Length (P2)

Hey P2 pupils,

Revise your length with these website.

Length 1 (click on easy centimeters & then medium centimeters)

Length 2

Numbers (P1 & P2)

Hey pupils,

Here are some number games.

Number Bonds to 10

Number Bonds 10 with a twist

Make 15

Fishy Count

P2 pupils to try the 1st three games and see how fast you cancomplete the game. It will help you in your addition and subtraction.
P1 pupils do try all the games.

Had a good break?

Hi all,

Did you have a good break? I know that I did.
School will be reopening in about a week's time and it almost time for the pupils to revise their Semester 1's work. It would be good to look through the files and books that were returned as Semester 2's work will be an upwards spiral of Semester 1's topics. (which means concepts are more or less the same for some topics but numbers get bigger. In Term 3, it will be number to 40).
Do look through some of the earlier post for the games/activties. It will be a fun way to revise your work.

Graphs in action

We started on the graph topic for both the P1 and P2 pupils after the SA 1 paper on Maths was completed.

We did quite a few activties on the topic on graph and our lesson on m & m was captured and converted to a video.

Watch the lesson

Numbers to 20 Tips

In addition to our tips given earlier, parents you may want to read this article.

Numbers to 20 resources

Here are some resources on Numbers to 20.

Do visit this website here and view the videos. There are many different videos that you can watch on counting. We watched some of it in class.

Roy the zebra - A website to reinforce the concept on number words.

Whack a mole - Adjust the slider so that your child counts in order.

Caterpillar Slider - Adjust the value for min and max so that your child can arrange the numbers in order from 0-20

Nile Number - A fun way to practise Number words.

Nutty - A fun way to count on

Do visit the games/websites on Numbers to 10. Most of them will have a link for bigger Numbers. The shortcut will be to go to the labels on the right on the website and click on either Numbers to 10 or websites

More to be uploaded soon

P2 Multiplication

Our P2 pupils learnt their times-table through a dfferent way.... the stairs of Multiplication & Division

It was a visual way for pupils to learn their Times table as they were able to see the numbers increase and the relation between multiplication & division.

Numbers to 20 in action

Watch us in action for Numbers to 20.

Ordinal Numbers Shots

Look what we did for Ordinal Numbers.

LSM Room over the Years

In my school, LSM began in 2007. The room has undergone through many transformations over the years.
One of the key features of the room, is that it is an interactive and engaging room. The things on the wall and floor are not a show piece. It is used as a teaching tool which can be seen in the various videos uploaded.
Pupils also use the materials on the floor to reinforce the concepts taught.
Well, why don't you see the video of the transformation yourselves.

Updates

Wow! It is already Friday. It was a busy, busy week all this week. The photos will do the talking :)

The good news is that I redid our LSM room floor to be realigned with our current topics. It was a mini renovation over the week. End result is that our floor is colourful(more than before) and fun. Do ask your child what activties we did on the new floor.
(photos to be updated)

For Primary 1, we started on Numbers to 20 on Thursday.
Ordinal Number photos and this week's photos to be updated.

For Primary 2 we are already on multiplication. Your child would have brought home gloves for 4 times table. Please ensure that they know their 2, 3, & 4 times table.
Photo to be updated.

I will do the uploading and add tips on current topic etc on Sunday{if time permits then Sat night after I recharge myself}
Well, enjoy your weekend and look out for new post on Sun.

More on ordinal numbers

Another site on Ordinal numbers

Get in line

Ordinal Numbers

We have started on Ordinal numbers.
The pupils must be able to tell the difference between cardinal number(1, 2, 3 etc) and ordinal number(1st, 2nd, 3rd etc)

Here are some links to websites that deal with ordinal numbers:

Ordinal number & number word(watch till 0.23second)
The cats in Line
Squigly's Apples

Watch out for the videos of the lessons. Will be uploaded soon

More Fun on Shapes

Here are more websites on Shapes

1) Video from Fisher-Price
2) Matching Shapes As your child matches the picture to the shapes, ask your child to name the shape(s)
3) Website with activities for shapes (Printables and online activties)
4) Tangrams Allows your child to think out of the box using shapes

How can I help my child with maths at home?

Some articles on how to teach Maths.

