All About Primary School Math Enrichment

[jedamum]

P1 Math Q:

Tom has 12 balls. He divides them equally among his 3 friends. How many balls will each friend get?

[hquek]

Thanks for all your views and comments.


I am looking at CMA or Enopi/MPM. I understand that their focus (at least between CMA and the others) are quite different.

Any pointers on which would be a better starter (ie CMA/the others) and why?

Appreciate your views.

[jajnj]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi,

I have been trying to source for 'the best' Maths programme for my kid who is going P1 next yr but I am actually getting more & more confused.

MPM, Sakamoto, Enopi, Numberlinks, CMA etc... Will any kind soul pls share your feedback?

If u are staying in North-East area, which Maths school do u send your kid to?

Thnks

[jedamum]

BlissMom:

On the question about starting enrichment classes at K1, Also, don't our kids already are registered with the nursery and kindergarten? What are these for if not learning to prepare for Primary 1?

my boy's school only prepare them socially for P1 (ie able to interact in a big class setting, listening to instructions, doing seatwork, following rules), and is pretty weak academically. that's why i feel that some form of enrichment is necessary if i can't coach them myself.

[jedamum]

hquek:

Thanks for all your views and comments.


I am looking at CMA or Enopi/MPM. I understand that their focus (at least between CMA and the others) are quite different.

Any pointers on which would be a better starter (ie CMA/the others) and why?

Appreciate your views.

hquek,
i have not tried all, but here are my observations.
CMA is abacus based. not much help in solving logical math questions or problem sums, although your kid will do well in mental calculations, and the 4 operations (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication).
enopi and MPM is similar. worksheet based with manipulatives and kid progressing based on own pace. their worksheets do have logical questions. you can drop by their website and see if there are sample papers. i think for enopi, they have sample papers.

[hquek]

hi Jedamum,


Thanks for the views. Exactly! both types focus on different skills. My son doesn’t know the operators (we haven’t quite exposed him to this) thus CMA will be helpful. But then Enopi/mpm will go the longer mile in guiding him with the thinking/problem parts.

I have seen the enopi materials. it’s very colourful and pictorial. Will be going to view the mpm ones soon. Then it’s thinking hat time.
:mrgreen:

[Working_Kiasu_Mum]

Personally, I dun really like Kumon cos it’s repetitive and drilling. If the child starts young, then if the child is not the ‘weak’ type, it will come to a point that the child is doing exercises not suitable for her/his age. Eg. my colleague’s gal was attending Kumon since K1, i think. When she was end P1, she was doing add and sub of fractions when she could not even understand. As you know, Kumon dun do much on coaching the kids. Kids do, then they mark and discuss corrections. So the parents will need to teach, but the parents just show how to do add and sub of fractions w/o telling her the meaning of it. Gal understands 1 day and forgets it the next day, then the cycle cont. It’s also quite true that Kumon doesnt do high-order thinking Qs and problem solving. So it will not help the kids in such Qs. BUt MOE is moving to PS and higher-order in increasing % of Qs, hence, you will have to think twice when choosing courses for kids.


My son is attending this course called Livecube, it trains logic, spatial and analytical reasoning. A 1-hour session includes 1/2 hr of cube training, with memory training, forming of 2D and 3D shapes and blocks with different shaped blocks and interlinked cubes. next 1/2 hr on school curriculum that is of higher level that the child is currently in. E.g. My son is in P1 this year, but the written work is based on P1 and P2 syllabus, higher-order Qs are also put into such written work. He is also exposed to Qs relating to volume and related stuff (like those shapes they use in SHICHIDA). So this livecube prog is only available till P4, cos by then they should have learnt till topics in P6. However, class size is a mx of 6 children, so each child learns at his own pace. If you are faster, you speed, if you are slower, you will take some time to digest. It’s good for kids who can move confidently upwards.

[hquek]

Thanks WKM, another lead I can follow up. It’s useful to know on courses other children have attended.


My son will only be in K1 next year. My aim is just to strengthen his understanding on the basics cos we haven’t really started coaching him on maths. Thus far, we’ve only focused on languages and I think it’s time to start on maths.

[Working_Kiasu_Mum]

it’s time to start early. You can start with your own teaching. Call it kiasu, I am that! That’s y I am here! I know the kids need the foundation before they enter P1, it’s a little late if you start at P1. Too much for the kids to cope w/o basics.

[jedamum]

jedamum:

P1 Math Q:

Tom has 12 balls. He divides them equally among his 3 friends. How many balls will each friend get?

Anybody?
i wanna see if your answer is 4 or 3....