Lesson Six (6th April 2013)

The importance of doing the lesson plan are:

1. What do I want the students to learn?

2. How do I know?

3. What if they can’t?

4. What if they already can?

Stages of Learning Subtraction (Simple to Abstract)
Struggling Students	Average Students	Advanced Level Students
Play with Concrete Materials. E.g: Cubes or Counters	Play with Number Cards.  E.g:      65-34 = ?             56-34 = ?             ……. = ?             ……. = ? Rearranging the number cards to get the equations solved.	Play with Number Cards to get the lowest answers.    E.g: 45-36 = ?

Throughout the six lessons, I have learned good mathematical concept and hope to teach the children the correct way under my care. Thank you Dr Yeap.

Lesson Five (5th April 2013)

When looking at the video clip, I got a better understanding of doing subtraction. The teacher made the children to think in his class rather than doing different activities with the children. He showed different method to do a particular equation.

The place value chart was something interesting to see as it showed the hundreds, tens and ones value. With the place value chart the children will understand the concepts visually. The Geo Board was another interesting activity. The child is asked to copy the shape which the teacher has done in the Geo Board. This activity help children to visualize, copy the shape and also the concept spatial awareness.

Lesson Four (4th April 2013)

Today the lecturer introduced “Area”. We were asked to cut different shapes and explore with mosaic puzzles. It was something different and he used the mosaic puzzles to find the area of the shapes. The shapes looked interesting and fun to do measurements.

Dr Yeap talked about Piaget Theory and it is a good time to recap the concept on assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation means to try to incorporate new ideas to fit into what the child already knows. Accommodation means creating new structure when a child is challenged with something that is existing to his knowledge. Teachers are to create higher thinking activities for the children to explore.   

Lesson Three (3rd April 2013)

I like the concept of fractions and how it was taught to us. Using small paper to fold into half to know what is ½. The lesson went more interesting when the lecturer ask us to fold different shapes to make sure they are of the same size/part.  That made me to think a while before overlapping the shapes in order to get the same folded size/part.

The lectures conducted in class were concrete and visual. This made my learning more fruitful and meaningful. There is no right or wrong answers in his lessons and he prompts the students to think for the answers.

Lesson Two (2nd April 2013)

I liked the concept of having similar coffee bottles and putting some paperclips in it and asking the students to guess it. He gave us a sample of 3 paperclips in the bottle and he shook it. We had to estimate the number of clips in the bottle using the sound it made when shaking it. It woke up my listening skills to be sharper. I shook the bottles several times to get the answer.

The right way for using language when explain less. I learnt that proper English has to use to say less or more. For example: “6 is less than 8” and not “6 is lesser than 8.”  If you compare the both typed above it makes sense.

Lesson One (1st April 2013)

The first activity was to do with our names and this is a different concept which I myself have not done before. I enjoyed the counting the letters in my names and excited to know the 99^th letter in my name. I saw a pattern involved in my counting and needed to know the concept of rote counting. It showed me that I can solve a problem in many ways.

I also learn the 4 ways to teach mathematics to children:

1. Modeling

2. Scaffolding

3. Providing

4. Explaining

I also like the concept of the poker cards. The poker cards are pre arranged. Appoint spelling out the numbers, each card are moved to the bottom of the deck. Then the card is flashed to the audience. It would represent the numerical spelled out. It was fun and needed a lot higher thinking skills to get the order of the poker cards.

Chapter 1 & 2 Reflections.

Chapter 1

As a lover of mathematics, I loved reading this book. The book talked about the knowledge the teacher requires in Mathematics and how the children learn Mathematics. Without a good facilitator, the children can never learn maths in a systematic manner.

Problem solving is an important component in Mathematics. When the child problem solve, he starts to learn and observe the problem. This enables him to be more alert and efficient in future. There are 6 principles and standards for School Mathematics. There are Equity, Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Technology principles. I feel that teaching and learning are the most important principle. Different people have different method of teaching mathematical concepts and how the students perceive it; the children need alot of hands on activities to learn the correct concept. Mathematics could be experimented by using different methods to get the answers.

The book also talks about the five content standards. There are Number and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement and Data Analysis and Probability. These are the concepts the children will be learning from preschool to grade 12. It also talks about five process standards. There are Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Communication, Connections and Representation. Children acquire these skills in order to master Mathematics.

After reading these chapters, the role of the teacher is very important. Teachers need to be patient and look at the process rather than looking at the out product.


Chapter 2

The chapter talks about understanding the Mathematical concepts before in putting it into practice. Children are to connect the previous material, respond with information and to predicate the outcome of the answer.

There are constructivism and sociocultural theories. These are learning theories helping children to understand the concepts. I have taught children using their prior knowledge and it really helped children to understand the concepts and it was easier for me as a teacher to track the level the child was to help them in the weak areas.

I agree that teachers are the important facilitators in the childrens’ learning as they need to provide interactions, reflective thoughts, encourage multiple approaches, childrens’ errors as learning opportunities. This is not easy as the teacher needs alot of patience and it is the teacher’s duty that the child is learning something fruitful. The teacher would be delighted when the children understood a new concept that was taught to them.

I feel that learning should be done from simple to abstract so that children understand in a systematic manner. Maths need to be taught in a fun filled way as it is going to be a lifelong learning. Ensure that children love Maths and the teachers are to give positive remarks when the child is able to do the activity.