1) An article for parents on why helping child at home is important and some ideas and tips

2) How to teach Math at Home

3) Teaching Maths Fact vs Myth

Holiday Fun

Here are More games for the holidays. Have fun revisiting the concepts that we have learnt in Term 1

Number Monster(Addition) Click on addition facts 1-10
Number Monster(Addition with a timer to check how many questions you can answer in a given time)

Number Monster (Subtraction) Click on subtraction 1-10
Number Monster (Subtraction with a timer to check how many questions you can answer in a given time)
Fishing game(Subtraction 1-10)

Mixture of addition & subtraction(Choose which 'number' you would like to practise)

Missing Number Game (You are able to choose choose the number of problems you want to solve and what sequence you want the numbers to appear so that it is a new game each time)

Shape Game (tangram with a twist)

Diego's Railroad Rescuse (simple game that reinforces on naming, matching & counting)

More games to be uploaded soon.

Shapes and Patterns

Patterns repeat over and over
One after another
Never reaching an end
The same again and again

Here are some videos on Patterns
Guess what comes next-Sesame Street
Sesame Street-The Detective Finds a Pattern
Frog & Dog Pattern

Here are some games on Patterns
Crazy Pattern Machine
Pattern Mania

Snapshot of addition & subtraction in class....

Here is a movie of addition & subtraction....

( Its a 'movie' slideshow of how we learnt addition & subtraction)

Enjoy!

Shapes in Class

Here are some of the photos taken during the Shapes lessons. I made into a slideshow.

Using Music to teach Maths

Many students learn through music. Witness the number of adults who easily sing the ABC song with their own children. Math-specific songs help students learn math concepts and skills. We can use a song to introduce or reinforce a concepts as pupils are bound to benefit from the multi-sensory experience.

Read this article on BBC News about Learning maths through music
Why music Matters Article on music and the impact on learning
Another article on Learning & Music
A thesis on the link between Music & Maths
----> That explains why I always turn to music video to introduce/reinforce a concept. Esp multiplication as the rhymes & jingles help pupils learn the concept.


P.S : Click on the underlined pharses to link to the articles.

A change

Dear Parents, did you notice a change in the format of the previous post?
No, you did not? Look again. Compare the 2 post on shapes...
Yes! I have hyperlinked the website to the original website instead of pasting the whole URL here. I find it is neater and makes the post easier to read.
Do you like it? Which do you prefer? Do drop me a note through my email or just click on comment and let me know what you think.

More on Shapes

More videos on shapes
Kermit talks about rectangle

Sesame Street video on circles

Shapes around my room Interesting video to teach pupils to see shapes around the room.
Tip for parents: After watching the video, ask your child to name the different shapes around the room.
Give your child shape labels(square, rectangle, triangle, circle) and ask your child to match the label to the shape. Do watch out for the photos as this activity was conducted in class)

Photos(Uploaded)

Parents, you may wonder why I have not been uploading the pictures. The reason is that I am trying to make all photos for the topic into a video. The current format of uploading each picture takes time and I can only upload some pictures so that I do not burst this blog's photo limit.(I have used up 30% already! Can you believe it)
Give me this weekend to upload the photos to my laptop, photoshop the phots(your child is cute but my photo taking skills needs some work), add some music, captions etc to enhance the video.
So what do you think of the new way of presentation?

More games for addition & subtraction

I came across these websites. Do use them as a practice for addition & subtraction.

http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/carnival/games/game_math_popper.html

http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/mission/mission.html (Under content, choose 1-10)

A whole lot of addition & subtraction games available in this site. Both multi-player & single player games http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/

Shapes

We are shaping our knowledge in Maths through SHAPES now.

Videos on shapes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-Z3f2pdCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF1mickCxwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3cD9PN6K7U

Games on shapes

http://bright-productions.com/kinderweb/tri.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/teletubbies/funandgames/shapes/index.shtml

http://www.sesamestreet.org/game_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=gamePlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=9b9d7c77-486c-11dd-bf7b-df62be721a24

Subtraction..... taking away.....

