CMA Math - Discussion

[Poohbear]

smurf:

May I know what is the 8% discount about? I'm keen to enrol my boy.:)

Hi,

I hv pm u.

Thks.

[mum2b]

my daughter has joined CMA Jurong East since about a month ago. I would say she's been doing well, but then it's still really basic stuffs. She's coming 4 years old this month, btw. She needs reminding to do her homework, but the good thing is she views the abacus as one of her \"toys\", so she enjoys \"playing\" with it


thanks

[Happybirdks]

I am still blur after reading all the posts


My questions are :

1) will the kids get confuse between the two methods of doing maths when they reach primary school? I believe cma method and tradtional method taught in schools are different.

2) seem that some parents mentioned that their kids can't do the abacus/mental sums that fast or good anymore once they stop the cma lessons. Does it mean this has to be a ongoing course in order to benefit the kids in long run?

3) I am keen to sign up my P1 son too, but will it be too late to help him?

[jedamum]

Happybirdks:

I am still blur after reading all the posts


My questions are :

1) will the kids get confuse between the two methods of doing maths when they reach primary school? I believe cma method and tradtional method taught in schools are different.

2) seem that some parents mentioned that their kids can't do the abacus/mental sums that fast or good anymore once they stop the cma lessons. Does it mean this has to be a ongoing course in order to benefit the kids in long run?

3) I am keen to sign up my P1 son too, but will it be too late to help him?

happybirdks,
pros and cons of abacus are discussed here.
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[concern2]

boonlaysg:

hi. you may want to try this problem on your son

\"Sharon baked 40 brownies. She gave her 3 neighbours 8 brownies each.

(a) How many brownies did she gave her neighbours altogether?
(B) How many brownies did she have left?\"

and see whether he can solve using abs skills.

cheers.

Like I have mentioned, I have not let my son tried P2 problem sums, and I am frankly not so anxious about him not being able to do P2 problem sums at K2.

Perhaps I have not made myself clear enough on the point that Abacus uses different skills. Abacus do not teach them about analysing a problem and solving them in a logical manner. So, there is no way, I think a child could use Abacus to solve this problem. To solve this, he will have learn the method that is taught in pri school and then using Abacus to check if his FINAL answers are correct.

As I wrote, my son came to me, so I casually asked him:

\"Imagine if you have 40 lollipops. You gave 8 to papa, 8 to me, and 8 to your sister. (As I talked, he moved his hands like doing mental arithmetic). Before I could say the next word, he shouted:\"16!\"

\"What 16?\" I asked him (I haven't worked out the answer myself :oops: )
\"How did you get 16?\" I asked him in another way.
\"40 minus 8 minus 8 minus 8 is 16!\"
\"Ok, now my question is, how many did you give away altogether?\"
\"24!\"
\"How did you get 24?
\"8+8+8 is 24\"

Well, at least now I know he could do P2 maths problem. But reading and understanding the question is a different challenge he has yet to try! :roll:

[concern2]

Just to share a funny incident with this mental arithmetic thingy.


He was fiddling with my sis’s electronic game and my sis switched to a number game for him. As soon as the game started, he started moving one of his hands vigorously. It took my sister a moment to realize he was doing mental arithmetic!

[boonlaysg]

concern2:

boonlaysg:

hi. you may want to try this problem on your son

\"Sharon baked 40 brownies. She gave her 3 neighbours 8 brownies each.

(a) How many brownies did she gave her neighbours altogether?
(B) How many brownies did she have left?\"

and see whether he can solve using abs skills.

cheers.

Like I have mentioned, I have not let my son tried P2 problem sums, and I am frankly not so anxious about him not being able to do P2 problem sums at K2.

Perhaps I have not made myself clear enough on the point that Abacus uses different skills. Abacus do not teach them about analysing a problem and solving them in a logical manner. So, there is no way, I think a child could use Abacus to solve this problem. To solve this, he will have learn the method that is taught in pri school and then using Abacus to check if his FINAL answers are correct.

As I wrote, my son came to me, so I casually asked him:

\"Imagine if you have 40 lollipops. You gave 8 to papa, 8 to me, and 8 to your sister. (As I talked, he moved his hands like doing mental arithmetic). Before I could say the next word, he shouted:\"16!\"

\"What 16?\" I asked him (I haven't worked out the answer myself :oops: )
\"How did you get 16?\" I asked him in another way.
\"40 minus 8 minus 8 minus 8 is 16!\"
\"Ok, now my question is, how many did you give away altogether?\"
\"24!\"
\"How did you get 24?
\"8+8+8 is 24\"

Well, at least now I know he could do P2 maths problem. But reading and understanding the question is a different challenge he has yet to try! :roll:

hi. the problem is a P1 problem. not P2. P2 deals with 3 digits. my preference is still problem sums because i realise that he learns both english and maths at the same time. abs only teach them the numbers part and ignores the language. after 10 weeks, i realise that there is no point teaching my son to behave like a calculator. to me its more important to be able to understand and articulate a particular problem.

cheers.

