<![CDATA[How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old]]>Hi


My DS can do very good straight maths, ie add up, subtract, multiply and divide - but he cannnot problem-solve when he needs to do 2 or more steps of processing.

Eg we did a question. There are 9 dogs in a kennel, 6 leave and 4 come in. How many dogs left, altogether?

Ideally he should break it down as

9-6 =3

3+4 =7

Any idea how I can get my son to think this way, and show his workings to demonstrate that he has applied the correct skills?

Essentially, I would like some hints on how to get him to successfully and quickly tackle proble-solving type questions.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/7657/how-do-i-teach-problem-solving-to-a-6-year-oldRSS for NodeSat, 18 Apr 2026 20:42:10 GMTSun, 20 Dec 2009 02:00:04 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:37:10 GMT]]>optimistforum


Yes, I received the PM. Thanks and congrats on your son's progress.

You will progress up the belt-hierachy as your number of total posts increases 😄

I went to Popular and indeed I saw the Challenging Maths series by Sandhya Sundar. I asked the supervisor at the store and she explained to me that the Popular online store is under different operation arm. Hence, she can't explain why the books are not listed there or help us to enter tehm. Her advice is to email the online store directly.

Hope this helps.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/95345https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/95345Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:37:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:38:01 GMT]]>Thanks Cafelatte for checking; but please do not make a special journey.


In the UK, school starts at Nursery, Age 3-4. Key Stage 1 is for ages 5 - 7, then Key Stage 2, ages 8 to 11. Then Key Stage 3, ages 11 to 14. Then Key Stage 4 (15-16), then Key Stage 5 for ages 17-18.

After Key Stage 3, starting at Year 7 (ages 11-12), kids can use calculators. By the way, Year 7 is the first year of secondary school.

PS, what do the coloured belts next to our user names indicate, and how does one progress up the belt-hierachy? :?

Edited and added later. Note To Cafelatte - I sent you a PM today, but it does not show on my sent list, so I am not sure whether you will receive it, or not.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/93343https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/93343Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:38:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:45:39 GMT]]>Noted, I may have a chance tomorrow. Will update this thread.


Which UK year are the children allowed to use calculators ? We were told as machines are efficient and cheap now, it is no longer meaningful to train children to be able to do long tedious accurate base calculations. The focus is on problem solving skills and hence the introduction of calculators at P5. The foundation of the four operands would have been covered P1-P4. That’s the offical line, anyway.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/93271https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/93271Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:45:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:32:21 GMT]]>Hi Cafelatte


Thanks for this. I already have this syllabus. The Sundar books are preferable, however, I am not keen on calculators on P5 and P6, as they equate to UK School years 6 and 7, and in these years children cannot use calculators.

A favour please, next time you are at Popular bookstore, can you please ask the staff why the Sundar books are not on the Popular website? When I send an email to customer services at Popular, I never get a reply 😢

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/93150https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/93150Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:32:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:44:49 GMT]]>optimistforum


There has been a change in the primary Maths syllabus. Check the MOE syllabus description :

http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/sciences/files/maths-primary-2007.pdf

specifically page 11.

This year's PSLE(P6) pupils were the first batch to use calculators in the PSLE maths exams. Some says that's why the paper was so tough ?!
Do a search in the KSP threads too...there were some discussions among the PSLE pupils and parents.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92841https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92841Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:44:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:54:39 GMT]]>Thanks Clarabella


I got an email from EPH, saying that Sundar's books P1 to P6 are in print. I wonder if anyone can tell me whether P5 and P6 still use calculators - I prefer the previous editions that did not require calculators. As you mentioned earlier they are not yet showing on Popular.

Cafelatte mentioned PSP by Fabian Ng as a possible option. I would have preferred a P1 to P6 series, rather than P2 to P6. However, I like the idea that the Fabian books are prescriptive, but I much prefer the rigour of Sundar's books. 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92795https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92795Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:54:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:47:20 GMT]]>No problem, optimistforum. Glad to have made you all thrilled over the books. :lol:

Oh, I have a suggestion if you have more books that need copying for your ds2: slip the pages into clear sheet protectors and have ds1 write on the sheet protector itself with a marker. That will keep the pages in great condition for handing down.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92794https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92794Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:47:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:03:41 GMT]]>Hi Clarabella


That has made me very excited. God, that makes me sound weird - that I get excited by the thought that a book is still in existence!! :oops:

I actually ripped the cover and spine from P1, separated the pages and photocopied them, so DS2 will get a copy when the time is right for him.