More videos on subtrcation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18nthFexzBc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX7tbkTW6Ys

Games on Subtraction

http://www.ictgames.com/soccer_subtraction.html In this direct free kick you must read the number sentence on the Brazil team shirts, then take away the correct number of players in the wall. Then click on the England player to score. Unusually, if you miss, Brazil gain a goal!

http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/c1a/playground.htm (Click on continue to start. Then click on easy to begin. Click on the number which is the answer to the question)

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/subtractiontest.html (Click on level 1. The other levels are beyond 10)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch2.shtml (Interesting game that uses dots on a ladybird to find the answer. It also test the missing number in a question)

http://www.primarygames.com/takeaway/question%201.htm (Good mental sum on subtraction)

http://www.scweb4free.com/subtraction010.htm (A RACE to complete as many questions as possible correctly)

http://www.scweb4free.com/elemsub.html (good to test on the concept that bigger numbers take away smaller numbers)

Subtraction Websites

Here are some websites about subtraction:

http://www.sesamestreet.org/video_player?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=videoPlayer_WAR_sesameportlets4369&p_p_uid=218710e0-6d3e-4db2-a0d2-e8529d39a277 (song about subtraction)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y223gPkk_lI&feature=PlayList&p=DFE16D3AA9E50A4C&playnext=1&index=36 (10-8 = 2 It gives an idea that subtraction is about taking away)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzw3VxHqwbk&feature=PlayList&p=B477403E232DF6F3&playnext=1&index=24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfsSX1u8MUU (Idea of subtractionas taking away)

If case you are wondering how to teach subtraction, let this video give you some idea. In class, we use our fingers since it is within 10. Pupils also draw lines instead of circles if they are unable to use their fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s5FaFzPK4c

More on Addition

Games to reinforce concepts. For now we are learning numbers with answers within 10

http://www.innovamultimedia.com/demos/en/ma01/ma01d001/ma01d001_index.html

http://www.abcya.com/addition.htm (comes with online counters that you can use to check answer)

http://www.ictgames.com/funkymum.html (be warned that it is up to 10 +10. So you may expect bigger numbers)

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/additiontest.html (Click on level 1 if bigger numbers appear)

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/ghostblasters2/gb2nores.html (change to sum of 10)

Higer Order Addition : http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Powerlines/powerlines1.html

Models (Updated with more websites)

Here are some websites for our P2 pupils. This post serves as an insight into models.

http://www.teach-kids-math-by-model-method.com/ (Click on the links that you want to read. I like this site because it has comprehensive information about models.)

http://www.thesingaporemaths.com/Whymodf.swf

Although the website below deals with P3 questions, it gives us an idea of what is a model and how to draw models. http://www.thesingaporemaths.com/p3math1f.swf

http://www.europa.com/~paulg/mathmodels/math_models.shtml (Go basic operations, click on addition & subtraction to see model animation)

http://sc-math.com/math/model.php#t1 (There are 3 pages to view)

Addition Videos (P1)

Do watch these videos on addition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62tnBUDN9X0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8pB9zB2wUM (more than)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKD148lpBAE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKGSJhexuGQ (sound quality a bit bad)

How to teach pupils addition stories :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nN1DqwS0q4&feature=related

Do look out for more videos and games on Wednesday

World Math Day

Dear Parents, I am sure that you have received the World Maths Day letter and username and password. I hope you are enjoying it. Any questions do drop me a mail.
Here is the link to the website: www.worldmathday.com

More Number Bond games

More online activties for you.

http://www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html (you can choose from 1-10 number bond. Move the arrow you see near 10 to change the number.)

http://www.ictgames.com/brilliant_beadstring_with_colour.html (use the one row of beads to make 10. You can use up to 3 different colours depending on how many parts you want. Use the eye to cover part of it. You can ask your child 3 and ___ make 10. Then your child can check by adding in the beads.)

http://www.ictgames.com/beaver.html (Make number bonds to 10. Use the hammer to hit 2 numbers that make 10)

http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-number-twins/index.html (Making number bonds from 4-10. Really interesting. Click on the 2 numbers that make each number bond)

Multiplication & Division

Here are some links to practise on Multiplication & Division

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/numeracy/multiplication/index.shtml
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/MonsterMath.htm
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/JungleJim.htm
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/Monkeys.htm

Shots of P2

We started on Multiplication & Division. Here are our photos showing us working.

Shots of P1

Here the shots of our P1 lessons.

Reinforcing our ‘more than’ & ‘less than’ concept

Us working on our number bonds. The various stages.


we were using 2 different colour cubes to make our number bonds.

How to teach Number Bonds

From the previous post (Number Bonds), you would have realised that Number Bonds help pupils relate addition & subtraction. It helps pupils relate to part(a) + part(b) = whole or whole-part(a) = part(b) or vice versa.