[Pen88n]

boonlaysg:

concern2:

[quote=\"boonlaysg\"]

hi. you may want to try this problem on your son

\"Sharon baked 40 brownies. She gave her 3 neighbours 8 brownies each.

(a) How many brownies did she gave her neighbours altogether?
(B) How many brownies did she have left?\"

and see whether he can solve using abs skills.

cheers.

Like I have mentioned, I have not let my son tried P2 problem sums, and I am frankly not so anxious about him not being able to do P2 problem sums at K2.

Perhaps I have not made myself clear enough on the point that Abacus uses different skills. Abacus do not teach them about analysing a problem and solving them in a logical manner. So, there is no way, I think a child could use Abacus to solve this problem. To solve this, he will have learn the method that is taught in pri school and then using Abacus to check if his FINAL answers are correct.

As I wrote, my son came to me, so I casually asked him:

\"Imagine if you have 40 lollipops. You gave 8 to papa, 8 to me, and 8 to your sister. (As I talked, he moved his hands like doing mental arithmetic). Before I could say the next word, he shouted:\"16!\"

\"What 16?\" I asked him (I haven't worked out the answer myself :oops: )
\"How did you get 16?\" I asked him in another way.
\"40 minus 8 minus 8 minus 8 is 16!\"
\"Ok, now my question is, how many did you give away altogether?\"
\"24!\"
\"How did you get 24?
\"8+8+8 is 24\"

Well, at least now I know he could do P2 maths problem. But reading and understanding the question is a different challenge he has yet to try! :roll:

hi. the problem is a P1 problem. not P2. P2 deals with 3 digits. my preference is still problem sums because i realise that he learns both english and maths at the same time. abs only teach them the numbers part and ignores the language. after 10 weeks, i realise that there is no point teaching my son to behave like a calculator. to me its more important to be able to understand and articulate a particular problem.

cheers.[/quote]I understand when you say it is no point teaching your son to behave like a calculator. I am of the same opinion. However, I think abacus does not teach the kid to behave like a calculator. There are some advantages of learning abacus:
- kids are more sensitive to numbers after doing abacus
- kids understand basic maths foundation better. eg. abacus teaches 2+2+2+.....that is in a way learning the 2 times table. My gal grasp multiplication very easily on that
- kids learn better concentration when doing computation esp. the homework or recital part
- with the foundation laid, it is easier to move kids to higher order thinking when they move on subsequently

I disagree with parents who enforce kids to learn and do and do and do abacus. It should be a process the kid enjoys and not become a chore. Up to a certain stage, you may want to consider stopping the kid if he / she had enough of basic computation. The quick computation ability may deteriorates over time, but the sensitivity to numbers will stay with them. I have my elder kid to prove this, and I have also seen quite some ex-abacus kids performing well in Maths over time.

[concern2]

thanks, boonlaysg, for clarifying that it is a P1 problem and not a P2.


I agree that learning abacus had made my son more sensitive to numbers, and that overdoing kills the interest if the pressure comes from the parent. It is the same with all subjects. Hence, I am not pushing my younger girl if she prefers to learn maths through the logical way of counting instead of using the abacus.

As for human calculator, well, just my opinion, is an ability obtained after a child has put in his hard work and I respect any kid who could do that. Doesn't it amaze you what goes on inside the kids' brain as they work out the problem in their heads? They could hold the image right there in their heads! That kind of visualization, concentration and focus is more than just calculation! Imagine what other areas it could help your child in!

The course gets more difficult as you progress and requires much parental involvement than I ever imagined - to coach (not pressure) and to help our child grasp the new formula and move on, and to know when to let go (allow the child time to absorb and to pick up the pace, or even to stop the course).

Very often, what starts out as good intention for the kids could end up in unnecessary pressure and it is the wise parents who know when to let go, and I also respect those who do that.

It is harder for a parent to let go of something they feel \"the kids should know\" yet the kid has no interest in.

Just hopefully, the skill will stay with them a life time (with variation in speed depending on practice I suppose), together with the confidence in using their brain to solve problems instead of feeling lost without any tools.

[taobaby]

Hi Mummies,


I am planning to enrol my gal for the Abacus class @ CMA Punggol.

Checking if any of you can refer me over to enjoy the 8% discount?

Kindly PM me. Thanks alot!