Now, I will make haste to source these books.

Thanks again, Clarabella

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92462https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92462Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:03:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:52:04 GMT]]>

optimistforum:
I have purchased the EPH publications Challenging Maths, by Sandya Sundhar. I believe these are great. They are out-of-print. Anyone know where I can by P1 to P6. Popular do not sell. I would like to purchase another set for younger son.

Hi optimistforum
I saw the Challenging Maths series by Sandhya Sundar at Popular, just recently. The sales staff told me that they have been re-issued. I checked the P1 and P2 books; the current edition is published in 2009. But, strangely, the series doesn't show up on Popular's website. :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92370https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/92370Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:52:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:47:04 GMT]]>Over here, there are Maths Olympiad competitions and pupils who have good maths sense are trained to solved those questions and compete. Typically, the school Maths exam papers will include 1-2 (we are seeing more these days, sometimes 3) Maths-Olympiad kind of questions. My personal opinion is that these are high-order thinking questions and worth persevering if the child has a good grasp of the basic Maths concepts already.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91623https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91623Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:47:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:27:44 GMT]]>One final question


I have purchased a suite of books by Terry Chew, called Maths Olympiad. Are these worth persevering with; they are essentially problem-solving books.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91556https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91556Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:27:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:25:29 GMT]]>It is available from P2-P6. I find it very systematic. It starts with a simpler one step problem with a detailed example and 5 questions for the child to complete understand the concept then move on to adding another concept/step. It is impossible to complete all the questions for each step and also the review questions. I get my child to work through 1-2 questions and if he already grasped the concept, I move on to the next section.


I was using Andrew Er’s books before I switched to Fabian Ng’s. I also attended a for-parents-Maths workshop by Mr Er himself. My personal opinion is the books are alright but I prefer Fabian’s for the systematic approach.

Sorry I can’t help about the books by Sandya Sundhar. Perhaps an email to the publisher to ask for help ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91554https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91554Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:25:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:10:28 GMT]]>Hi cafelatte


I had a look at EPH website for the examples. It is a very difficult book; what is your perception of it? Also, cannot see a P1 to P6 series in it. Am I wrong?

What do you think of Andrew Er books.

However, idf anyone can shed light on the CHallenging Maths P1 to P6 series by Sandya Sundhar, as I would like to find placed to buy them from.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91547https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91547Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:10:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:43:32 GMT]]>I use PSP by Fabian Ng as the story sums start from simple to more complex :


https://www.popular.com.sg/jsp/product/product_detail.jsp?vca001=112&vpd001=70347

https://www.popular.com.sg/images/product/book/70347.jpg\">

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91536https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91536Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:43:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:30:05 GMT]]>I have purchased the EPH publications Challenging Maths, by Sandya Sundhar. I believe these are great. They are out-of-print. Anyone know where I can by P1 to P6. Popular do not sell. I would like to purchase another set for younger son.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91531https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91531Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:30:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:35:10 GMT]]>Maybe you can try teaching him in a story form if he likes stories?


Tell him like a story to get him interested
Then next step is to teach him how to sieve out the key words for action.

Hope this helps.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91297https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91297Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:35:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How do i teach problem-solving to a 6-year old on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:59:02 GMT]]>Have u tried doing step-by-step?

For example, after establishing that there are 9 dogs in the kernel, explicitly test his understanding of the phrase "6 leave". If he do not understand immediately, resort to using physical objects or drawing of simple diagrams (not models yet but perhaps 9 dogs’ faces and circle 6 of them). After he understand the physical meaning he can move on the procedural meaning of 9-6.

Then if he understand the first step can move to "4 come in".

However judging from what you said, i presume he can probably solve a 1 step problem sum. In that case teach him to see step-by-step by covering up the "4 come in" part.
Its important to him to be able to learn how to see step-by-step by following the english phrases in sequence.

Please comment whether this works for him.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91216https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/91216Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:59:02 GMT