If you have attended our P1 Parents Maths @ Home workshop on Friday, we would have shared with you strategies and manipulatives that you can make @ home. However if you did not attend the workshop, let me share with you some of the strategies. I will try my best to write it as short and and as easy as possible. However, if you are unable to understand it, do give me a call and I can demo to you.

1 manipulative that you can use @ home is Hangers & Clothes Peg. Refer to the picture below.

You need

clothes peg (2 different colours if possible)

hangers

flashcards with numbers

Think of a 2 numbers that would give a sum within 10. For instance 2 and 5 makes_______.

Ask your child to clip the pegs on the 2 ends. Each part represents 1 number.

Move the 2 parts up to the clown face(pupils have been told that whole is head and the 2 parts are like hands) and now they have 7 pegs.

Put the whole number in the clown face(7).

To teach whole-part= part

Put the the pegs in the whole part(7) and then tell the child that 1 part is 4 and ask what is the other part. You can use flashcards to show the known part(4).

Pupils move 4 pegs to the known part. There are 3 pegs left in the whole and they can see that the unknown part is 3.

Practise this a few times.

Next introduce to them the sentence/diagram where the whole and 1 part is given and they have to find the missing part.

Instead of hangers, you can use 2 different coloured cups/bowls to show the whole is made of part & part. 1 colour(eg: red) for the whole and for the parts(eg: blue).

Tips:

Show a number bond and ask pupils to identify the whole and parts. Use different shapes and rotate the number bonds around. Look at the examples below.

Teach the pupils that part and part makes whole first.

When and only when they are comfortable with it that you lead them to whole-part=part. Let them practise it.

Parents, if any problems helping your child with Numbver Bonds, do drop me a note and we shall

work together.

Thank You.

Powerpoint Slides

Actually, I am trying to upload the powerpoint slides from my lessons but I have problems trying to upload it.
Any one has any ideas how to upload?
Thanks in advance.

Number Bond Machines that you can use to Practise the concepts

Here are links to 2 sites that you can use to practise Number Bonds

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/numberbond.html (P2 parents the numbers to 100 game to practise addition)

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/powerpoint/numberbonds_to10.swf (introduces the concept that number bonds is related to addition & subtraction)

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/powerpoint/pairs_that_make_10.swf (mental sum on numbers that make 10)



Parents who need help with how to guide the little ones with number bonds, please give me the weekend to add in the post on the How to. Thanks)

Number Bonds

Dear P1 parents, we have started on number bonds. Here are 2 articles that I though was interesting and related to Number Bonds. It gives insight to what is number bond.

http://home-ed.info/maths/number_bonds.html
http://www.ehomework.co.uk/NumbersNumberBonds.html

You can also head to Cybersource to print this workseet to practise http://cybersource.com.sg/filedb/uploads/P1-2_1_Number%20Bonds.pdf

Over the weekend, I will share strategies that can be used to taech number bonds

Apologies

Dear parents, sorry that I have not be updating the blog. Have been a little busy. Will upload the photos and related websites to topics by this weekend on number bonds for P1 and multiplication & division for P2s.
Thank you for your support.

P1 pupils in action

Shots of our lessons in Week 4 & 5.

Greater or Smaller Number

Bigger or smaller number.... So many ways to test our concept knowledge

Part of lesson on arranging numbers

More than---- less than

Us practising our 'Before after' concept on the Math Challenge Mat.(We have finished our task)


Actually we did this and more but I forgot to take photos and on some days the camera battery went flat before the lesson. Anyway, I hope this photos provide a prelude of our lessons this week.

P2 lessons in photos

Here are the P2 pupils in action

Hands on practice (Concrete)

Interactive parctice

We have finished our work so we practice on the PC

Arranging Numbers

Often this is a difficult concept as there are are 3-4 numbers at anyone time and pupils get confused. One way to make sure that pupils are sure of the smallest/biggest number.

For instance, for the question on arranging the numbers from the smallest to biggest,
1)Ask the pupils to read the question.
2) Ask them to ask themselves which is the smallest number. Each time they write a number down, cancel the number.
3) Then ask them to ask, which is the smallest number now and repeate the process in step 2.

Arranging numbers from the Smallest to Greatest
1) Use a rhyme like 10 Little Indian Boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IO24dCmxk0
2)Ask pupils to arrange the numbers from the smallest as they sing the song.

