| |
 |  |
| |
Here, you can have access to free placement tests, worksheets, news articles and study techniques. If you like to contribute an article here, please send an email to general@questation.com
The placement tests allow us to gauge the level suitable for your child to start on our program. If your child's result is above 80 marks, he can proceed to the next level higher than the test taken.
For example, if your child sits the placement test for Primary 4B and gets a grade of 85, he is ready to proceed to the next level. However if he gets 65 marks, it means there are some concepts he is still unfamiliar with and we recommend him to start our program from Primary Level 4B.
Placement Tests
Articles
|
How can i help my child in mathematics?
Dr Yeap Ban Har & Dr Berinderjeet Kaur
National Institute of Education, Singapore
If you are proficient in mathematics and able to guide your child, here are some tips as to how you may go about doing it.
Be Like Me
Model the desired characteristics when you solve problems with your child. Show your child the whole process, not just the
products. Show your child how you don't understand initially and how make sense of the problem. Show your child how you
consider, choose and abandon methods. Show your child how you got into and out of trouble. Show your child how you
preserver. Show your child the whole process.
Tell Me
Get your child to tell you how he or she solved a problem. Get your child to tell you the steps. Get your child to tell you the
method.
Does It Make Sense?
Get into the habit of asking if an answer made sense.
Make Up A Problem
Get your child to make up another problem that can be solved using the same steps or method. Get your child to modify
problems.
Let's Do It Another Way!
Encourage your child to use more than one way to solve a problem.
That's Good!
Encourage your child.
Let's Assume
Get your child to say what the assumptions are in a problem.
The Rod, Not The Fish
Provide hints, not the answer. Give a step, ask a question.
Don't Despair!
If you are not proficient in mathematics, you can still help your child by doing the following:
Check that your child's work is done, often, at least every weekend.
Talk to your child about his or her mathematics lessons and work.
Supervise your child's mathematics homework.
Ask your child to teach you what he or she has learnt at school.
Take note of any communication that the teacher has sent home for your attention, e.g. dates of tests, test papers to be checked and signed, etc.
Act promptly if you feel your child is failing in mathematics. Discuss the problem with your child's teacher. If necessary, source for help (such as self-help group's tutoring programmes) and monitor the progress of your child.
Why do children dislike Math? If so why?
Mary Teo
Retired Principal, Singapore
Many children have an innate ability to think mathematically. By the age of three to four years, they would have started using
a number system and would have learned how to count. Young children learn with their senses and their whole bodies. Much of
these learning experiences happen at home and in their communities.
It is obvious that children learn from a young age. For example, one area in which there is a high rate of learning is the acquisition
of spoken vocabulary. By the time they enter school children know thousands of words. However it is not as evident to see them
learning mathematics at a similar or greater rate.
Children begin as eager learners, be it in language or math. Then when and
where do they develop a dislike or even a fear of math- 'mathphobia' ?
What could have contributed to such a development? As I see it some of these factors would include:
Developmental Readiness
Children may not be ready to understand a math concept or skill because of their conceptual development. According to research
on how children learn math, it was stated that children learn math concepts more slowly than we realized. Children do think and
reason in different ways, however they all pass through certain stages of cognitive development depending on their
chronological and mental ages. When young children learning math are rushed into using symbols and terms without real
understanding, their foundation will be jeopardized and their grasp of simple arithmetic will be shaky.
Math Foundation
Math is a highly structured subject. It is a network of concepts which are built on subsequent foundations. Each stage of work
must be thoroughly understood and mastered before a new stage of learning begins. Hence if children miss out on one stage it
will result in gaps of math knowledge and this will widen over time. Eventually because of the gaps in math concepts and skills,
the foundation in math will be weak. A weak foundation can cause many children to avoid doing math. Often doing math
becomes an anxiety producing activity.
Language
The lack of exposure and familiarity with the language found in math contributes to a weak foundation in math too. Besides math
language, a general weakness in language will also create problems for the children as they will not be able to understand and
solve math problems.
Teaching
How children are taught math in the early years will also determine whether a strong foundation is built or not. It is necessary
that those who teach must have more than a casual acquaintance of math concepts and skills. In fact, they must first and
foremost be explicitly aware of the relevant concepts and skills that are in each topic. Also they must be able to explain with
understanding and confidence all the math techniques and procedures. Textbook orientated lessons which are not accompanied
by clarification of concepts and skills, will also contribute to a weak foundation.
Attitude
All children are enthusiastic and positive when they embark on their math learning. However sometimes along the way, they
imbibed negative influences from those around them. If their immediate contacts show a dislike or an avoidance in math, they
will overtime form such attitudes too, especially if they have experienced constant failure in the subject. How we feel about
math does greatly impact on how our children think about math and themselves as mathematician.
Solution
Math will not be a problem to many children, if we can ensure that they have a strong and solid foundation right from the start.
This solid foundation can only happen if:
the right concepts and skills are introduced at the appropriate time of their development.
in the early stages, there are plenty of opportunities for them to explore and play, to see relationships in things around them, to solve problems and see math in a positive light.
math is highlighted that it is everywhere and part of life and not only in the work at school.
there is an early exposure to the language of math.
a positive attitude about math is conveyed to them right at the start.
faulty understanding of concepts and skills are remedied immediately.
learning gaps do not develop.
|
Click here to sign up for Free General Membership
|
|
|
© Copyright 2003. Questation E-Learning Technologies Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved | Legal |
|
![[ Community ]](Images/butsus/community2.png)
