MATH OH MATH
Saturday, 20 August 2011 @ 02:50
I learnt new things everyday.
With my title, you can guess that I have some what a love hate relationship with Mathematics... While I was in school, I was told by my teachers and parents to memorize formulas, time tables and solved problem sums eventhough I was not the one who ‘created’ it... You know what I meant. At that time, I felt that Mathematics was a subject that I had to do well in, getting good grades but in fact, I was struggling and I fell through the cracks.
Reading about the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, I wonder if Singapore has similar compilation as this Six Principles which I think is a well thought and community-involving that ensures fundamentals of mathematical knowledge is achievable to all children. As an educator I believe that ALL children should be given opportunities and supported through a curriculum that enhance mathematics as an intergrated learning, with building instructions, which in return complement the children’s future endeavours. Thus, with a focused curriculum and classroom instruction, it can cultivate children's interest in mathematics and also diminish this love hate relationship.
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| Making a birdhouse- Using maths in real life situations |
Teachers are assets in encouraging children to learn mathematics in a conducive environment. However, teachers are also learners, finding out ways to support their cohort to think, question and discuss their ideas, strategies and solutions. (p. 3) With that said, the learning environment in the classroom set by the teachers would encouraged children to develop their own approach in real life situations. During my primary and secondary school days, test and exams were given as the state requirement but slackened on the support to individualize the learning needs and that resulted in my case the ...love hate relationship.
We have to be abreast with the changing World where information technology outperformed the job of any working class.The mentioned of IT in the child’s learning experience has been seen in Singapore with children using the interactive whiteboards, individual IPad and many more state of the art technology to further enhanced and complement their learning experience. The use of technology is made readily available for the children so that children learning could be supported no matter what their background is. I am a teacher who supported the intergration of technology into the classroom!
SO what with the STANDARDS!
I found that with the Five Process Standards, it has been fine tuned as a guidance to mathematics and to develop a curriculum and focus on teachings. But with all these standards, in my opinion, it is still difficult ‘to adopt student centre approach to mathematics’. Teachers and children are focused on getting above average results in schools tests so that they would move on to a better school with better education. I shared the same sentiments with some parents who also do have children who still struggle with mathematics...solution? More homework!
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| What do you think? |
Me too, have to change my mind set to be receptive to changes in the way mathematics are taught in school today and to be able to respond to the challenges, uncertainties and frustration as I need to unlearn and relearn on mathematical concepts(p.10)
It takes time , effort and persistence
I believed that devote time and effort and being persistence are the keys to being good in mathematics as some tuition teachers reminded me whenever I asked them how my child is doing and how can she be better.
Children learn best with hands on experience and I will continue doing my drawings and using everyday materials to help my cohort through the process of understanding the mathematical concepts and applying them. The experiences in the classroom should be designed to maximize learning opportunities for students.(p.20) such as the discussion based on the students own experiences and prior knowledge.
As an educator I understand that it takes a lot of work and effort to convey the concepts and connections in relational understanding. I have to consider the task selected must be able to build connections from their existing knowledge.
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Noorlinda Buang
class: bsc05
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