Arranging the numbers from the Greatest to smallest
1) A video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1sCuNEZkCE enables pupils to see the numbers becoming smaller.
2) Pupils were also taught to sing using their fingers and to fold them as the number decreases.
3) Pupils count the numbers backward as they arrange the number.

Ask your child for a demo. I am sure they remember their lesson learnt on Friday

Meanwhile do practice. These websites are a great source.

http://www.ictgames.com/caterpillar_slider.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/numorder.swf
Have fun!

Greater or Smaller Number

Key Words:
Greater than
Smaller than
greatest
smallest

1) Take 2 beansticks and ask pupil which stick has the greater/smaller number
2) Take more than 2 sticks and pupil to say which stick has the biggest/smallest number

Pupils can practise their concepts on this website:
http://numbernut.com/basic/activities/number_moreless_1-10dots.shtml (it would be good if pupils say the sentence orally)

Compare the Numbers(2)

More activties to practise 'more' & 'fewer'

1) Take 2 beansticks and ask the child which stick has more beans or which stick has fewer beans.
Do visit these sites so that your child can practise the concepts.
http://www.mrsbogucki.com/aemes/resource/apps/compare/compare.htm (You can customise the settings to suit the needs of your child)

http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/kindergarten-fewer-more-comparing-groups

Subtraction without regrouping (P2)

Do visit http://numbernut.com/basic/sub_intro.shtml to practise basic subtraction(revision of last year's work)
Practise 3 digit Subtraction which was taught today(without regrouping)- http://numbernut.com/basic/activities/sub_quiz_3noborrow-v.shtml

todays's photos to be uploaded by Sunday

P1 & P2 Maths Workshop for Parents

P1 parents, do remember to sign up for our Maths @ Home Workshop.
P2 parents, do remember to sign up for the Model Workshop.

I know about Numbers to 10

Parents you want to visit this site to reinforce some concepts about Numbers to 10 that we have learnt in class such as counting, being able to recognise the number words or numerals, before after concepts.

Before After(Numers to 10) -http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/number_prevnext_1-10dots.shtml

Naming Numbers from 1-10 -
http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/number_mem20_1-10words.shtml

Match the cards with dots to cards with numbers-
http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/number_mem20_1-10dots.shtml

Practice Makes perfect

Our P2 pupils visited Numer Nut, http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/add_quiz_3nocarry-v.shtml to practise their addition of 3 digit numbers(without carrying over). Click on start quiz to begin. Pupils remember to show your workings on a piece of paper.
Parents do allow your child to continue practising at home.
It's more fun and interesting than the assessment books although it's the same thing.....
(Photos to be uploaded tonight)

Math Starts at Home.....

The importance placed on learning and enjoying the process of learning math concepts begins at home. As busy adults, we tend to look to our educational institutes to foster the love and understanding of math concepts, but this is not enough. Children need to see that we are willing to participate in learning situations and show the same aptitudes and learning issues that they will show in their experiences. The trick is to make the activity fun and family-focused.
The solution: Family Math Night.Family Math night requires some organization and a healthy dose of fun with the family. This exercise gives the parent and child a risk free environment in which to experience math activities while allowing the parents to see how something fun can also be concept building and educational .Most importantly, children have an opportunity to see that their parents value mathematics while the parents gain insight into your mathematics program. There is nothing like a chance to dispel the idea that interests and aptitudes are determined by the gene pool, i.e., Mom does not like Math so this will be the same for her daughter.
Head to About.com to read the full article http://math.about.com/library/weekly/aa100403a.htm

Compare The Numbers

Key words:
More
Less
greater than
smaller than

A video that explains the comparing number concept : http://www.brainpopjr.com/math/numbersense/comparingnumbers/preview.weml
For P1 pupils, let them watch the intro until they start talking about comparing bigger numbers. For P2 pupils, allow them to watch the whole video.

Parents you may also use the Beansticks to reinforce the concepts

I will upload more activties tomorrow with pictures.

All things Chinese

"Happy Chinese New Year & Gong Xi Fa Cai to all
celebrating Chinese New Year"

In the spirit of Chinese New Year, here are some links to all things Chinese.

Numbers to 10 videos : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlfG2VV4GFM&feature=related

Numbers in Chinese

Guess What! you can practise what you have learnt by playing this memory game, http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/number_mem20_chinese_1-10.shtml

Have uploaded the Beanstick activties

My sincere apologies to my P1 parents. I forgot to publish the activities for the Beanstick activities( I am a blog newbie). Scroll down and you can see that I have already published the list of activities that can be conducted with the Beansticks.
Please remind your child to bring back the bag of Beanstick on Wednesday.Thank You.

