CMA Math - Discussion

[jce]

My daughter’s with TPY CMA, been there for close to a year (about 9 months), enjoying it and can see it really is helping in her mental sums. Only send her once a week, which I think is more than sufficient, just have to keep up with the practice at home. The group of teachers at TPY are friendly too.

[concern2]

wow, didn't know CMA has 4 competitions in a year, thought there's only 1 major one in a year. Think they have competitions over the internet, which is more frequent. I did comment on last year's competition which you may be interested to read up under a poll in this forum. I can't seem to find the page again, perhaps moderators can provide some kind assistance? Tks in advance


I asked about how primary school students cope with Math & CMA because my son's K1 teacher recently told me he is a little confused over 2 digit addition that she's teaching in school because they use number lines - different from CMA.

[swansea]

There are four grading exam in year for CMA and only one competition in year. You may refer to http://www.cma.edu.sg/news-calendar.php for the dates. I don't think that the kid will be confuse as I always tell my kid that school math is for you to show working that you understand the question while MA is meant for you to do or checking your answer in much faster pace than others. My kid is coping well and enjoy her classes. I heard that it help in brain development as well.

[snowz]

swansea:

I don't think that the kid will be confuse as I always tell my kid that school math is for you to show working that you understand the question while MA is meant for you to do or checking your answer in much faster pace than others. My kid is coping well and enjoy her classes. I heard that it help in brain development as well.

Agreed!

[concern2]

Thanks for your comments. During my recent parents' meeting, the teacher told me:


\"He seemed puzzle on what is required, and took longer than the rest of the students to get the concept, which is unlike him. :idea: He then started to do mental calculation and used his own method to get the right answer, but we were teaching them how to use the number line..\"

I suspect that maybe because he's into multiplication & decimals now at CMA and thought there is another complex formula

Back home, I wrote him a question: 12+23, and asked him to show me using the number line teacher has taught him in school. He could do it. (phew!) When he got the answer, I asked him to use his mental arithmetic method to double-check, and he broke into an enlightened smile.

[vain_pot]

My son is in CMA kovan since Apr this year..so far never see any difference yet but he is lazy in doing the sums..hope its common but teachers commented tat he is playful but yet able to do the sums..and hav gd memory so i also duno is gd progress or not?


And actually quite worried as i heard many parents mentioned before tat they mite get :? when they go to primary schools?

[bunnies]

Hi,


I would like to enrol my son to CMA at MP

Can anybody refer me to entitle for 8% discount?

Thanks!

[concern2]

Hi Bunnies, have pm you!

[bunnies]

concern2:

Hi Bunnies, have pm you!

Hi Concern2

Thank you very much.

[abacus_trainer]

Personally, I feel that a child who is weak in mental sum, probably will also be weak in number line method. Example, 75+43= 70+40+5+3= 110+8= 118. Although breaking up the numbers into tens and ones seems less complicated to kids, they are still require to sum up the numbers mentally (70+40=110, 5+3=8).


Some parents feel that since primary school is allowing the use of calculators from P5 onwards, there is no need to worry whether the child is good at mental sums. Unfortunately, from P1 to P5 is a long way to go and for P5 exam papers, the use of calculator is only allowed at certain section of the paper, the rest of the section they will still need to use their brain. Relying too much on calculator may not be a good thing too, then they will be lazy to think. :idea: