Challenging Maths by Ammiel Wan - which grades?

[janet88]

tianzhu:

Hi


What are the differences between Onsponge and Visible Thinking Maths books?

Is Visible Thinking a textbook or assessment book?

Onsponge has only problem sums like Fabian Ng's Problem-solving processes. Visible Thinking is an assessment book.
Son's school asked the students to buy Onsponge on top of 'My Pals' Maths Homework book, 'My Pals' activity book

[NickleBee Tutors]

Leanne:

Hi \"NickleBee Tutors\"]



There are 2 ways to combat this.

The first way is for the Parent or Educator to sit beside the child while he is using \"OnSponge\" or doing other problem solving assessment books and guide him on how to read and understand the context of the problem, think through the proper usage and application of the methods as taught and understand the reasoning on how the various concepts and methods can help you use the facts and information in the question to solve it.

The 2nd way is to start from basics and start getting the child used to a thinking and reasoning based approach rather than a rote -learning approach of learning basic mathematical concepts. This would help the parent or educator to cultivate the child's thinking skills and help direct the student's thought process on key concepts. And in so doing, the student would be better able to integrate the Problem solving concepts and Heuristics as they come along .

Could u pls kindly illustrate with an example?Am still trying to unlock the math processing skills in ds.thanks alot.

Leanne

Hi Leanne,

A good example would be.

\"Person A told Person B, \"Give me $100 and I will have 2 times as much money as you.\"
Person B said, \"Give me $10 and I will have 6 times as much money as you.\"
How much money did each each of them have originally?\"

Now, for parents or educators who are unused to heuristics or model drawings would instantly gravitate towards the usage of Algebra in solving this problem. And when their child can't solve this, the parents or educators would then use algebra to show how the student how to solve this question. Of course a large proportion of students who are not exposed to algebra in school (due to the simple reason that MOE schools do not teach abstract algebra necessary for problem solving, only some simple algebra in Pri 6) will find difficulty in understanding how to apply this algebra method to another such problem when it comes along again.

For students who use Model, this question can be solved with model drawings and if done correctly, will be a commendable effort. However it may get so cumbersome and messy that careless mistakes will start to creep in. All in all, a classic case of too much effort for too little returns.

A good way to approach this question is to ask the child to read and understand the context of this question. Any child will realize after some prompting that both A and B were simply exchanging money back and forth. You can role play this out with your child. So the main concept here is that no matter whether A give B or B give A, the total sum of both A and B altogether in both scenarios DID NOT change at all! With that in mind, and using some ratios, the answer is pretty easy to get! And when another question (which is slightly different) comes along, the child will then have a better understanding on how the context of the question is still the same and have a better idea on how to solve the problem sum.

Yours

Zhou Shicai
NickleBee Tutors

[Leanne]

Hi NickleBee Tutors


Thanks for the examples.
I notice ds has the problem not careful when doing math question.He tends to overlook small details in question.I guess the focussing power is not there.

Each time after I marked the papers, before I go thru the question, he is already able to identify the mistakes, dont have to explain.Its plain careless.What shall I do?That is the reason that he is not able to get close to perfect score.Thank you.

Rgds
Leanne


There are 2 ways to combat this.

The first way is for the Parent or Educator to sit beside the child while he is using "OnSponge" or doing other problem solving assessment books and guide him on how to read and understand the context of the problem, think through the proper usage and application of the methods as taught and understand the reasoning on how the various concepts and methods can help you use the facts and information in the question to solve it.

The 2nd way is to start from basics and start getting the child used to a thinking and reasoning based approach rather than a rote -learning approach of learning basic mathematical concepts. This would help the parent or educator to cultivate the child’s thinking skills and help direct the student’s thought process on key concepts. And in so doing, the student would be better able to integrate the Problem solving concepts and Heuristics as they come along .

Could u pls kindly illustrate with an example?Am still trying to unlock the math processing skills in ds.thanks alot.

Leanne[/quote]

Hi Leanne,

A good example would be.

"Person A told Person B, "Give me $100 and I will have 2 times as much money as you."
Person B said, "Give me $10 and I will have 6 times as much money as you."
How much money did each each of them have originally?"

Now, for parents or educators who are unused to heuristics or model drawings would instantly gravitate towards the usage of Algebra in solving this problem. And when their child can’t solve this, the parents or educators would then use algebra to show how the student how to solve this question. Of course a large proportion of students who are not exposed to algebra in school (due to the simple reason that MOE schools do not teach abstract algebra necessary for problem solving, only some simple algebra in Pri 6) will find difficulty in understanding how to apply this algebra method to another such problem when it comes along again.

For students who use Model, this question can be solved with model drawings and if done correctly, will be a commendable effort. However it may get so cumbersome and messy that careless mistakes will start to creep in. All in all, a classic case of too much effort for too little returns.

A good way to approach this question is to ask the child to read and understand the context of this question. Any child will realize after some prompting that both A and B were simply exchanging money back and forth. You can role play this out with your child. So the main concept here is that no matter whether A give B or B give A, the total sum of both A and B altogether in both scenarios DID NOT change at all! With that in mind, and using some ratios, the answer is pretty easy to get! And when another question (which is slightly different) comes along, the child will then have a better understanding on how the context of the question is still the same and have a better idea on how to solve the problem sum.

Yours

Zhou Shicai
NickleBee Tutors[/quote]

[tianzhu]

Hi Hifive and NickleBee Tutors


Thank you for your reply.

Best wishes

[tianzhu]

janet_lee88:

Son's school asked the students to buy Onsponge on top of 'My Pals' Maths Homework book, 'My Pals' activity book

Hi

Thank you for your reply.

With so many books to complement the school textbooks, do the students still have time to refer to their textbooks?

Furthermore, books do not come cheap nowadays.

Best wishes

[Suz855]

Hi,


Based on feedbacks from my 2 girls, most of the time the school teachers do not make use of the textbook in the class ......... the in thing from the teacher is now fanciful powerpt presentation .... just wonder why the school make buying the textbook compulsary ........... we can be 'greener' if MOE phase out the textbooks .............. LOL

:oops:

[janet88]

Suz855:

Hi,


Based on feedbacks from my 2 girls, most of the time the school teachers do not make use of the textbook in the class ......... the in thing from the teacher is now fanciful powerpt presentation .... just wonder why the school make buying the textbook compulsary ........... we can be 'greener' if MOE phase out the textbooks .............. LOL :oops:

Son's school does use textbook quite a bit. I use it as reference esp when planning CA/SA revision. Maths & Science are subjects, so I feel that textbooks are required. But I pity son for having to do Onsponge, My Pals Homework book as well as activity book...never ending.

[tianzhu]

janet_lee88:

But I pity son for having to do Onsponge, My Pals Homework book as well as activity book...never ending.

Hi

And, maybe, Visible Thinking in the future.

Best wishes

[janet88]

tianzhu:

janet_lee88:

But I pity son for having to do Onsponge, My Pals Homework book as well as activity book...never ending.

And, maybe, Visible Thinking in the future.

Best wishes

Thanks. Visible Thinking is used at home.

[Champion]

janet_lee88:

Thanks. Visible Thinking is used at home.

Yes, same here and am using that + Shaping Maths to complement the My Pals are here textbook ...Gal is having CA1 Maths on March 1 and am building her foundation and explaining the concept to her...Or else, she will still make mistakes without understanding why :lol: