the same method but the questions using that method get harder. I would recommend you ordering the Onsponge books, they are harder than the Thinking books. Can do during the holidays to get used to it:) even the P4 OnSponge books can be done as I feel it is one level higher than most assessment books.

[laughingcat]

But with model drawing, it will be alot easier to check back the steps for any mistake. Especially for before and after questions.

[laughingcat]

IMO, for a child who is consistently scoring 85 and above can try onsponge. GetMeThinking is really simple for kids who are already thinking. :rotflmao: :siam:

[MrsKiasu]

hihi, sorry to interrupt…may I know if the Onsponge that you mummies referring to is the thinkingMath@onSponge Conquer Problem Sums? ( I have the P4 book white background with writings in purple on the cover) or there are other types ?

[laughingcat]

My opinion only and based on my observation ah…conquer onsponge is tougher then essential.


But you won’t see similar types of onsponge questions in the exam.

But if a child can do onsponge conquer smooth sailing, then the child will not have much problem in the exam. That is my takes ah

[MrsKiasu]

laughingcat:

My opinion only and based on my observation ah......conquer onsponge is tougher then essential.


But you won't see similar types of onsponge questions in the exam.

But if a child can do onsponge conquer smooth sailing, then the child will not have much problem in the exam. That is my takes ah

I just saw the Essential Problem solving skills books when I turned to the Preface page. was wondering what was the difference. Good to see your view..I think I get what you mean, dd tried few qns fm Onsponge before, I think quite true your observation. I get dd to continue with this P4 book first before we go buy the P5 math. :thankyou:

[FantasyLandDreams]

laughingcat:

IMO, for a child who is consistently scoring 85 and above can try onsponge. GetMeThinking is really simple for kids who are already thinking. :rotflmao: :siam:

You mean get me thinking book is easier than onsponge 'conquer' book? Because I always thought it is the other way round after reading Mr Zhou's review:

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26351&start=820

Looks like I got to take a second look at Onsponge books again now.....

[laughingcat]

I have read Mr Zhou’s review when GetMeThinking was first launched. Was super excited and without much thoughts and went to buy the book. After completed the book, was like super easy. My boy who likes Maths completed the book within 2 months. Then i think not so suitable for higher order Maths. Perhaps my view was wrong but my oldest kiddo think it is super easy as compared to Conquer.


However…GetMeThinking book is very much suitable for my younger boy. Who can’t seem to grasp Maths as fast as my older boy. GetMeThinking seems to be okay for him.

So not all assessments are the same for each kids. Have to see where they and choose the right book for them.

But but…we used the conquer book for the questions only. We did not 100% follow the conquer heuristic method. Because some methods are simply prone to errors. We still stick to using model method. I felt that using model method can branch to different ways of getting the equation which leads to algebra.

Also with model method, we can catch the error and hence reduce careless mistakes. That is my view only.

BTW i am not saying model method is the best. So far i have seen model method helps to reduce carelessness in my kids’ maths. Besides i noticed that given any difficult question, my kiddo will just simply start to "draw" and somehow leads to the answers.