Gd basic mathematics foundation for 5 yr kid

[Sun_2010]

Catay,


Some very good advice in the post above.

My 2 cents
Numbers and shapes are all around us, its a matter of discovering and relating to them. Primary subjetcs are all about what you do every day, an hour or two at an enrichment centre cannot fulfil this need but can only add on to this knowledge.

One thing to take care always associate numbers with quantity. Numbers are not mere \"words\"...
Its not important to recite upto hundred, it is important to understand 1 to 10 then slowly move to 20 then up.

Once the child \"knows\" 1-10, she is ready for addition /sub as applied to real life - one candy, and one more make 2 candy. plenty of Kids show emphasising this are available.

Buds had an article in KSP on multiplication cards that i think is very useful.

Happy maths learning journey.

[proudmummy]

hi everyone,


my daughter is 4 this year and i really want her to get started on her math. but she is very easily distracted and cant seem to sit still to learn properly. i’m wondering is it coz the subject itself is v boring and dull? looking around for courses which teaches math but is interesting at the same time. any suggestions would be much appreciated. thanks!

[autumnbronze]

Sun_2010:

Once the child \"knows\" 1-10, she is ready for addition /sub as applied to real life - one candy, and one more make 2 candy. plenty of Kids show emphasising this are available.

Thanks for this tip, Sun_2010 :celebrate:

I was just wondering whether I should start DS on addition/subtraction since he already \"knows\" 1 to 20.

Now I know

[mrswongtuition]

autumnbronze:

Sun_2010:

Once the child \"knows\" 1-10, she is ready for addition /sub as applied to real life - one candy, and one more make 2 candy. plenty of Kids show emphasising this are available.

Thanks for this tip, Sun_2010 :celebrate:

I was just wondering whether I should start DS on addition/subtraction since he already \"knows\" 1 to 20.

Now I know

Once you start on addition, you can try using eggs in it's tray (tray of 10) to do subtraction. My boy learnt how to subtract using that.

Now I'm teaching him using 3G abacus.

[proudmummy]

mrswongtuition:

autumnbronze:

[quote=\"Sun_2010\"]

Once the child \"knows\" 1-10, she is ready for addition /sub as applied to real life - one candy, and one more make 2 candy. plenty of Kids show emphasising this are available.

Thanks for this tip, Sun_2010 :celebrate:

I was just wondering whether I should start DS on addition/subtraction since he already \"knows\" 1 to 20.

Now I know

Once you start on addition, you can try using eggs in it's tray (tray of 10) to do subtraction. My boy learnt how to subtract using that.

Now I'm teaching him using 3G abacus. :)[/quote]hi mrs wong, i have been reading through the threads trying to find a suitable course for my girl. heard alot about abacus. u teach 3G abacus? can i check with you is it v different from their pri syllabus math in schools?

[mrswongtuition]

proudmummy:

hi mrs wong, i have been reading through the threads trying to find a suitable course for my girl. heard alot about abacus. u teach 3G abacus? can i check with you is it v different from their pri syllabus math in schools?

Hi,

Yes, I took up 3G abacus to teach my own son but now I'm the trainer for 3G abacus at Nan Chiau Primary School. Will be opening my own classes at my home in Dec 2010.

Abacus focuses on teaching them how to calculate - FAST & ACCURATE.
They way they add up is different from Primary school syllabus so some of the kids do get confused. That's why I've decided to teach both 3G abacus together with problem solving and school concepts to help minimise the confusion.

If abacus is learnt since young and the kids still continue with formal lessons into upper primary, it becomes an extremely useful and advantagous tool instead of confusing them.

Also, the methods need to be presented in a very clear cut way.
Abacus adds from left to right, Pri school maths adds from right to left. Once they know the difference, they won't be confused.

There are a few very useful things which are similar to our Pri sch maths syllabus.
1. Number bonds
2. Number places (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands)

It becomes extremely advantageous at upper primary now that the numbers in the maths problems are getting larger and larger. Students can use their mental calculation learnt from abacus to double check answers. And with familiarity with numbers, sometimes they know they've made a mistake just by looking at the final answer.

