P2 Math - General Discussion

[janet88]

Callie Tan:

I bought CASCO IQ Mathematics for my girl in P1... very very tough... any other parent using this book too?

The other tough assessment book is Fabian Ng's Excel in Math.

[optimistforum]

I would recommend Challenging Mathematics (EPH) Sundar. These are very difficult questions. My 7 year old is a little behind, and has only just completed the P1 book. Hopefully, he can complete P2 by July.


We also use the P1 and P2 Maths Olympiad Training by Terry Chew. I think this book is fantastic.

[Funz]

janet_lee88:

HI Plum-cake,

Guess what, I finally learnt how to answer the question on calculating number of 2 and 4 legged birds/animals last night :oops: while hubby taught daughter last night. The Math assessment book used is Li Fanglan's heuristic and model approach.

Wow, your DD at the beginning of P1 is doing such sums? DD was given such a sum but it was towards the end of P1.

There is a method to solving this type of question and it involves multiplication and division which is not covered in the school syllabus so early in P1.

When I was first trying to teach DD to solve this type of sums, I had to use trial and error, literally drawing out the total number of legs then allocating the 4 legged and the 2 legged animals their legs. Haha.

[Callie Tan]

Funz:

janet_lee88:

HI Plum-cake,

Guess what, I finally learnt how to answer the question on calculating number of 2 and 4 legged birds/animals last night :oops: while hubby taught daughter last night. The Math assessment book used is Li Fanglan's heuristic and model approach.

Wow, your DD at the beginning of P1 is doing such sums? DD was given such a sum but it was towards the end of P1.

There is a method to solving this type of question and it involves multiplication and division which is not covered in the school syllabus so early in P1.

When I was first trying to teach DD to solve this type of sums, I had to use trial and error, literally drawing out the total number of legs then allocating the 4 legged and the 2 legged animals their legs. Haha.

I realized many P1 maths questions are trial and error ones...

[janet88]

optimistforum:

I would recommend Challenging Mathematics (EPH) Sundar. These are very difficult questions. My 7 year old is a little behind, and has only just completed the P1 book. Hopefully, he can complete P2 by July.


We also use the P1 and P2 Maths Olympiad Training by Terry Chew. I think this book is fantastic.

Challenging Maths by Sandhya Sundar is too tough...at this level or even higher levels, encouraging and motivating is the key. I didn't realize that and upset son's confidence. Now I try NOT to buy anything 'Challenging' unless school tells students to get.

[Yong HL]

janet_lee88:

[Challenging Maths by Sandhya Sundar is too tough...at this level or even higher levels, encouraging and motivating is the key. I didn't realize that and upset son's confidence. Now I try NOT to buy anything 'Challenging' unless school tells students to get.

I totally agree that motivating is key, esp at lower primary.
From what i observe from the top school exam papers for P1, most schools set questions at reasonable level, not really at \"challenging\" like those in assessment books. Even if there is, its only 1 question to differentiate a \"A\" and \"A-star\" student... I hope i am right... :xedfingers:

[Funz]

So far DD likes Andrew Er's problem sums and Dawn Tai's Challenging 4-in-1.


And since she liked those 2, I ambitiously bought the P1 math olympiad assessment but in the end did not let her attempt any questions in the book cos I had a hard time trying to figure out how to explain some of the more complex questions to her.

So too bad, this mummy's own limitation may be DD's limitation as well. But no lah, DD is no math genius.

[Callie Tan]

Yong HL:

janet_lee88:

[Challenging Maths by Sandhya Sundar is too tough...at this level or even higher levels, encouraging and motivating is the key. I didn't realize that and upset son's confidence. Now I try NOT to buy anything 'Challenging' unless school tells students to get.

I totally agree that motivating is key, esp at lower primary.
From what i observe from the top school exam papers for P1, most schools set questions at reasonable level, not really at \"challenging\" like those in assessment books. Even if there is, its only 1 question to differentiate a \"A\" and \"A-star\" student... I hope i am right... :xedfingers:

Yes actually most schools set reasonably ok maths questions with one or two IQ or higher level... but I enjoy exposing my P1 girl to those questions that are asked in very tircky ways... I hope to broaden her mind a bit...

[Yong HL]

Callie Tan:

Yes actually most schools set reasonably ok maths questions with one or two IQ or higher level... but I enjoy exposing my P1 girl to those questions that are asked in very tircky ways... I hope to broaden her mind a bit...

I generally skip the challenging part in the assessment books and only does them with my girl for fun Just now after dinner, we just try tackle \"challenging\" shapes and patterns for fun. Nevermind if she cant solve, same as you, just want to broaden her mindset

[janet88]

Funz:

So far DD likes Andrew Er's problem sums and Dawn Tai's Challenging 4-in-1.


And since she liked those 2, I ambitiously bought the P1 math olympiad assessment but in the end did not let her attempt any questions in the book cos I had a hard time trying to figure out how to explain some of the more complex questions to her.

So too bad, this mummy's own limitation may be DD's limitation as well. But no lah, DD is no math genius.

If your daughter enjoys Dawn Tai's book, then she is definitely in for bigger and challenging stuff down the road.