Q&A - PSLE Math

[Muffins]

atutor2001:

Can use algebra one. But many Pr sch teachers no understand workings in algebra or other method because the answer keys given to them are all in model. So they no no how to mark. The easy way out - discourage students from using other methods.


A friend of mind has to go personally to tell off the math teacher to let her girl use algebra. End up poor girl got marked. Very sad when math teachers no no algebra. They only know how to follow the answer keys in \"chocolate bars\"

You are right atutor2001...
It is like they are simplifying us into the model-drawing P1 kids again...

[Muffins]

atutor2001:

[quote]

A man spent 1/5 of his money on clothes and a few sevenths on food. He has $152 left. How much did he spend on food?

This question is actually a prelim question from a neighbourhood school. It is very interesting because it tests the kids understanding of fractions and multiples. For those who love using model, it is the easiest way to understand.[/quote]Hi atutor2001,
Is the answer $380?

[Lynn1967]

Muffins:

Hi Lynn1967 and Mama Leong,
Teachers are VERY ignorant of using algebra to solve problems, but algebra is an accurate and accepted way of solving problems, but they do not accept it for some reason. Maybe they do not unerstand it so they want us to simplify it for them? :lol:

And Mama Leong, it is \"why weren't you a sec tutor instead\", not \"why WASN'T you a sec tutor instead\"...

Muffins:
I don't see a need for you to correct Mama Leong's language as I think Mama Leong is not a teacher/tutor. In the first place, aren't you able to spot so many errors of your own?

Examples:

It should be 'Teachers are VERY ignorant in using algebra to solve problems' and not 'Teachers are VERY ignorant of using algebra to solve problems';

It should be ' ... accept it for some reasons ' and not '... accept it for some reason'

[Lynn1967]

Augmum:

Mama Leong:

In pri schools, the children are taught models so they shd use the proper way to solve the qns. I totally disagree with Guanhui mentioning that he is gg to teach the students trigo etc to prepare them for psle but I beg to difer.


No doubt they will be able to get the answer but they will definitely not able to get the marks as the method is not taught in school. I have confirm with school teacher before. No secondary methods will be allowed and it is not accepted.

Parents, do take note and remind yr Tutors that thet should be teaching them using models instead.

hi mama leong
I believe u have already read the moe's official reply letter.

can i know which school teacher had confirmed with you that no secondary methods will be allowed and it is not accepted?

yes, they don't encourage but doesn't mean that they can mark them wrong. never happen in my gal's school exam/worksheets before.

fyi, some pupils even use Sakamoto Maths Method whereby the teachers don't even know how to use.

Last yr when my dd was in P5, she had a prob sum which she can't do. in the end my husband use algebra and solve it.

When the homework was returned, her teacher mark a big cross. But the answer is correct. My daughter went to look for the teacher. Her teacher told her', Tis method is not taught, not accepted!\"

I am not the one who says that Algebra cannot be used, it is the school teachers that penalises us for using!

[atutor2001]

Muffins:

atutor2001:

[quote]

A man spent 1/5 of his money on clothes and a few sevenths on food. He has $152 left. How much did he spend on food?

This question is actually a prelim question from a neighbourhood school. It is very interesting because it tests the kids understanding of fractions and multiples. For those who love using model, it is the easiest way to understand.

Hi atutor2001,
Is the answer $380?[/quote]I also get $380, tianzhu also get 380 so I think it should be correct. :lol:

[Muffins]

Lynn1967:

Muffins:

Hi Lynn1967 and Mama Leong,
Teachers are VERY ignorant of using algebra to solve problems, but algebra is an accurate and accepted way of solving problems, but they do not accept it for some reason. Maybe they do not unerstand it so they want us to simplify it for them? :lol:

And Mama Leong, it is \"why weren't you a sec tutor instead\", not \"why WASN'T you a sec tutor instead\"...

Muffins:
I don't see a need for you to correct Mama Leong's language as I think Mama Leong is not a teacher/tutor. In the first place, aren't you able to spot so many errors of your own?

Examples:

It should be 'Teachers are VERY ignorant in using algebra to solve problems' and not 'Teachers are VERY ignorant of using algebra to solve problems';

It should be ' ... accept it for some reasons ' and not '... accept it for some reason'

You are right Lynn1967, I should be looking out for myself first before looking out for other people's faults. Sorry MamaLeong... :imsorry:

[James Ang]

Lynn1967:

Last yr when my dd was in P5, she had a prob sum which she can't do. in the end my husband use algebra and solve it.


