All About Teaching Mathematics

[elderflowertea]

angatheart:

The way math is being taught is different from the way it is being taught nowadays. In the past, rote learning will suffice. Now, the child is expected to use higher order thinking skills if he wants to excel in PSLE and beyond.


Whatever it is, one thing never changes. Understanding is still the key.

Many people still believe that practice makes perfect. So they make the child do a lot of practice questions. But the truth is that, without understanding, no matter how many times the child practices, he is not going to get it.

So, more correctly, the child should understand first, before giving him practice.

So how to know if the child understands first? Many people still think that the way is to give the child an example question, show him how it is being done, explain the answer to him, get him to do a similar question, and then he is on his way to practicising the same type of questions.

As we all know, this method only works for those who have the understanding to begin with.

This explains why A* remains out of reach for the majority.

One way to help a child gain understanding is to let him explore the concept through activities and games. This is a practice only few teachers do, because they know the value of activities that build concepts. When such activities are introduced correctly at the right time, they have the power of helping the child build the concepts necessary for certain questions.

So when the child is faced with the question, he will have the concept to answer it, and with practice, he gains mastery of the concept.

So the formula is simple, understand, then practice, and then mastery.

Of course the key thing is still understanding. The student needs to understand first. After understanding, then they need to practise to reinforce the concepts.

[NicNat_Mummy]

angatheart:

The way math is being taught is different from the way it is being taught nowadays. In the past, rote learning will suffice. Now, the child is expected to use higher order thinking skills if he wants to excel in PSLE and beyond.


Whatever it is, one thing never changes. Understanding is still the key.

Many people still believe that practice makes perfect. So they make the child do a lot of practice questions. But the truth is that, without understanding, no matter how many times the child practices, he is not going to get it.

So, more correctly, the child should understand first, before giving him practice.

So how to know if the child understands first? Many people still think that the way is to give the child an example question, show him how it is being done, explain the answer to him, get him to do a similar question, and then he is on his way to practicising the same type of questions.

As we all know, this method only works for those who have the understanding to begin with.

This explains why A* remains out of reach for the majority.

One way to help a child gain understanding is to let him explore the concept through activities and games. This is a practice only few teachers do, because they know the value of activities that build concepts. When such activities are introduced correctly at the right time, they have the power of helping the child build the concepts necessary for certain questions.

So when the child is faced with the question, he will have the concept to answer it, and with practice, he gains mastery of the concept.

So the formula is simple, understand, then practice, and then mastery.

Totally agreed with you. Getting the kid to understand is the hard part. Do you had any resource to share ?

Thank you.

[alfretztay]

smurf:

There are so many different methods of teaching maths. can someone enlightment me the full range of methods?? very confused leh...


These are some:

Heuristic ??? (what is this?)
Unit transfer
Model

and what else?? :?

For most students, I believe that simplifying the method in order to firstly, understand and secondly, solve the question easily and quickly is very, if not most, important.

[alfretztay]

Musicstar:

Hi,



Anyone know how Math should be taught. I sent my daughter to Math group tuition in two different centre. The first centre which I was very disappointed. I sent there about half a year then I realised that the tutor is not good at Math. They claim to be ex-teacher in good school. My daughter did not understand the question for the school work . I ask her to bring back to tutor to explain to her. Oh no, the tutor explain to her in different working method and worst is the answer is different for the two questions. I can't believe it.
Therefore, I withdraw her from the tuition centre and change to another home tuition. I just let her try a few lesson only. How can I know whether it is a correct tutor to choose? She told the students to do the assessment book only. Is this the way to teach Math? Anyone sent their children to tuition centre or home tuition. How do they teach? Appreciate for feedback. Thank you

For most students, I believe that simplifying the method in order to firstly, understand and secondly, solve the question easily and quickly is very, if not most, important.

[Mathducator]

I am a maths tutor with 18 years' experience and a masters in mathematics from University of Cambridge and another masters in Instructional Design from NIE.


you can call things by different names. of all the theories and methods I have read and personally used and personally taught, everything boils down to patient, systematic logical thinking. However, just to clear things up:-

Unit Transfer Method is a type of
Model (or Bar Diagram), which is a type of
Heuristic (guidelines / tips / tactics) for solving problems

There is also Metacognition, which is stated in the Singapore Mathematics Framework, but most teachers don't (don't know how to / don't bother to) teach.

In my blog, I have two worked examples showing not only the working but also the full problem-solving processes using on Heuristics (problem solving tactics and guidelines) and Metacognition (self-monitoring).

http://genuinesingaporemaths.blogspot.com/2012/01/p6hq2000s46-ratio-proportion-and.html
http://genuinesingaporemaths.blogspot.com/2012/01/p6hqwn001-whole-numbers-before-vs-after.html

i seldom post about primary school stuff, and i do this blog during my free time. However, if you have desperate questions, you can always email me at the link given on the right column of the blog.

[learningstore]

Encourage your child as they learn and clear their doubts.


When they are weak in certain foundations, questions would not help them but it is the simple little things at home like your pencils, straws eg to give them a concept to visualize and grasp like simple no concepts or you could use math manipulative to give them hands on

you could consider getting some manipulative from The Learning Store and also gather some web research to reinforce learning .

[lisayvonne]

My daughter learns math at school and home. After she comes home from school, I usually help her review school knowledge. Then DD will finishe her homework and does math worksheets on beestar which I registered her online for extra math exercises. It turns out this learning method is effective.

Lisa

[twinsmomsg]

Thanks for sharing, Mathducator.

Do you give pte 1-1 tuition?

[tutorsg_punggol]

Musicstar:

Hi,



Anyone know how Math should be taught. I sent my daughter to Math group tuition in two different centre. The first centre which I was very disappointed. I sent there about half a year then I realised that the tutor is not good at Math. They claim to be ex-teacher in good school. My daughter did not understand the question for the school work . I ask her to bring back to tutor to explain to her. Oh no, the tutor explain to her in different working method and worst is the answer is different for the two questions. I can't believe it.
Therefore, I withdraw her from the tuition centre and change to another home tuition. I just let her try a few lesson only. How can I know whether it is a correct tutor to choose? She told the students to do the assessment book only. Is this the way to teach Math? Anyone sent their children to tuition centre or home tuition. How do they teach? Appreciate for feedback. Thank you

Hi there, I am not surprised when u mentioned that they teach in a different way and the answer is wrong.
I have students whose schoolwork is taught wrongly even by their school teachers. I have to highlight to the mum and asked the mum to check with the school teacher. Thankfully she understands that and she clarifies with the teacher.

For maths, there is a few ways to answer the questions. I like to help my students to understand and solve the questions in the easier way. I was glad that my student preferred my method rather than the school teacher's. However, the sad thing was that his school teacher scolded him in front of his class for using a method that was not taught in class. And suddenly his grades dropped as he dares not use my methods. After asking, only then i realised that. Luckily for me, the mum knows that it was not due to my teaching that his grades dropped. The mum went to the school and told the teacher off.

This makes me understand why some children in schools do not perform as well as they are expected to.

Do spend some time talking to your kid to find out how the school is teaching them.

[White_Gale]

I agree that understanding of the question and concept is very important. My kids use to be confuse over the methods their sch teachers used. Asked the teacher to explain again, still confuse. Sent them to tuition centre after seeing their great drop in marks. Now faring much better:)