OnSponge Maths - Discussion

[mangorice]

lauren:

anyone tried the onsponge tuition for math?

is it gd?

Hi,

Just to share a personal experience with onsponge. I sent my son for both the holiday programme and thinking workshops (2 workshops in fact, before psle). I bought their assessment books before deciding on sending my child for their programmes as I wanted to expose my child to challenging problem sums that is beyond his school curriculum.

He did enjoy the holiday programme very much. They incorporated lots of fun in their 2 day programme. Regular workshop are different. If you want to find out more, pls pm me. Sorry, cos I dont want to be mistaken to be their 'salesperson'

[iFruit]

NickleBee Tutors:

Thank you for your time and effort in replying to my post and i look forward to hearing from you again.

Hi NickleBee Tutors,

1) Thanks for those MOE links and I'm glad MOE \"doesn't ban algebra\" for primary kids.

MOE is quite right to be proud of their model method. I'm quite proud of them for bravely bringing forward this approach which in their own words is \"an effective way for young children to learn problem solving and to have early exposure to algebraic concepts.\" which I fully agree with.

We all agree model methods are great for understanding algebraic concepts and great stepping stones for transitioning into learning algebra. But IMHO, model methods can't come at the expense and exclusion of learning algebra. This was my main quibble with your statement that \" i ban algebra for all my primary school kids\". In my view, model methods should be laced with teaching algebra and once the concepts are mastered models can be let go.

You say \"i only ask that my students master the art of reading and comprehending the context of the question, applying whatever procedural knowledge they have and finally solving the question as they see fit in a logical and elegant manner with checking to make sure they got it right. \"

This is an excellent approach to learning math but it is directly at odds with the statement of \"banning algebra\". I think \"banning algebra\" is a case of missing woods for the trees but I leave it to you as I previously said it's your prerogative how you teach.

2) Sure, MOE innovated the model method 30 years ago and there have been further improvements since then. But that doesn't mean I'm going to trust every second person who says he has a new concoction without some validation. As you rightly observed the industry is replete with \"snake oil\" peddlers.

That's why I asked you to show us some of your techniques so that I can understand your perspective and not reach for my nearest jar of salt. But you went all defensive saying that parents of your tuition kids get nervous if you post your techniques.

Since you said you have posted some solutions on on-sponge, I'll go look them up..and I look for forward to your active participation here at KSP.

Regards.

[iFruit]

atutor2001:

There is no fixed way to learn. No 2 child are identical except maybe twins - not completely same though. As an educator, one should never limit the working method. We must be open-minded and assess individual trait..

Hi atutor2001,

Precisely my sentiments and I have very similar anecdotes.

I cannot help but come to suspect that the tuition industry by and large doesn't want Math to be in a form that can be easily be understood. It has to be a mysterious bag of models and tricks that parents and children must run from pillar to post to unlock and finally end up you know where.

iFruit - I'm sorry I didn't do my model today. Can you still see my stunted mathematical cognitive ability?

[NickleBee Tutors]

iFruit:

1) Thanks for those MOE links and I'm glad MOE \"doesn't ban algebra\" for primary kids...

Hi,

Thank you for your response and i am glad that we have learnt something from each other in this exchange. The rest of it we will just have to agree to disagree as its pretty obvious that you have made up your mind as to how to teach your daughter.

However i don't think i \"went all defensive\" when asked for my techniques because as i mentioned before, i run a professional tutoring service business (registered and with taxes paid for by the way) and the parents of my students are the boss. Now if your boss (and paymaster) frowns on you doing certain stuff, do you carry on doing it? This is business after all. I was using my full name throughout the discussion and i have already stated that the solutions i posted up in the OnSponge forums are also done under my name. So i have no reason to be defensive as you choose to put it and instead i stand by my arguments which were done under my real name.

Oh and i don't remember mentioning that i have a new \"concoction\" because i made it very clear that i use the Model methods and OnSponge techniques. What i did was to modify some of the techniques so that they are easier to digest and understand by my students.

But as i said, no matter what i say, you're going keep using Argumentum ad nauseam, Argumentum ad hominem and assorted Red herrings which are all common fallacies in logical arguments. So i would like to end this off civily by agreeing to disagree and thanking you for a most informative discussion.

Thank You.

Yours
Zhou Shicai
NickleBee Tutors

[iFruit]

NickleBee Tutors:

...as its pretty obvious that you have made up your mind as to how to teach your daughter.

Thanks, we are doing fine. Fortunately, like MOE, her school doesn't ban algebra.

NickleBee Tutors:

So i would like to end this off civily by agreeing to disagree and thanking you for a most informative discussion.

I agree. Good luck to you Nicklebee tutors.

[Leanne]

Thank you Brenda10


Dont think will have stamina to do all the two different books.Guess will just stick to one of them.

Cheers

Leanne

[atutor2001]

My DH was laughing this morning when I showed him this issue on banning algebra. He gave me this analogy on his NS experience. He was a trainer in \"small arm\" - which I thought was NSmen with small arm. It actually means small weapon.


When he trains officer cadets on the dismantling and assembling of different weapons, he was suppose to teaching them how the mechanism works. When he trained \"hokkien peng\" he just made them memorise the procedure.

He said : \"Teaching the working of the mechanism is like using model method - working from the start with understanding. Memorising the procedure is like algebra - choose the correct procedure for each type of weapon/question. Exam is like war. During a war, if an officer relies solely on his understanding to rectify a faulty weapon, good luck to him, he won't have the time. Officers must also memorise the standard procedure. In a war/exam, as mainly only standard weapons are issued, both hokkien peng and officer will perform equally well. So what, if the hokkien peng didn't know how the weapons work (i.e. concept of algebra) during his NS (i.e. Pr Sch) - his knowledge of the procedure will save his neck during war (PSLE). If the hokkien peng continue his career in the army (i.e. Sec & JC), he will ultimately understand how the weapon works (i.e. concept of algebra).

If we force the NSman to understand the working of a weapon, he may not live to sign on in the army.\"

Above are purely inputs from DH. I will not answer to queries from NSmen on accuracy of his NS information. :lol:

[moonee]

Im looking for a good tutor in maths, I dnt really care what method is used as long as it is effective and my girls marks improve. :lol:

[ctct61t]

I’m looking for a good math enrichment class for my DD…

[Lock]

Anyone staying around Bukit Timah area and is interested to enroll in P4 maths group tuition by tutor who uses Onsponge methodology to teach?


Personally, I like the Onsponge methodology, having attended the parents workshop. My dd also finds their method easy to apply and understand. Currently, there are already 3 students who have registered under this tutor who is trained by Onsponge but they need 4/5 students to start a class.

So, if there is anyone out there who are interested, pls PM me.

Thanks.