PSLE - New Format for Maths

[tamarind]

Actually both my kids are not in primary school yet I have special interest in this, because I have been teaching higher mathematics to hundreds of students age 17 years and above.


I have been wondering why is it that so many have them have such poor foundations in Algebra and equations. If model drawing is supposed to help weaker students understand algebra better, then it certainly has failed to serve its purpose.

I wonder how many of those educators who decide what is good for primary school students, actually go and look at the results of these students when they are at higher levels ?

Algebra is essential for learning higher mathematics. I believe that it is wiser to start teaching algebra earlier, so that the weaker students can have a longer time to understand algebra better.

Someone wrote that model drawing can be very powerful when properly taught. If Algebra is properly taught, it is even more powerful and useful in the long run.

[Joy]

Hi Tam


I like the answer that MOE replied.

Unfortunately in DD school at p4 level, they will deduct presentation marks or preposition not written correctly even the whole math is mathematically corret.

So I just have to tell DD , its ok cos that is not psle.So through this year, she just have to go in line with the school marking system.Just wonder, is the school doing marking in eng or math.Anything, the subject teacher(not specialised in math) see the working is different from answer key, she will be fault.

I remember clearly, just this mock exam, she scored 35/50 for paper two, and five marks were deducted just cos the teacher cannot understand her model when the reason is that it looks different from her answer key.

Anyway, this is only p4.


Rgds

[Rason]

Joy:

I remember clearly, just this mock exam, she scored 35/50 for paper two, and five marks were deducted just cos the teacher cannot understand her model when the reason is that it looks different from her answer key.

There's a moral to every story so here's an extension to our side discussion -

Conformity holds down constructivist (heuristic) learning and has about rule (our) society to counter-productivity. Every divergence from the norm and challenge of the status quo can be a learning point and opportunity for greater heights - it all depends on how the case responders engage in intellectual discussion for the best of (learning) outcomes.

Joy:

I like the answer that MOE replied.

Naturally, the authorities will try to quell complaints by saying that \"things are fair\", \"things are in proper order\" etc, but I think it is our civic responsibility to drive home the demand for public checks to the system (government). More open and targeted protocols have to be in place to bridge the gap between government and populace for policy review and recourse - that's my ultimate recommendation.


p/s Parallel to above post subject: it's our maths-marking today that will affect our money-making tomorrow.

[tamarind]

[quote]
Hi Tam

I like the answer that MOE replied.

Unfortunately in DD school at p4 level, they will deduct presentation marks or preposition not written correctly even the whole math is mathematically corret.

So I just have to tell DD , its ok cos that is not psle.So through this year, she just have to go in line with the school marking system.Just wonder, is the school doing marking in eng or math.Anything, the subject teacher(not specialised in math) see the working is different from answer key, she will be fault.

I remember clearly, just this mock exam, she scored 35/50 for paper two, and five marks were deducted just cos the teacher cannot understand her model when the reason is that it looks different from her answer key.

Anyway, this is only p4. [/quote]Hi Joy,
The problem is that not all teachers are good. There are teachers who do not understand MOE's guidelines. I heard that there are many relief teachers nowadays, they are probably going to make things worst.

What worries me is not the loss of marks, but the fact that kids end up losing their creativity and their abilities to think out the box, because they must follow the teacher's marking scheme.

[tamarind]

Rason:

More open and targeted protocols have to be in place to bridge the gap between government and populace for policy review and recourse - that's my ultimate recommendation.

Singaporeans generally are afraid to complain, because they believe that the authorities will be able to track them down and later make life difficult for them

Actually there is no need to worry. MOE does not require us to send in our real name and IC number. I sent in using my gmail account and got a prompt reply from them. They probably can still track me down using my IP address, but I am not worried about that, because I am asking a valid question.

I have also sent emails to SGH, MOM and LTA. In the case of SGH, they even admitted to their mistake and got the relevant nursing staff to call me and apologize to me. And they promised to make improvements to their work process.

