SENG KANG PRIMARY

P6

Mathematics Sharing For Parents 19 Jan 2013

Why Are You Here?

• To find out how to help my child tackle PSLE Math Word Problems

• To learn some problem solving strategies that will help me understand how to solve certain primary Math problems

• To learn model-drawing

Outline of the Workshop

• Math Head’s Address (30 min) 0900 – 0930

• Hands-On Stations (1h) 0930 – 1030

• Conclusion (15 min) 1030 – 1045

Primary Purpose of the Workshop

• Awareness of the challenges in PSLE

Maths

• How to approach problem-solving with

your child

• This is not a Teacher-Training Workshop

Paper Booklet / Item

type

Number of

questions Marks per question Weighting Duration

1

Without

calculator

Booklet A

Multiple-choice

10 1 10%

50 min 5 2 10%

Booklet B

Short-answer

10 1 10%

5 2 10%

2

With calculator

Short-Answer 5 2 10%

1h 40 min Structured/Long-

answer 13 3, 4, 5 50%

Total 48 - 100% 2h 30 min

P6 Merged Mathematics

P6 Foundation Mathematics

Paper Booklet / Item

type

Number of

questions

Marks per

question Weighting Duration

1

Without

calculator

Booklet A

Multiple-choice

10 1 10%

1 h 10 2 20%

Booklet B

Short-answer 10 2 20%

2

With

calculator

Short-Answer 10 2 20%

1h 15min Structured/Long-

answer 8 3, 4, 5 30%

Total 48 - 100% 2h 15min

Directions in the Singapore

Mathematics Curriculum

• Items in bold assess basic skills which

include one-step of two-step application

tasks. [P6 FMA – 30%, P6 Merged – 50%]

• Curriculum continues to de-emphasize

procedural skills to emphasize

thinking/problem solving skills.

Mathematics Framework

Mathematics Framework

Math?

How to Help Children Think

• Modelling

– Focus is on showing/demonstrating to

students how a problem sum is solved.

• Coaching

– Focus of coaching is on leading children to

think of strategies to solve a problem sum.

How to Help Children Think

• TYPE OF QUESTION

• Modelling (1 - 2 marks)

Mechanical sums

• Coaching

Problem sums ( 2 - 3 marks)

Strategies to HELP pupils

• Mastery of Basic Operation Facts

• Use Diagrammatic Representation

• Visualisation

• Look for a Pattern

• Metacognition

• Reasoning & Communications

When faced with a challenging problem, and

both you and your child are stuck…

• Does this question look like others we may have

done before?

• What is the most likely strategy we can try first?

• Is there a pattern in the numbers being used?

• If this strategy doesn’t work, let’s try another one.

• We can do it!

• Ask…someone, anyone!

What if only my child is stuck,

and I know how to do it?

Hands On Activities

• Problem Sums

• Model Drawing

• Ratio

Welcome

Back

Any more questions…

… for me to do?

Parents’ Talk Time

Where do we go from here?

Operation PEAS

• Practice

• Exposure (a personal story)

• Analysis

• Sharing