Preparing kids for P5 in 2011

[JRLam]

pixiedust:

I find the \"Visible Thinking\" good for introduction to topics - when I need to teach topics ahead of school. The explanations and little tips are more useful than the school textbooks, in my opinion. I agrew with Nicklebeetutors analysis of this series in the other thread.


The Challenging Maths and OnSponge, I always need more time before I understand the flow of the solution - maybe just me. I still find model method more intutive.

JRLam
Just my personal opinion :
\"Challenging Maths Problem Made Easy\" \"OnSponge\"
Above two are similar but organise topics differently. Challenging organise the topics according to terms used by Mr Wan eg. equal concepts, remainder etc but OnSponge has more questions and organised according to Fractions, Ratios etc.

\"Visible Thinking in Mathematics\" - newest in the market and more fundamentals concepts of the topics. Read the Ammiel Wan thread for more info.

Playchinese - anyone has any feedback ?

Thanks all. Ya, all these concur with my conclusion after flipping thru the Visible Thinking (I have both Onsponge and Challenging Maths). That 'Visible Thinking' is the simplest of all 3, good to boast morale esp if the kids totally 'catch-no-ball', when there is no point to go to the other 2 books. Like what Pixiedust suggested, \"Visible Thinking' is good for teaching ahead though, cos it is quite comprehensive and step-by-step, so I am going to do that for my P2 dd, who still 'have time'!

Personally, I find 'Challenging Maths'\" tips more comprehensive. I refer to that when I don't understand the explanation from \"OnSponge\".. so always have 2 books with me when helping son with hw from the latter... super KS right! But finally my son can see the benefit of learning the \"Unit Transfer\" method now coz he is able to use that to solve quite a few questions from Top Sch exam papers, which were previously considered as 'too chim' for him! So glad that we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel ...

Thanks all!

[Chenonceau]

JRLam:

pixiedust:

I find the \"Visible Thinking\" good for introduction to topics - when I need to teach topics ahead of school. The explanations and little tips are more useful than the school textbooks, in my opinion. I agrew with Nicklebeetutors analysis of this series in the other thread.


The Challenging Maths and OnSponge, I always need more time before I understand the flow of the solution - maybe just me. I still find model method more intutive.

JRLam
Just my personal opinion :
\"Challenging Maths Problem Made Easy\" \"OnSponge\"
Above two are similar but organise topics differently. Challenging organise the topics according to terms used by Mr Wan eg. equal concepts, remainder etc but OnSponge has more questions and organised according to Fractions, Ratios etc.

\"Visible Thinking in Mathematics\" - newest in the market and more fundamentals concepts of the topics. Read the Ammiel Wan thread for more info.

Playchinese - anyone has any feedback ?

Thanks all. Ya, all these concur with my conclusion after flipping thru the Visible Thinking (I have both Onsponge and Challenging Maths). That 'Visible Thinking' is the simplest of all 3, good to boast morale esp if the kids totally 'catch-no-ball', when there is no point to go to the other 2 books. Like what Pixiedust suggested, \"Visible Thinking' is good for teaching ahead though, cos it is quite comprehensive and step-by-step, so I am going to do that for my P2 dd, who still 'have time'!

Personally, I find 'Challenging Maths'\" tips more comprehensive. I refer to that when I don't understand the explanation from \"OnSponge\".. so always have 2 books with me when helping son with hw from the latter... super KS right! But finally my son can see the benefit of learning the \"Unit Transfer\" method now coz he is able to use that to solve quite a few questions from Top Sch exam papers, which were previously considered as 'too chim' for him! So glad that we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel ...

Thanks all!

Congrats JRLam, all the best for exams.

[Brenda10]

JRLam:

Thanks all. Ya, all these concur with my conclusion after flipping thru the Visible Thinking (I have both Onsponge and Challenging Maths). That 'Visible Thinking' is the simplest of all 3, good to boast morale esp if the kids totally 'catch-no-ball', when there is no point to go to the other 2 books. Like what Pixiedust suggested, \"Visible Thinking' is good for teaching ahead though, cos it is quite comprehensive and step-by-step, so I am going to do that for my P2 dd, who still 'have time'!


Personally, I find 'Challenging Maths'\" tips more comprehensive. I refer to that when I don't understand the explanation from \"OnSponge\".. so always have 2 books with me when helping son with hw from the latter... super KS right! But finally my son can see the benefit of learning the \"Unit Transfer\" method now coz he is able to use that to solve quite a few questions from Top Sch exam papers, which were previously considered as 'too chim' for him! So glad that we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel ...

Thanks all!

Hi, this was our experience last year when solving the top school papers. Once the child is able to grasp the concept of \"Unit Transfer\" and able to convert fraction to ratio or percentage to fraction or ratio etc, then you would see a less stress of P6 lah.

[BeContented]

Brenda10:

Hi, this was our experience last year when solving the top school papers. Once the child is able to grasp the concept of \"Unit Transfer\" and able to convert fraction to ratio or percentage to fraction or ratio etc, then you would see a less stress of P6 lah.