When the homework was returned, her teacher mark a big cross. But the answer is correct. My daughter went to look for the teacher. Her teacher told her', Tis method is not taught, not accepted!\"

I am not the one who says that Algebra cannot be used, it is the school teachers that penalises us for using!

If the problem is solved by the parent and not the student, then algebra did not help the student to solve the problems independently. If the student really knows algebra well and can convince the teacher his/her ability, maybe the teacher has to give in a bit if the student can explain how he/she derived the answers correctly using algebra.

Algebra is an international \"gold\" standard, no genuine Maths educator/teacher can \"ban\" algebra and/or discard it.

hence the position \"In the marking of PSLE Mathematics, all mathematically correct solutions are acceptable and there is no loss of marks if a correct algebraic method is used.\"

[James Ang]

Lynn1967:

Last yr when my dd was in P5, she had a prob sum which she can't do. in the end my husband use algebra and solve it.


When the homework was returned, her teacher mark a big cross. But the answer is correct. My daughter went to look for the teacher. Her teacher told her', Tis method is not taught, not accepted!\"

I am not the one who says that Algebra cannot be used, it is the school teachers that penalises us for using!

If the problem is solved by the parent and not the student, then algebra did not help the student to solve the problems independently. If the student really knows algebra well and can convince the teacher his/her ability, maybe the teacher has to give in a bit if the student can explain how he/she derived the answers correctly using algebra.

Algebra is an international \"gold\" standard, no genuine Maths educator/teacher can \"ban\" algebra and/or discard it.

hence the position \"In the marking of PSLE Mathematics, all mathematically correct solutions are acceptable and there is no loss of marks if a correct algebraic method is used.\"

[red rose]

If the problem is solved by the parent and not the student, then algebra did not help the student to solve the problems independently. If the student really knows algebra well and can convince the teacher his/her ability, maybe the teacher has to give in a bit if the student can explain how he/she derived the answers correctly using algebra.


Algebra is an international \"gold\" standard, no genuine Maths educator/teacher can \"ban\" algebra and/or discard it.

hence the position \"In the marking of PSLE Mathematics, all mathematically correct solutions are acceptable and there is no loss of marks if a correct algebraic method is used.\"[/quote]

Just to add my 2 cents worth. While I completely agree with James, I do believe that pupils are strongly discouraged from using algebra to solve problems (other than algebra questions) at PSLE level.

My child's teacher actually taught the class an alternative method which he calls 'disguised algebra'. The concepts used are algebraic in nature but instead of using letters, units or parts are used in their place. Eg. Instead of saying,' Let a be the number of apples', one can choose to rephrase and say ' Let the number of apples be 1 unit'. The teacher claims that this method of showing working is 'acceptable'.

[MoonFlower]

[quote]Just to add my 2 cents worth. While I completely agree with James, I do believe that pupils are strongly discouraged from using algebra to solve problems (other than algebra questions) at PSLE level.


My child's teacher actually taught the class an alternative method which he calls 'disguised algebra'. The concepts used are algebraic in nature but instead of using letters, units or parts are used in their place. Eg. Instead of saying,' Let a be the number of apples', one can choose to rephrase and say ' Let the number of apples be 1 unit'. The teacher claims that this method of showing working is 'acceptable'. :D[/quote]I was talking about using of Algebra with a friend who is tutor, she feels that maybe the teacher didn;t accept the answer as school didn;t really teach. In p6, they just cover simple algebra. I remembered a mom posted like her girl use algebra the teacher marked wrong and stated use the model drawing. perhpas, teacher needs to explain to the children or teach the children the correct way to use model drawing on such questions then. My P4 ds shared with me, his classmate used that to solve and teacher didn;t not accept and explained to the children the reason not accepting as they are not taught yet.

Your child's teacher seem to be like using the model pattern method, maybe just didn;t show the model drawing, cos i noticed model drawing use like 1 unit 1 part in explaining.

Actually, I was sort of wondering, seem like it getting confusion for parents, on 1 hand MOE said can use to answer during psle. onthe other hand, the poor math teachers in school are kind of \"told\" cannot accpet as not fully taught. Really hope, someone can bring up this and MOE can advise us. In such case, i was reading and following the PSLE posts, seem like we parents have no choice but kiasu a bit, needto make sure our children knows Algebra nad can slove the questions during PSLE. :?