MatheMagis Singapore Maths

#7MATHhew Days: Are you Smarter than a grade schooler?

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.

Unique and Effective Program

Why start early?

“Research on children’s learning in the first six years of life demonstrates the importance of early experiences in mathematics. An engaging and encouraging climate for children’s early encounters with mathematics develops their confidence in their ability to understand and use mathematics. These positive experiences help children to develop dispositions such as curiosity, imagination, flexibility, inventiveness, and persistence, which contribute to their future success in and out of school (Clements & Conference Working Group, 2004)”  http://www.nctm.org/earlychildhoodmath/

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!

Enhance your child’s problem-solving  skills this summer with our level-specific programs:

1. Early primary grades (grades 1 to 3).  Kids will learn mental computation strategies using number bonds and enhance their 1-step and 2- step problem-solving skills using the bar-model approach.
2. Incoming middle school students (grades 4 – 6). Middle schoolers will tackle intermediate word problems such as before-and-after models, repeated identity and fractions using the bar-model approach
3. Incoming High School students (grades 7 and up). Students bound for high school will get a visual introduction to algebra to help them make sense of the problem and  find the “x”.

Call the center nearest you to schedule a free assessment and get other program details.