Lesson 1: Interesting & Inspirational

Today is the first lesson of Elementary Mathematics. It was interesting to see how math is taught in different ways.

One of the big idea which I learn is to give children problems to solve. By giving children to problem to solve which leads to the specific mathematical concept. Through problem solving, children will be encouraged to try first. Just like what we had experienced in class. Dr. Yeap gave us problem to solve and he gave us time to work with the problem independently or with friends. As I had hands-on experienced, I was able to understand the reason behind the concept. That should be how children learn! Instead of telling them, "Class today we are going to learn about shapes or addition.." Why not place different shapes of items around and ask the children to make smart guesses on what are the similarities and differences in the items to lead to what they are going to learn and learn them to the concept. Furthermore, as the children are making the guesses, they are already observing the characteristics of the items, this will make learning easier for them.

One of the other way which I recalled doing was to place a certain number of items in a container and placed in the math corner before the children come in to class. When they come in, the children started to have conversation on why the container is there and how many items are in the container. Children started to make different guesses by deducing, counting and making random guess. Through this, children were able to make sense of what they are going to learn later.

What was inspirational was Bruner J. 's learning theory which is use by the Primary School Math Curriculum. Children learn new mathematical concept through hands-on before pictorial and through pictorial before abstract. This is what preschools are currently doing. But this leads me to wonder, whether did we prepare the children more than what they are supposed to know in Primary One as they are going towards pictorial and abstract when they are in Kindergarten Two. It will be good to share more of Primary One learning outcome so that we teachers will be better informed in teaching Mathematics to our preschoolers.

Some other big ideas branching from "How to teach mathematical in a learning environment":

1. Dienes. Z theory on variability.
2. Math is about patterns and sequence.
3. 4 types of numbers: ordinal, nominal, cardinal and measurements numbers
4. Using different tools in teaching mathematical concept: poker cards trick, egg trays, ten frames and dice to teach tens and ones.
5. How to do differentiated lesson for diverse learners in class?
6. How math and language is interrelated?

Posted on 16 July 2012