OnSponge Maths - Discussion

[NickleBee Tutors]

iFruit:

1) Thanks for those MOE links and I'm glad MOE \"doesn't ban algebra\" for primary kids...

Hi,

Thank you for your response and i am glad that we have learnt something from each other in this exchange. The rest of it we will just have to agree to disagree as its pretty obvious that you have made up your mind as to how to teach your daughter.

However i don't think i \"went all defensive\" when asked for my techniques because as i mentioned before, i run a professional tutoring service business (registered and with taxes paid for by the way) and the parents of my students are the boss. Now if your boss (and paymaster) frowns on you doing certain stuff, do you carry on doing it? This is business after all. I was using my full name throughout the discussion and i have already stated that the solutions i posted up in the OnSponge forums are also done under my name. So i have no reason to be defensive as you choose to put it and instead i stand by my arguments which were done under my real name.

Oh and i don't remember mentioning that i have a new \"concoction\" because i made it very clear that i use the Model methods and OnSponge techniques. What i did was to modify some of the techniques so that they are easier to digest and understand by my students.

But as i said, no matter what i say, you're going keep using Argumentum ad nauseam, Argumentum ad hominem and assorted Red herrings which are all common fallacies in logical arguments. So i would like to end this off civily by agreeing to disagree and thanking you for a most informative discussion.

Thank You.

Yours
Zhou Shicai
NickleBee Tutors

[iFruit]

NickleBee Tutors:

...as its pretty obvious that you have made up your mind as to how to teach your daughter.

Thanks, we are doing fine. Fortunately, like MOE, her school doesn't ban algebra.

NickleBee Tutors:

So i would like to end this off civily by agreeing to disagree and thanking you for a most informative discussion.

I agree. Good luck to you Nicklebee tutors.

[Leanne]

Thank you Brenda10


Dont think will have stamina to do all the two different books.Guess will just stick to one of them.

Cheers

Leanne

[atutor2001]

My DH was laughing this morning when I showed him this issue on banning algebra. He gave me this analogy on his NS experience. He was a trainer in \"small arm\" - which I thought was NSmen with small arm. It actually means small weapon.


When he trains officer cadets on the dismantling and assembling of different weapons, he was suppose to teaching them how the mechanism works. When he trained \"hokkien peng\" he just made them memorise the procedure.

He said : \"Teaching the working of the mechanism is like using model method - working from the start with understanding. Memorising the procedure is like algebra - choose the correct procedure for each type of weapon/question. Exam is like war. During a war, if an officer relies solely on his understanding to rectify a faulty weapon, good luck to him, he won't have the time. Officers must also memorise the standard procedure. In a war/exam, as mainly only standard weapons are issued, both hokkien peng and officer will perform equally well. So what, if the hokkien peng didn't know how the weapons work (i.e. concept of algebra) during his NS (i.e. Pr Sch) - his knowledge of the procedure will save his neck during war (PSLE). If the hokkien peng continue his career in the army (i.e. Sec & JC), he will ultimately understand how the weapon works (i.e. concept of algebra).

If we force the NSman to understand the working of a weapon, he may not live to sign on in the army.\"

Above are purely inputs from DH. I will not answer to queries from NSmen on accuracy of his NS information. :lol:

[moonee]

Im looking for a good tutor in maths, I dnt really care what method is used as long as it is effective and my girls marks improve. :lol:

[ctct61t]

I’m looking for a good math enrichment class for my DD…

[Lock]

Anyone staying around Bukit Timah area and is interested to enroll in P4 maths group tuition by tutor who uses Onsponge methodology to teach?


Personally, I like the Onsponge methodology, having attended the parents workshop. My dd also finds their method easy to apply and understand. Currently, there are already 3 students who have registered under this tutor who is trained by Onsponge but they need 4/5 students to start a class.

So, if there is anyone out there who are interested, pls PM me.

Thanks.

[JRLam]

Lock:

Anyone staying around Bukit Timah area and is interested to enroll in P4 maths group tuition by tutor who uses Onsponge methodology to teach?


Personally, I like the Onsponge methodology, having attended the parents workshop. My dd also finds their method easy to apply and understand. Currently, there are already 3 students who have registered under this tutor who is trained by Onsponge but they need 4/5 students to start a class.

So, if there is anyone out there who are interested, pls PM me.

Thanks.

[Lock]

Onsponge maths is the brain child of an ex Catholic High HOD and a few educators. Not sure if this rumour is true, but i heard when this HOD was still in CHS, he used his mtd to teach the students Maths and the cohort improved its PSLE scores by leaps and bounds.


Basically, for lower Pri, Onsponge uses a lot of model mtds to solve problems and uses units mtd in upper pri. The main difference with Onsponge mtd is that they categorise problem sums into common topics like internal transfer, constant difference, unknown beginnings etc. Students are taught to identify the category using keywords. So, once they know which area the sums fall under, they can easily use the various mtds to solve them.

Hope I am clear in the explanation.

Onsponge has very good teaching methodology but they are not so aggressive in their marketing. I am 'helping' them to market only beacause I wld like my dd to start the tutition asap. For economical reasons, they will only start the class with minimum of 4 students. Currently, there are only 3.

So, if anyone is interested in this tuition group, it is at Beauty World (Bt Timah), Thurs, 6-7.30pm and the fees is $180 every 4 lessons. Please contact Elsa @ 96380586 or write to her at [email protected]

Elsa is a staff at Onsponge and coordinating the tuition class.

[24hr-mum]

it seems rather costly, at $180, becos for p3 also same price.

got any feedback on the results of kids under Onsponge tutors?