I believe that the government will take action to make changes if they receive enough complains about a problem.

[Joy]

Hi Tam


This is exactly what happen to my dd.

She got back her math paper yesterday and mostly fault on presentation just cos her way of presentating is different from answer keys.

Quite stress for kids cos they are trying hard to solve the math n at the same time get so paranoid about presentation...I saw my girl paper,poor presentation.

I just smiled and tell her its ok, go and find out what your teacher wants.


rgds
Joy

tamarind:

Hi Joy,
The problem is that not all teachers are good. There are teachers who do not understand MOE's guidelines. I heard that there are many relief teachers nowadays, they are probably going to make things worst.

What worries me is not the loss of marks, but the fact that kids end up losing their creativity and their abilities to think out the box, because they must follow the teacher's marking scheme.

[tamarind]

Hi Joy,

Yes that is really stressful ! I don't think I will be able to keep quiet about it, I will probably email the principal

I would ask the principal : \"Do you want to produce future Einsteins, Bill Gates, etc or do you want to produce workers who only know how to follow instructions ?\"

[tutormum]

tamarind:

Singaporeans generally are afraid to complain, because they believe that the authorities will be able to track them down and later make life difficult for them


Actually there is no need to worry. MOE does not require us to send in our real name and IC number. I sent in using my gmail account and got a prompt reply from them. They probably can still track me down using my IP address, but I am not worried about that, because I am asking a valid question.

I have also sent emails to SGH, MOM and LTA. In the case of SGH, they even admitted to their mistake and got the relevant nursing staff to call me and apologize to me. And they promised to make improvements to their work process.

I believe that the government will take action to make changes if they receive enough complains about a problem.

I agree totally. I have sent in numerous complaints, suggestions etc and see things done. If nothing is done, I even send a copy to my MP and get immediate response. :lol: It's just a myth that you be black marked. How to make them improve their services if we don't feedback. :heresmyfish:

[Rason]

tutormum:

I agree totally. I have sent in numerous complaints, suggestions etc and see things done. If nothing is done, I even send a copy to my MP and get immediate response. :lol: It's just a myth that you be black marked. How to make them improve their services if we don't feedback. :heresmyfish:

Hi Tam and Tutormum, the simpler cases may take a simpler route towards plaintiff's satisfaction, however there are the more complex situations that require case studies and extraordinary hearings. It is the lack of convenient / public access to these that increases the risk of unilateralism and group-think - a phenomenon whereby decisions are reached without sufficient deliberation of issues / ideas.

In short, feedback, complaints and suggestions alone are barely enough for arresting some of our (national) problems.

[Rason]

Channel 8's drama serial \"Daddy At Home\" last night spurred this analogy...


I imagined a number problem departing from \"Peanuts and Candies\" to teach kids about wealth management:

In 2008, The Economist reported that Morgan Stanley had estimated the Singapore Government Investment Corporation (GIC) fund's assets to be at US$330 billion. Wall Street Journal reported that the GIC suffered a loss of around 59 billion Singapore dollars in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, and its portfolio currently stands at around S$265 billion after drops in equity investments and property valuations.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Singapore_Investment_Corporation The Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) under the charge of http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/expenditure_overview/pmo.html typically awards university research projects at S$2 million each. If both Morgan Stanley and Wall Street Journal estimations/reports are accurate, find the total number of local university research projects that can otherwise be funded by the GIC's loss starting from 2008.

Or more elementary -

Last year, the Sing family had $450,000 in foreign investments for retirement and household development. Unfortunately this year, it lost 40% in the foreign stocks market. If the Sings are affording public education for children at $2 per student, how many more schooling kids could it have had if the head of family cashed out earlier on the market?


Disclaimer: Just food for thought from all over the internet in a hypothesis, no presumption or endorsement of facts and figures on the author's part to construe misrepresentation and malice.