There is something called free lunch

Let me share with you places where you can get ‘free lunches’ to enrich the little ones. Oops, I mean websites where you can download Maths resources.

I love Jan Brett’s Website. She really has good resources that you can download for free. Print them in colour and Ta-Da, it looks as if you bought them. Laminate them and it can be passed down for generations. Many of the things in my class have been downloaded from her site.

Numbers 1-30. Really beautiful numbers with amazing pictures. Print them in A4 size and you have beautiful posters.
http://www.janbrett.com/numbers/main_page.htm
Flashcard size- http://www.janbrett.com/numbers/numbers_flash_cards_main.htm

Matching the Numbers to Picture. Print it in colour and the pupils can match.
http://www.janbrett.com/games/matching_numbers_game_main_page.htm

Matching Numbers to Number words. A mini jigsaw where you match the numbers to the number words. http://www.janbrett.com/games/matching_words_numbers.htm

Number Flags. Print in colour, add toothpicks and Ta-da you can use it for ordering of numbers. http://www.janbrett.com/number_flags/number_flags_main.htm

Number Tracers. Print this set and get the pupils to trace the numbers http://www.janbrett.com/numbers/number_tracers_main_page.htm

Rhymes & Math

Childhood nursery rhymes help children in Numeracy. Some rhymes helps the little ones remember the sequence and order of number.

For instance, when you want a child to arrange the numbers from the smallest to the biggest, you can ask the child to sing the song when he or she arranges the numbers(I will try to upload a video of my lesson in action when the time comes).
Meanwhile, here are some cute clips from youtube that my pupils will be watching for the next few days.

‘10 Little Indian boys’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IO24dCmxk0&feature=related) help the pupils remember the order and sequencing of numbers from biggest to smallest and vice versa.

‘One, two buckle my shoes’(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySIO-NJjTs&feature=channel) helps with sequencing 1-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2P5bVpLO50&feature=channel 1-20

One, two, three, four-(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g8tYhmhxW4) Rhyme with Number words

1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Once I caught a fish alive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AtR_BVSOuw&feature=related) Rhyme good for ordering and sequencing
This version is like karaoke with number words http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibjz44Er_qs&feature=related
This version has nice numbers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDSOMy7WN_Q&feature=channel

Even Apple Computers is cashing in on the trend. Read the article and you see that they have provided suggestions on how to incorporate music and math. http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/print.php?itemID=10668

So what are you waiting for! Have fun singing.

Beanstick Activities

Another video on Numbers to 10 - How many pigs in the farm? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBauqARk8lY&NR=1

Here are some activities for the Packet of Beansticks that your child will be bringing home on Friday.

1) Ask the child to pick a beanstick and to count the number of beans of the stick.(Parents to cover the yellow sticker)
2) Give your child a number and ask your child to pick a corresponding beanstick.
3) Child to pick a stick and spell the numbers. Parent you may want to ask your child to write the spelling down and your child can check the spelling by turning over the stick(where there is a label with the spelling).
4) You may ask your child to match a flashcard with numbers to the correct ‘beanstick’.
5) Comparing- Ask your child to pick 2 sticks and say which stick has more or less beans or you may ask your child to pick 2 or more sticks and say which has the most and which has the least. (Variation : Before starting decide you want to play more or less. Your child picks one stick and the parent one stick. The winner is the one who has picked the correct stick as decided earlier)
6) Ask your child to pick 3 or more sticks and arrange in the ascending or descending order.

Beans on a Stick

Number to 10 video that encourages pupils to eat vegetables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egk7-m1lwsA&feature=related

In class, we made 'Beans on a Stick'. By the end of the week, all the pupils would have 10 sticks and on each stick there would beans(from 1-10). Also on each stick, there would a sticker to show the number of beans and on the back, the number word.
In the process, the pupils would have learnt to count, match the numbers on the sticker to the number of beans on the stick & match the number words to the numbers. (This is just the concrete part and over the next few days, the pupils would be doing the pictorial & abstract part)
The 'Beans on the Stick' is part of my 'Manipulatives that I can bring home' project. On Friday, the pupils will be bringing home their sticks so that they can practise over the long weekend what they have learnt.
The 'Beans on a Stick' will also be used for comparing & ordering concept which I will explain next week (when I would be teaching the concept).

