MATHEMATICS
Take a look at her Mathematics result:
Section A - 15/20 (75%)
Section B - 14/20 (70%)
Section C - 14/60 (23%)
Section A & B results show that her basic knowledge for
Mathematics is quite good.
The problem lies in the method of teaching! A simple
formula for triangle:
1/2 x base x height
is taught as
Step 1: base x height
Step 2: take the answer divide by 2
Why complicant a simple formula?
How many parents who had learnt Algebra in secondary level can
answer the question taught in primary level using bars
comparison?
I'm wondering how much is taught in the classroom? Only the
basic? And they expect a 10 - 12 year old to apply in a
complicated and 'challenging' problems!
ENGLISH
English is another dumb-found. I still remembered my time,
we learnt new words and their meanings. We construct
sentences with them. We had spelling and dictation. We
also learnt cursive writing.
From P1 - P4, she still had spelling once a week. But P5
spelling was abolished after a few months. She never have to
do new words nor sentences construction. No cursive writing
lession!
Really wondering what was taught!
SCIENCE
Look at the text book. They look very simple. Not
one guidebook covers everything, you have to buy a few.
Questions on experiments. In the first place, were these
children shown or done the experiments? Do you think enough
is done to make them understand?
Ridiculous! What is holistic teaching?
HOLISTIC : treating the whole person rather than just the
symptoms of a disease.
Hm. It took me 9years to finally realize why we need problem
sums in primary school...that is after I have to start teaching my
sister her p5 and p6 maths. Like your child, she also don't like
problem sums. But these problem sums are the most crucial
section whereby a student uses his/her understanding of whatever
that he/she has learnt for the term/semester and put into solving
the scenerio placed. As for the simple formula of area of a
triangle, I wouldn't say it's making it complicated...more like the
way you see it. If one can't understand 1/2xBxH, then the other
method (BxH)/2 would be just another alternative for one to
understand. It's just like 3+4=7 and 4+3=7 yeah?
I think the abolishment of cursive writing is because it's no
longer important. And what's more important to note is that every
change that the MOE system goes through, in my opinion, is because
of the O levels standards. They want to start from the foundation
of students and then as they move on the education ladder, there
won't be too much adjustment and adaption. Do you really
think cursive writing is necessary?
