Primary school maths: A vicious circle (from TODAY May 8)
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My kids are from neighboourhood school, their math paper were set tough too. Saw p5 level math question there, whereby their math workbook don't even have this kind of practices for them. I searched high and low for these kind of questions in my assessment book cupboard but couldn't find it.
Even my p3 was taught one new method which his brother p4 did this year which was not cover when his brother was in p3. They were taught the method, still do not know why need to do it that way. They just follow the method blindly without understanding. Finally, I spend some time to figure it out why need to do it that way and explain to the p4 one. Don't think he still get it.
So I'm wondering why they need to teach the kids this method or that method, why they don't explain the question and steps properly. It's like some form of memorization of which methods to use when you see this kind of questions.
Math should not be like that. We are not creating future generation of robots????
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What is tested is not what is taught
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tutormum:
Some of my P6 students from the same school came back with their Maths results. From what they told me, there's a class with only 1 passed i.e. all failed while another class only 14 passed. The saddest thing to hear was from one of my students: \"Teacher, I give up!\". I looked straight at his eyes and replied, \"I am not giving up on you yet so don't give up on yourself.\" I just took over the class last month from another teacher but I can tell that these students are not dumb. By any standard they are at least of Middle Ability but looking at their Maths results you would really think that they are of Low Ability. They are not slow or dumb for that matter cos they understand what I taught and could follow my lessons very well. I guess they may have a poor foundation and my heart goes out to them. You should see the dejection in their attitude. :sad: :sad:
I spent 10 blissful years at my alma mater and based on \"good\" O-levels\" went to a JC that tested me every week. Juggling 3 sciences with all the lab work -- I just had no time to sit down and digest anything.
The weekly testing system deemed that I belonged to the wrong side of the bell curve and that I was incompetent in quite a number of my subjects.
At the end of the first year, I am sure my name almost made the list for consideration as to whether I would benefit from being retained to repeat the year. In particular, I distinguished myself by obtaining an O-level pass for an A-level subject for Math. My Civics Tutor ( bless his soul) with all good intent gave me a warning of the dire consequences if I were to deliver a repeat performance in Year 2.
The grades showed it, my teacher said it to me... I was no good. Doubt crept in and I started to allow myself to believe that I was a goner especially for Math.
Thankfully, common sense prevailed after a while and since I wasn't benefiting from the teaching at that JC nor the severe testing, I planned my own revision, did just enough so that they wouldn't throw me out of college and duly delivered at the A-levels.
The kids who are dejected this time round from their SA1 results need a big hug, a ton of affirmation and someone to believe in them -- believe in them inspite of what their marks tell them, inspite of what their teachers tell them.
Will you stand in the gap for your kids and tell them that You know THEY CAN, even as everyone and everything else around them says they can't?
Success comes in cans, not cant's. ~Author Unknown
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psle2011mum,
As usual, I like & love your article. I'll stand in the gap, committed, though sometime, need to complain to let out the frustration inside. Even my hubby asked me to get a tutor for my p3 son. I said 'No', who else know him better than I! :roll:
Even I don't know, I'll try ways to learn and teach them. Of course, not to mislead them. -
The Singapore math curriculum is held in high regard in some states in the US. They are using our syllabus. Am I missing out something here?
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Han Seo:
The Singapore math curriculum is held in high regard in some states in the US. They are using our syllabus. Am I missing out something here?
They test what they taught in US; here they test what is not taught and beyond the school text books.
Why so? So that parents have to sacrifice their career and time to scramble for resources and teach their children. This is for family bonding.
Why so? MOE is using tuition providers (btw the branded ones not those in RC) as streaming agents. This is a smart strategy.
Why so? So that the rich . . ..
Why so? So that the branded schools . . .. -
what’s wrong with US own Maths curriculum ?
why must follow ours ? -
Han Seo:
The Singapore math curriculum is held in high regard in some states in the US. They are using our syllabus. Am I missing out something here?
but I read reports that said not all schools are successful in implementing bec of shortage of teachers who know and can teach our syllabus :evil: -
Just curious, do GEP students use models to solve 5 mark conventional questions? Hope parents with GEP kids can enlighten.
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tutormum:
Some of my P6 students from the same school came back with their Maths results. From what they told me, there's a class with only 1 passed i.e. all failed while another class only 14 passed. The saddest thing to hear was from one of my students: \"Teacher, I give up!\". I looked straight at his eyes and replied, \"I am not giving up on you yet so don't give up on yourself.\" I just took over the class last month from another teacher but I can tell that these students are not dumb. By any standard they are at least of Middle Ability but looking at their Maths results you would really think that they are of Low Ability. They are not slow or dumb for that matter cos they understand what I taught and could follow my lessons very well. I guess they may have a poor foundation and my heart goes out to them. You should see the dejection in their attitude. :sad: :sad:
Some kids who did badly will be transferred to Foundation Maths
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