Some photos of the Bean Stick in Progress




Final Product

"New Kids in the Blog"

"A warm welcome to the P1 LSM pupils

who have started lessons on Monday"

We started on Numbers to 10. We began the lesson with a video from youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcRBEqq-tGY. I am a fan of Sesame Street and I grew up on a diet of the series. I strongly believe that a colourful visual with a perky music brings the numbers across.
Another video, closed the lesson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wxHeWaXa_I&feature=related
Some of the activties that took place. I will let the pictures do the talking.

A common Misconception

One of way to find out if pupils have understood the concept is to 'test' them. Pupils have been used to completing the following types of question. Look at the question below.

To test them, I added in an extra line to the question.

Pupils who have not understood the concept of place value or have a misconception, wrote 2 on the line(300 + 2 + 4). According to the pupil, there are 2 groups of ten so he wrote 2 down. However, another pupil pointed out the mistake and explained that it is 20 because there is no ‘tens’ after the blank (P2 pupils cannot really explain properly but the point is the child has understood).
Therefore with the aid of Multi-e toolbox, I tried to explain and demo to the rest what the child had explained about the missing ‘tens’ concept. After lots of practise, they finally understood.
Mission Accomplished.
Lessons that I have Learnt
1) At times, let them try out questions before you teach them a new concept oe expand on an existing concept.
If they get it wrong, they will wonder why and will start questioning and it is an excellent opportunity to develop ‘metacognition’. It also makes them pay attention....
2) Peer-evaluation and peer marking with explanation on why it is right or wrong, is good. It forces them to think about the answer and to justify their marking.

Tips for Parents.
1) Whenever possible ask your child to explain the answer that he/she has written regardless of whether it is right or wrong. When your articulates, your child is running through the process of arriving at the answer and you can check you child’s understanding of the concept.

Numbers to 1000

In my earlier post, I had mentioned about Place value. You may be wondering about its importance. Place value helps pupils understand the concept of numbers. It also helps them when they are comparing or ordering numbers (to be explained in the next post)
In my class, I always ask the pupils to put the digits in their ‘houses’. For instance in 135, 1 is the 100s house, 3 is in the tens house and 5 is in 1s house. So when they read the number, they read as one hundred and thirty-five. This helps pupils who have difficulty recognizing, reading and writing numbers (100-1000).

Refer to the diagram below:



So from this diagram, we have 135 or one hundred and thirty-five.
100 + 30 + 5 = 135

This ‘housing’ also helps pupils when they write the numbers in word numbers and vice versa as they are able to read aloud and write it down.

Parents you may wish to test your little ones in this concept tonight. This site allows them to practise what they have learnt. Please click www.learningbox.com/Base10/BaseTen.html
Remember to click on all 3 buttons on the left so that 1, 10, & 100 is highlighted in green.

Another site http://www.numbernut.com/basic/activities/number_4bar_1-1000.shtml to test their concept on being able to recognize the number words of 100-1000.

Below are some of the pictures. We are extremely lucky and privileged that we have a SMARTBOARD in our class. (thanks toP, VP & IT Dept) The SMARTBOARD, brings the whiteboard to live. It's like having a mouse on the board plus coloured pen plus recorder. Yes, it can record every movement made on the board. Today, I will show pictures and activties that have taken place so far.

If you wish to read more about place value, there is an interesting article in http://www.garlikov.com/PlaceValue.html. (take note, its rather long)

Thank you, P2 parents

I held my breath when I asked my pupils if they remembered their place value as I was worried that the holidays were too long a break. However, to my delight, they were able to answer my questions and had remembered their place value. After, some recapping and revision it was down to business to tackle Numbers to 1000.
The strategies I used last year worked and my little ones have been doing their revision. I am really proud of them.
Parents,Thank You. We must continue to work together for the sake of our little ones.

Perception

What animal is this?

Young lady or old lady

What do you see in each of the pictures above? Ask your child what he/she sees in the picture.

There is a possibility that what both of you see is different. What you perceive is not what your child may perceive although it is the same picture.
So the next time, your child makes a mistake when completing a given task or sum, ask yourself, what did your child think/perceive. When you put yourself in her child's mind(shoe), you will be able to help your child better.
Meanwhile have fun with more cool optical illusions from http://www.coolopticalillusions.com/

How many faces are there?