Session 5

         

The visit to the art mesuem was my first time. I had never enter the mesuem before. I'm quite lost looking at the art pieces. It is simple art but yet keep lots of meaning in it, especially to the artist itself. It took me few minutes to read at some of the art explanation displayed to understand the meaning of the art display. To make it more confuse I need to link it to math that can be created into activity. My group decided just to snap as many photos as we can and decided to meet again on one of the day to choose an art piece to work on our assignment.

Upon returning to class, my brain was being shifted to a problem that was so confused to me. It was an angle problem which could be solve through several methods. The discussion took almost an hour to get few methods. Each and every one of us have different method that lead to the answer. Dr Yeap said that the steps are equally important like the answer. A problem solve without a proper step but right answer won't be consider as right answer. The most interesting method that was being introduced b one of us was using algebra method which go beyond 5 steps to solve. A clap for her as Dr Yeap said it was acceptable. 

For the past days with Dr Yeap had given me a better picture of math. It could be taught in a fun and enjoyable ways which he children will be able to grasp the methods and able to think through on any other methods that could be used. Whatever it is solving a math problem could be done in several ways, a person needs lots of practice in order to understand better.

THANKS DR YEAP FOR THE KNOWLEGDE... SEE YOU AGAIN IN DECEMBER....

Session 4

We start the lesson by reviewing whole number and fractions. After yesterday lesson I started to understand that fraction had many ways to solve. The most remarkable solving methods for young children will be the pictorial methods which I thing will be more impactful and meaningful for the children. The lesson on 3/4 divided by 1/8 take me the longest time to answer it. Basically I used the methods that was being taught to me in 1990's, which in fraction when we see division we need to change it to multiplication in order to get the nswer. Neverteless Dr yeap had explained that the method is not wrong but rather how my teacher should explained it during those years.

Subsequent lesson on 2/3 divided by 5 was interesting which showed me variation of methods that could be applied to get the answer. Anyway Dr yeap still except my old methods though. Frankly I'm bad at math and coming from an Arabic school in Singapore, math is not important. During school years fraction was taught to me differently which make this math module very difficult for me to absorb. I also realized that I did teach my kindergarteners fraction but through grouping.

Before class end an interesting problem was introduced i.e. making figure from 3-5 tiles. It's look easy but actually not. With certain constrain that was given it make the task quite complicated and quite challenging. Overall today lesson ended my day with lots of mathematical thinking nd I'm trying to figure how this can be included in early childhood concept.

Session 3

Class started with an interesting activity on finding ways to to count minions eyes not more than 7. From this activity I was being realized that children can't count if they can't classify and count conventionally.

I was amazed with the introduction of the lesson over 9 days... Each day have different activity that interlink with each other. By the nine lesson the children will be able to grasp the variation of the activities. Through this introduction I learnt that each topic can be taught over days through variations of styles and methods.

The most interesting part of the day was the fraction problems. The way that it was being introduced was difference from what I was taught during my school years. Nowadays children was exposed to lots of pictorial representation that make it easy for them to understand.

The world had changed, I guess I need to further enhance my knowledge on teaching math in variation and more exposure through hands on activities.

Session 2

"Number is adjectives which need to be accompany by a noun, it will be weird if adjective is just being use all by itself" Dr Yeap...

Today whole number activities had empowered me to create more fun activities that could stimulate children thinking and understanding of whole number. The 3 lessons which involve manipulation of numbers had inspired me to be more creative when delivering lesson. 

The most interesting fact was that we are not supposed to use 7 lesser than 10 as it will be an "insult" to seven. The correct way will be 7 is less than 10. The explanation given had made me realized that even till now most of the teachers are using lesser rather than less. It's a weird fact but i would like to share with my teachers soon.

The most interesting and eye catching for me was lessons on multiplication. This activity need lots of thinking skills and exploration in order to solve the problems. And during the activity was being carried out, we did a mistake which we thought it will be right and it's all base on assumption. And now I know that to solve problem we can go by assumption but rather work it out.

Session 1

"Math is a form of lots of formulas and methods.. Proper exploration and exposure can create the learning more fun enjoyable"

As I am a visual learner, I enjoyed today lesson. The hands on activities had stimulate my brain in thinking different ways to solve problems that was given to us. 

The most exciting and had impact on me is the name lesson. This lesson left me thinking on lots of ways that could lead to solve the problem i.e. which letter counted 99th? For me I only use rote counting means count one by one is my only way to solve the problem. Less that I realize that, there are lots other ways that could be used such as divided by 6 or 11.

All the activities introduced and learnt were based on the 3 ways of teaching i.e. exploration, scaffolding and modeling which apparently is the most important criteria that a teacher should portray.

During my years of teaching I used lots instruction method to teach the children which will lead to giving them answer rather than asking them to explore. Hence today lesson had made me reflect on my wrong method in teaching math. It make me wonder how those children cope after what I had delivered to them... 

Chapter 1 & 2

"Mathematicals competence opens door to productive futures...." (NCTM, 2000,p.50)

Teaching mathematics is no longer teaching them 1,2,3, basic adding or even finishing an exercise. It is more than what it should be. In this 21st century teaching math should had element of fun and joy through hands on activity and much practices and exposure.

The six principles of mathematics ahd made me realized that math is not only on counting and writing numbers. This six principles are fundamentals to achieve high quality standards of mathematics education.

• Equity Principle
• Curriculum principle
• Teaching Principle
• Learning Principle
• Assesment Principle
• Technology Principle

The principles involves children being supported by teachers or adults with a curriculum that support mathematical concept in their daily learning. To provide high quality teaching of mathematical concept, teachers also need to understand each child learning style and understanding. Each will also be given eanough opportunities to observe and evaluate their ideas to support learning. Not forgetting ongoing assesment to gather data on children understanding on each concept learnt and able to allow children to use technologies e.g. calculator to support learning.

As an early chidhood educator i believe that each teacher need to be competent and confident when delivering the lessons. Each teacher need to be equipped with varities of knowledge and mathematical concepts that able to support children learning.

I had a strong believe that never ever under estimate a child potential. With much exposure for the children to observe and learn from trial & error they will learn problem solving and able to grasp better understanding of math concepts.

Lets move on.... lets the children learn independently... allow them to explore.... allow them to give out ideas.... when they are more independent with their own exploration they will not hate math as how most of the children from olden days hate math as they arr being drilled. during my years of learning math in primary school i was asked to memories multiplication etc... Lets move from that era......

Math is fun afterall.....