In Mathematics, the topic that uses much of creativity is that of Mensuration. When encountered in lower primary, pupils are just introduced to shapes and simple properties of shapes. Then comes primary 4 where they are introduced to composite figures and pupils are required to find the area and perimeter of such figures. Progressing on to primary 5 and 6, pupils are faced with that of triangles and circles. With such a 'variety' of shapes and composite figures, the challenge that most pupils face is that of 'Oh, I know how to do this question, but it's going to be many steps'. Next, they set themselves to work out the problem. One method would be to step back and analyse the figure before attempting to solve it right away. No doubt, a question on a straightforward composite figure may seem pretty obvious to most pupils, yet I would suggest they hold back computing the answer right away. Instead, spend about 30 seconds writing down the 'big picture' of how exactly to go about solving the problem.
Let's take the question below for example: (Source: Ai Tong School SA1, 2010)
Instead of delving into solving and computing the answer for the question, a big picture written at the top of your working space would be:
Area of shaded figure = Area of circle of radius 7cm + (Area of rectangle 7cm by 7cm - Area of Circle of radius 7cm)
= Area of rectangle 14cm by 14cm
= 198 square cm
This enables the pupil to see the question more clearly before solving it and preventing the pupil from making any unnecessary careless mistakes along the way. In the case of the above, it can also help the pupil see that, actually finding the area of circle of radius 7cm is redundant. :)
Try it! You would be surprised that it takes you less time as compared to having to remember all the steps in this big picture in your mind and slowly work it out.
~ Learning, like teaching, is a work of heart ~
While preparing for tuition the night before, I came across a song that played on radio and was entitled 'The Greatest Love of All' by Whitney Houston.
The Greatest Love of All (Whitney Houston)
The lyrics of the song goes like this:
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me
[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love
The lyrics of this song speak of a potential everyone has to do well in something. I thought that the stanza was especially meaningful to all teachers out there, whether school teachers, educators, tutors or even parents. You are all teachers in one way or other. It is a timely reminder not to let the busyness of teaching them go ahead of our calling to teach the children / pupils well and allow them to soar to heights.
Regardless of the type of child / pupil, be it hardworking, quiet, inquisitive, rebellious or even apathetic, all of them have one need in common, which is to feel loved and be given confidence by their teachers. I can attest to that, after taking on a few batches of pupils.
This song reminds me of the a particular batch of pupils I took back in school, and it was a tough year for both myself and my pupils as I was rather new to the profession and they had a rough patch with their former class teacher. They had been put down by almost everyone in school because they were known as 'notorious'. When I took over the class, fights and quarrels amongst the classmates were an everyday affair. It took close to 4 months of getting to know them, encouraging them, counselling them and having lunches and tea breaks with them before they started to break the ice to share of their hurts and how difficult they found accepting themselves. I realised through knowing of the class that they did not wish to be like that and what they were searching for was for someone to believe in them that they can be better, that they are not what others thought of them as being unruly. I was glad that I did not judge them and instead gave them a sense of pride through believing in them. Their behaviour changed for the better towards the end of the year. Though I wished I had taught them for another year, I was just as glad that their new teacher the following year was also a teacher who believed in each and every one of them, showing them who they are and to accept themselves.
It's never too late to be that someone where your child can look up to, such that as much as they depend on themselves to achieve, they know that they are striving to do the ones they look up to proud. :)
~ Learning, like teaching, is a work of heart ~
For the past 4 weeks, my pupils have been preparing steadily for their oral exams, most of which should be starting either this week or next. I realised that unless there is adequate and right practice, it is almost impossible for them to have the confidence to handle this component. Of all the components of the English paper, the Oral examination, apart from Listening Comprehension, is the easiest to score. So long as pupils are able to maintain fluency in reading, discuss a picture not just in description but in depth, giving personal opinions and insights, and able to hold a conversation for 2-3 minutes, they would be well on their way to at least a 20/30 score for Oral.
How then to practice for Oral Reading? Get yourself prepared with a voice recorder to record your voice into it while reading. Then, using a critical point of view as listener, pick out areas that was well read and areas of improvement. Go through the passage again silently. Re-record the reading and compare the differences with the first reading. Your second reading should be better than the first.
Recording and critiquing one's reading can be time consuming yet it reaps much benefits. Not only do you get to listen to your very own honest feedback on reading, you know best on the mistakes you have made. Having a tutor beside to listen and give feedback is important too and she will guide you on the nuances of pronunciation as well as loopholes in reading pertaining to pitch, expression and even some non-verbal actions that are deemed unnecessary (for example, using fingers to point at every word being read or holding the passage too close to the face till pronunciation gets muffled).
How about Picture Discussion? Note that this section is no longer called 'picture description' but 'discussion', meaning that you need to focus not only on breadth but depth of reading into the picture. Strategies such as DIE and DCP have been used in some schools to frame a structure for pupils to follow such that their discussion becomes more balanced and insightful.
Finally, the third component of oral consists of the Conversation section, and there is no trick to this except to be honest in your sharing. In the case where the question posed does not apply to you, do let the examiner know and attempt to share a similar experience that you have gone through. This would show flexibility in handling the question as well as an effort to engage with the examiner. Never give one-word answers and wait for the examiner to further prompt you as this reflects a lack of initiative on your part.
Above all, be at peace with yourself before and during the examination. Be assured that you have had adequate practice and give your best 5 minute shot. Confidence can work wonders!
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
Eleanor Roosevelt
For more information on how to excel in oral, especially that of using DIE and DCP in picture discussion, feel free to drop me an email. Lessons on oral are available as well and you will be able to see significant results in putting these strategies into practice right from the first lesson!! :)
~ Learning, like teaching, is a work of heart ~