[proudmummy]

mrswongtuition:

proudmummy:

hi mrs wong, i have been reading through the threads trying to find a suitable course for my girl. heard alot about abacus. u teach 3G abacus? can i check with you is it v different from their pri syllabus math in schools?

Hi,

Yes, I took up 3G abacus to teach my own son but now I'm the trainer for 3G abacus at Nan Chiau Primary School. Will be opening my own classes at my home in Dec 2010.

Abacus focuses on teaching them how to calculate - FAST & ACCURATE.
They way they add up is different from Primary school syllabus so some of the kids do get confused. That's why I've decided to teach both 3G abacus together with problem solving and school concepts to help minimise the confusion.

If abacus is learnt since young and the kids still continue with formal lessons into upper primary, it becomes an extremely useful and advantagous tool instead of confusing them.

Also, the methods need to be presented in a very clear cut way.
Abacus adds from left to right, Pri school maths adds from right to left. Once they know the difference, they won't be confused.

There are a few very useful things which are similar to our Pri sch maths syllabus.
1. Number bonds
2. Number places (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands)

It becomes extremely advantageous at upper primary now that the numbers in the maths problems are getting larger and larger. Students can use their mental calculation learnt from abacus to double check answers. And with familiarity with numbers, sometimes they know they've made a mistake just by looking at the final answer.

thanks for your explanation! my girl is v easily distracted and cant sit still for long. that is why it is very hard to catch her attention. is 3G abacus different from the CMA one? saw quite alot of comments on it and it sounds v scary for a 4 year old to join!btw is it too young to let my girl join these kind of enrichment classes?will it like backfire and make her dislike the subject?

[mrswongtuition]

proudmummy:

thanks for your explanation! my girl is v easily distracted and cant sit still for long. that is why it is very hard to catch her attention. is 3G abacus different from the CMA one? saw quite alot of comments on it and it sounds v scary for a 4 year old to join!btw is it too young to let my girl join these kind of enrichment classes?will it like backfire and make her dislike the subject?

It's normal if they are distracted. That's why many parents send them for abacus classes because it's suppose to help them learn to focus and train their concentration.

3G abacus is very different from CMA.
Differences:
1. 3G abacus is using a unique abacus with 9 beads. CMA uses the traditional soroban (5 bead abacus).
2. 3G abacus is using 1 hand technique. CMA uses both hands.
3. Exam/competition format is different. Both have their own exam formats.
4. 3G abacus only has 1 set of formula to remember. CMA has a few sets of formula to remember.


Personally, I feel that it's not the course or program or subject that will cause a child to dislike something. It is the TRAINER/TUTOR/TEACHER.
I've seen firsthand the effects of having a 'bad' trainer - the kids are ill-disciplined in class, not cooperative, refused to listen and do their work.
Compared to a good trainer who is very motivating and has a great rapport with the kids - the kids are all well seated and doing their work quietly, they are enthusiastic about letting the teacher mark their work, willing to do corrections quickly, homework comes in neatly done and students are polite to teachers.

It's the basic rules of teaching: Set your ground rules well, set the tone well and the kids will know what is expected and behave well.

Also, parents have to be supportive. Don't scold them over homework but give them some form of reward if they finish the work. I've worked with many parents and they all enjoyed this system because their relationship with their kids changed (especially the older kids in Upper Primary). No more nagging and scolding, it's a system or removing priviledges and giving rewards.

[Catay]

Hi all parents who have replied my mail,


Sorry for my late reply as I don’t always login to read this website. Would like to say a Big "Thank You" to all of you for all your valuable advice.

Would consider the classes and contact you after making the decision.

Thanks & regards,
Catherine

[proudmummy]

i agree with you that the teacher plays a big part in a child’s education. but its so hard to get a teacher that is good and can motivate kids and make the lesson more fun at the same time too! i’m really interested to let my girl learn abacus but my hubby is nt too keen. guess i gotta discuss with him again and see how it goes. thank u for your advice!