OnSponge Maths - Discussion

[pecalis]

atutor2001:

Lets wake up and stop stereotype our kids. If you give me a GEPer that solve all questions using model then I really question the GEP selection process.

No leh, my son in P5 GEP this yr and his Math tr taught the class to use algebra to solve most qns and he loves to use algebra - in fact, he told me he is not tt gd at model drawing sometimes.

I wanted to start preparing him for PSLE next yr and gave him A* booklets to try without looking at the egs in the book. I'm actually very impressed and commented to him tt since his tr has taught him well - he need not do all the qns - only the challenging ones for me will do.

[cimman]

pecalis:

atutor2001:

Lets wake up and stop stereotype our kids. If you give me a GEPer that solve all questions using model then I really question the GEP selection process.

No leh, my son in P5 GEP this yr and his Math tr taught the class to use algebra to solve most qns and he loves to use algebra - in fact, he told me he is not tt gd at model drawing sometimes.

I wanted to start preparing him for PSLE next yr and gave him A* booklets to try without looking at the egs in the book. I'm actually very impressed and commented to him tt since his tr has taught him well - he need not do all the qns - only the challenging ones for me will do.

the model method has issues that MOE did not think of. Firstly, if the solution requires drawing more than 10 boxes, it is not very viable for kids whose motor skills are not yet fully developed. You will see 10 squiggly boxes that are not aligned, some big, some small and it just looks \"not right\". In modelling, the box alignment is very important to \"see\" the solution.

Those PhD folks at MOE did not forsee the practical issues of modelling for kids with poor motor skills (ie. poor handwriting, cannot draw a straight line free hand), especially when the numbers are scaled up.

Secondly, there are problem sums where algebra provides a far simpler solution than modelling. One category of problem sums I can think of would be the quantity, unit cost, total cost type of problems. This will be the problems where they say, x quantity of pen costs $y and unit cost of pen is $z. Find what is x quantity.

[24hr-mum]

that’s true. if u draw the boxes not proportionately, how to see the solution for questions on repeated identity. tho this can be solved usg model ruler, some kids like mine just plain lazy. in this aspect perhaps the unit transfer mthd will be easier and MOE shd introduce this

[bunny_mum]

hi, am looking for the contact for onSponge AMK centre. Need some help from all experts here. My P2 gal’s analysing skills for Math problem is weak therefore would be great if onSponge tuition have the right tutor for my gal. Wld like to get her on the right track before she goes further. Wonder if its only suitable for high achievers?


wld appreciate if someone can advice me on how to enrol for their tuition. me residing at hougang so AMK centre will be the nearest.

Thks

[CMF]

bunny_mum:

appreciate if someone can advice me on how to enrol for their tuition. me residing at hougang so AMK centre will be the nearest

Details of the AMK centre can be found on the Onsponge web page. U may wish to complete the enquiry page found here : http://www.onsponge.com/learn/tuition-onsponge.html

[bunny_mum]

CMF:

bunny_mum:

appreciate if someone can advice me on how to enrol for their tuition. me residing at hougang so AMK centre will be the nearest

Details of the AMK centre can be found on the Onsponge web page. U may wish to complete the enquiry page found here : http://www.onsponge.com/learn/tuition-onsponge.html

hi thks for your link. had send in 2 days ago, but there's no response from them at all.

[KSP]

Anyone here with Thomson centre? Why is it always full? Are the tutors there better? TIA

[HAPPYH]

Dear 24 hr mum,


Are you sending your child to tuition or enrichment centre?

Actually I am also in the same dilemma like yours. Prefer to send her to the better ones, then think about the budget. Then quiet for a while. then rethink… This cycle goes on. Of course, the assessment books can be a good guide provided that our child really understands that. If they understand superficially, they can remember for a short while only. My friend always tells me this, "paying for good tutor (must be really a good one) means you are saving the money which you need to pay for university just in case if they need to go overseas."

If you are thinking of sending her to tuition/enrichment, just go ahead and see for few months. You can tell a difference if it really helps them.

[24hr-mum]

thanks.

i didnt send her to onsponge tuition cos timing cant match
but i did send her to the onsponge workshop whc yesterday and the day before
i was disappted. tho the contents seems gd, but there were 25 kids and my gal said the tutor looked v young, and didnt explain in details. and there’s lot of things she stil cant understand. i found it a waste of money.

i hv just signed up for mathheuristic to try for a term but i am also tempted to go fabian since its nearer but more ex.
mathheuristic is 485 per term but only on prob sums. i got to drill the foundation myslf
fabian is $100 more but i supp it saves me on transport as i can take bus and no need spend on cab fare.

[cimman]

24hr-mum:

thanks.

i didnt send her to onsponge tuition cos timing cant match
but i did send her to the onsponge workshop whc yesterday and the day before
i was disappted. tho the contents seems gd, but there were 25 kids and my gal said the tutor looked v young, and didnt explain in details. and there's lot of things she stil cant understand. i found it a waste of money.

i hv just signed up for mathheuristic to try for a term but i am also tempted to go fabian since its nearer but more ex.
mathheuristic is 485 per term but only on prob sums. i got to drill the foundation myslf
fabian is $100 more but i supp it saves me on transport as i can take bus and no need spend on cab fare.

to be fair, it takes more than a few days to drill a new concept in, unless the child's foundation is really strong. After enrolling at a Maths workshop, I realized my mistake and never enrolled at any workshops since. Learning a new Maths concept takes time and a lot of drilling. A few days work isn't going to be effective. Besides, how many heuristics can they teach in 2 or 3 days with a class of 25 students ? how many of those heuristics can they effectively drum into the students ?

Maths is unlike science, where the basic science concepts are rather like stories. One listens to them, remember the stories and regurgitates them at the appropriate time. In maths, there are so many permutations for the same category of problems. Without a good grounding, which takes a fair amount of time and practise, mathematical concepts will just flash over the child's head, simply because it is so abstract, so unlike science concepts, where you see it manifested in our everyday lives.