MatheMagis Singapore Maths

Have you noticed how your child spends long hours trying to study especially before a test?
If your answer is yes and yet he/she still flunks at school, then it is probably time to show them how to study well without burning out.
It’s never too early or too late to develop good study habits for your child. Can’t be your child’s constant study buddy? Don’t Worry! Try out a few of these tips before your child’s next exam and she’ll soon have an A-level test-prep skills.

#1 Create a stress-free environment

According to Medina’s book, a stressed brain is not receptive to learning.  Easier said than done but the nagging and fighting over homework is counter-productive and hurts your child learning.  Be calm, plan sessions ahead of time and make sure you have all the materials ready prior to starting review sessions. Make sure your child is not hungry or sleepy as well.

#2 Study ahead of time

Oakley suggested spaced repetition in doing review sessions. Which means that instead of cramming 4 hours the day before the test, it will be better to study 1 hour per day for 4 times the week before the exam. Doing so helps the brain absorb the information and gives the brain time to make the brain connections to cement the learning in long-term memory.
Cramming works but only in the short-time. Children forget what they learned easily and will be challenging for something very structured and hierarchical such as in Math where topics and concepts build on previous learning. For example, you need addition to learn multiplication and you need subtraction for division.
 

#3 Get enough sleep.

During sleep, the brain puts together all the knowledge and information learned essential to retention.  It is also the time when the brain “cleans up the toxins”. So make sure your child doesn’t lose sleep when studying.

#4 Visuals is the key

As per Medina, “Vision trumps all other senses” and creating and explaining very abstract concepts in math with drawings and visuals help children understand and remember. Use of bar-models and other visual strategies will help
 

#5 Take a Break

Frequent breaks are important in refreshing the mind and lessening stress. Oakley suggest 20 minutes of work interspersed with 5 minutes of break time to give the brain a chance to relax.

Do you have any questions with regards to how to make your child do better in Math exams?

Call our centres now and see how we can help your child be the best in Math that they can be.

Source:

1. Consistency

2. Effort

3. Learning Attitude

What if your child has access to over 65,000 word problems questions and video solutions anytime? 

What if your child can develop over 700 math skills from grades 1 to 6 aligned with the latest Singapore Ministry of Education Maths syllabus?

 What if your child can do Maths practice online with repetition, progression and variation to achieve proficiency and flexibility in their problem solving skills?

Problem Sums by Koobits, the top online mathematics portal for grade school students in Singapore, is now in the Philippines.  Students can login and access maths videos, word problems, homework and participate in Math challenges from anywhere with an internet connection.

Want to learn more about Koobits and how it can help your kids boost their math skills?

Mr. Stanley Han, CEO of Koobits, Pte Ltd Singapore, will be in Manila on July 15 to talk about how the right kind of e-learning games improve motivation and mathematical skills.  He will also officially launch Koobits in the Philippines.

Want to learn more about Koobits?  Email us at koobitsph@gmail.com

If your child is using Singapore Math in their school, chances are you are familiar with bar models. Bar-modeling is a tool to help students visualize the problem and then write the corresponding equation to solve the problem. When learned properly, it is a very useful tool which enables students as early as the 5th grade to solve word problems typically given in High school and College Entrance Tests. For example:

The ratio of the price of a bag to the price of a book was 9:4. During a sale, the prices of the bag and book were reduced by $7 and $2 respectively. The ratio of the price of the bag to the price of the book became 2:1. How much was the price of the bag at first?

Here are some tips on how NOT to teach the bar models:

1.  Do not make your kids memorize certain keywords and associate them with specific operations. Ex.  “If you see the word altogether, then you have to add” or “How many are left” is subtraction.  Relying on keywords might work for simple 1 step word problems but not with more complex, multi-step word problems such as the above.
2. Do not make your kids write the equations before drawing the bar model. Some parents think of the answer or operation, and then draw a model based on the answer.  When bar models are drawn prior to the equations, it helps the student break down and visualize the problem.
3. Do not use algebra.  Mathematically inclined and well-meaning parents will be able to solve 4th to 6th grade word problems using algebra but they will have a hard time explaining the approach to their kids. Extensive practice with the bar-model approach is the fastest way for your kids to solve those kinds of word problems.

To effectively learn how to use bar-models, students should be exposed to a variety of models starting from the simple (part-whole, comparison) to the more complex (repeated identity & unitary approach) in a systematic program with appropriate supporting materials and a properly designed progression.

Mathemagis introduces the Merit program for students using Singapore Math in school for grades 1 to 8.

This program ensures your child’s success this school year with –

• Homework help. A well-trained Singapore Math teacher supervises the student with their homework.
• Concept Bridging & Skill building. Expert teachers and a database of more than 10,000 worksheets plus manipulatives help students learn current and previous concepts and topics from school, paving the way for mastery of future topics.
• Quizzes and Exam review. Structured learning prepares students for weekly quizzes and quarterly exams.
• Focus on developing problem-solving skills using the bar-model approach.  With an extensive collection of problems, your child will surely develop their confidence and skill in word problem solving.
• Expert teachers who are knowledgeable on the Singapore Math curriculm and approach.

What are you waiting for?  End homework battles now – call our center nearest you for a free assessment and start the school year right!

In Mathemagis, students spend 80% of their time working on word problems and getting feedback from teachers, instead of just listening to lectures or working on their own.

See how your kids can excel in Math. Call us for a free assessment.

Mathemagis conducts parent seminars on Singapore Maths to help parents understand and appreciate this effective approach in learning and teaching Maths.

Like us at Facebook/mathemagis to get updates on upcoming seminars.

Want to hold a parent seminar in your school? Give us a call