Q&A - P3 Math

[24hr-mum]

how do u teach prob solving esp heuristics? my girl can even get simple prob sums wrong cos she nvr stop to think. just see n do.


same for compre. never think deep enuf. incomplete answers

[spunky]

For my daughter, I bought assessment books for problem solving only and english I bought those with Comrehension and vocab cloze only.


As for the rest, exam papers from other schools are readily available to be printed FOC so that is only used nearer exams.

Remember when a child sees a lot of work, they will loose interest and ur battle is half lost.

Secondly, a child will always do MCQ first and by the time the problem sums and reading passages comes along, their focus is lost.

Its not the quantity u should be looking at it should be quality.

[24hr-mum]

what if my child can still err in basic math and vocab?

[spunky]

For problem solving heuristic, start with maybe one or two and focus on them first, which means u have to look at the problem sums books and choose the right one to do each time i.e the one that focuses on the skill u want to teach her for the day.


As for comprehension, usual mistakes answering in wrong tense. Ask the same question to ur child each time before she starts her work. Key rules, 1) is the question in past or present tense highlight key words like \" did\" ' had' this will be a reminder to them

For Cloze also, look for clues in the passage to get some of the answers in the blanks.

Reading widely helps, common problem, child hates reading books as they are thick so Newspaper articles, short and best part, helps a child keep up with current affairs and u can even use it to train ur child oral conversation.

My child did attend tuition for 2 key reasons:

1) I had no one at home as I was teaching then, so I would rather she be with someone to watch over her more than teaching. Core teaching is still by me
2) I believe that learning comes in many ways, exposing her to different stlye of teaching will equip her with greater ability to deal with different types of question.

Each of us will have our strength and weaknesses so other teachers fill in where i am weak. And best part my child will come home and teach me so I learn more. Life long learning

[24hr-mum]

that means u wont get the child to do all questions in the asst bk, but only certain important questions right?

[spunky]

Yap,where ur child’s weakness is or is the heuristic or science concept or grammar item ur u r teaching ur child on that lesson.


Nearer exam maybe say 2 weeks , then u go in school exam papers.

A little goes a long way,

I did it with the pupils I teach in school n what I get is this:

1) pupils less likely to not do their homework as compared to other class pupils

2) pupil results r better than pupils from other classes.

H/w I must emphasize on diagnostic teaching, question ur child what her mistake is n ask her how to rectify it. Works wonder for exam checking.

[24hr-mum]

thanks for ur great advice.

chk wif u, if i bought those top sch exam papers that has CA, SA, etc, if i dont start from beginning of the year, cant finish so many sets.

if do only 2 wks bf exam, can finish huh?

[spunky]

My question to u is this : can ur child take it if u expect her to finish all the exam papers and also the assessment books u bought?


If she can without any stress, then fine, go ahead and pile it on her.

Many teachers and parents make the same mistake: The more the merrier as every other parent is doing it.

But if u plan properly, a few goes a long long way. Resist the temptation to buy so many assessment books.

Solution:

Use some of the papers in place of assessment books.

Best part is u save money buying assessment books, questions are set by teachers for the top school exam papers and thirdly, u do not waste paper

[24hr-mum]

when my girl was p1, i used to rely only on top sch exam papers. same for p2. but i realised she need those topical assessmt bks to drill the basic concepts cos the exam papers are more for application, not drilling

[spunky]

I agree with u.


I told u to be selective about what u choose for your child