Hi, have been seeing this 'unit transfer' term being mentioned. Can share where can I find out more? Is it meant for P6? Found in textbook or other sources? I'll like to understand it too

[Brenda10]

cwc:

Brenda10:

Hi, this was our experience last year when solving the top school papers. Once the child is able to grasp the concept of \"Unit Transfer\" and able to convert fraction to ratio or percentage to fraction or ratio etc, then you would see a less stress of P6 lah.

Hi, have been seeing this 'unit transfer' term being mentioned. Can share where can I find out more? Is it meant for P6? Found in textbook or other sources? I'll like to understand it too

Hi cwc

You can find it at onpsonge Chapter 3- ratio. Some example and exercise on fraction and percentage questions also using the similar concpet.

For challenging maths copy, Chapter 2 - chapter 7 .

Hope the above information useful.

[BeContented]

Brenda10:

cwc:

[quote=\"Brenda10\"] Hi, this was our experience last year when solving the top school papers. Once the child is able to grasp the concept of \"Unit Transfer\" and able to convert fraction to ratio or percentage to fraction or ratio etc, then you would see a less stress of P6 lah.

Hi, have been seeing this 'unit transfer' term being mentioned. Can share where can I find out more? Is it meant for P6? Found in textbook or other sources? I'll like to understand it too

Hi cwc

You can find it at onpsonge Chapter 3- ratio. Some example and exercise on fraction and percentage questions also using the similar concpet.

For challenging maths copy, Chapter 2 - chapter 7 .

Hope the above information useful.[/quote]Hi Brenda,
thanks a lot. Will check out the books. Appreciate it

[janet88]

HI Brenda,

When friends told me Maths in P5 is tough, I really didn’t understand how they defined ‘tough’…to me, I thought the questions were tricky and challenging. Now pic is clearer to me…it’s not tricky but questions involved diff methods of solving. To begin with, foundation must be strong but my son is weak. Hubby explained to me that he must practice and be familar with different ways of solving it…be it algebra, models, branching method…all of which are greek to me.

Your daughter is really capable to do well for her Maths…my boy is really struggling and hubby gave up…thus we need to outsource FINALLY.

[Brenda10]

janet_lee88:

HI Brenda,

When friends told me Maths in P5 is tough, I really didn't understand how they defined 'tough'...to me, I thought the questions were tricky and challenging. Now pic is clearer to me...it's not tricky but questions involved diff methods of solving. To begin with, foundation must be strong but my son is weak. Hubby explained to me that he must practice and be familar with different ways of solving it...be it algebra, models, branching method...all of which are greek to me.

Your daughter is really capable to do well for her Maths...my boy is really struggling and hubby gave up...thus we need to outsource FINALLY.

Hi Janet


Don't worry too much.

Read that you have found a teacher and now the important thing is to bring up your ds confident. Perhaps her material is also incorporating Unit method skills too.

DD also takes sometime to understand all these concepts at the beginning.

Like what I mentioned before, you still have this Holiday June, Nov - Dec and next year lah. :hugs:

[janet88]

Brenda10:

janet_lee88:

HI Brenda,

begin with, foundation must be strong but my son is weak. Hubby explained to me that he must practice and be familar with different ways of solving it...be it algebra, models, branching method...all of which are greek to me.

Your daughter is really capable to do well for her Maths...my boy is really struggling and hubby gave up...thus we need to outsource FINALLY.

Hi Janet

Don't worry too much.

Read that you have found a teacher and now the important thing is to bring up your ds confident. Perhaps her material is also incorporating Unit method skills too.

DD also takes sometime to understand all these concepts at the beginning.

Like what I mentioned before, you still have this Holiday June, Nov - Dec and next year lah. :hugs:

Still deciding between one-to-one Vs group...finance plays a part on top of petrol and time travelling. The tutor which neighbour recommended us has yet to get back to me, but the Maths centre just called hubby to inform him that son can start lessons. Having a headache deciding now :?:

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

HI Brenda,

When friends told me Maths in P5 is tough, I really didn't understand how they defined 'tough'...to me, I thought the questions were tricky and challenging. Now pic is clearer to me...it's not tricky but questions involved diff methods of solving. To begin with, foundation must be strong but my son is weak. Hubby explained to me that he must practice and be familar with different ways of solving it...be it algebra, models, branching method...all of which are greek to me.

Your daughter is really capable to do well for her Maths...my boy is really struggling and hubby gave up...thus we need to outsource FINALLY.

My guess is that Brenda is herself REALLY good at Math. Otherwise, there is no way to help the child cope. Also I really salute Brenda for her foresight :salute: in intervening in early P4. This gives her girl a good foundation and because there was early intervention, her girl is far less stressed.

I was just coasting along over confident (and relaxed) because I thought I was an experienced Mommy. This P5 experience has been a humbling one that showed me that I need to keep learning about parenting and adjust my attitudes with the times.