I believe the human brain has a math processor that needs to be activated and nurtured regularly. Again, parents play an important role in making a child comfortable with numbers and calculations. The following are some concepts in daily life that deal with math:
(1) Time: Parents can ask children to add hours and mins to the current time to arrive at a specific time for some activity. Alternatively, give the child a time problem that he needs to solve by working backwards. For example, “if we want to reach the shopping mall at 5:15pm and we take 40 mins to get there, at what time should we leave the house?”
(2) Money: Counting money, calculating change (remainder), determining the price after discount, budgeting and calculating profit or loss are some of the mathematical activities that we may encounter daily or weekly.
(3) Shapes and figures: In toys, art and household furniture there are shapes and figures for children to think about. How about the area and perimeter of such shapes? How about the volumes of some 3-D figures? The concepts of proportion, similarity and congruency can also be discussed when observing shapes. For example, two dining table chairs are congruent. A baby elephant and a mother elephant are similar but not congruent.
(4) Lines and gradient: Look around us and we can see many parallel lines, intersecting lines and perpendicular lines. How about the slope (gradient) of a road outside the house? The steepness of a staircase?
(5) Distance and speed: What is speed? How is it determined? Observe walking speeds, cycling speeds and the speeds of vehicles. While taking a taxi, estimate its average speed and take note of the travelling time. Estimate how far the taxi travelled.
(6) Statistics: In the newspapers we can find pie charts and bar charts, and the terms “average” and “mean”. What do the charts show and what do these terms mean? Even young kids can interpret pie charts. Parents can relate pie charts to cutting a birthday cake.
There are many more examples of mathematics in daily life. When children understand cost price, selling price, revenue and profit, they are on their way to understanding business and the economy. Entrepreneurship can then develop from there.
Ilyasa, M.Ed, PGDE, B.Sc.
Reflections on Sec 4 Physics class (9/12/12) …
Just like in the Sec 4 A Math class ytdy, we revised Sec 3 Physics instead, but I will move on to Electricity in Jan 2013. The two students in this class are from Nan Hua and NJC, in case you want to know, although I find it strange that parents ask me which schs the students come from (I’ll write another article soon – ‘The kinds of parents who call me’). C’mon, if you are weak in Physics, you are weak in Physics, even if you are a graduate from Harvard. Apparently, parents are concerned about the syllabi. However, let me tell you something – even two IP schs or two non-IP schs can be at different topics in Physics at the same time. As for level of difficulty, Sec 4 Physics is Sec 4 Physics; no IP sch is going to teach Quantum Physics at Sec 4 ok, except, maybe, NUS High. In fact, some O-level sch prelim papers are harder than those of the IP schools.
We covered Kinematics and Moments ytdy, and as usual, students have misconceptions about free-falling objects, free body diagrams, kinematics graphs and what constitutes ‘perpendicular distance’ and ‘line of action of the force’ in the calculation of moments. Since they were new students, I also listed the 6 ways that examiners make physics questions difficult, and these have nothing to do with physics! (I will post an article abt this some time soon). Every year, I find that students THINK that they know Kinematics and Dynamics, but they can’t answer some conceptual questions I ask. Even some JC students have actually not understood their Sec 3 Physics!
Related post:
Reflections on Sec 4 A. Math class (9/12/2012) …
Two new students joined us ytdy, one from Monfort Sec and one from SCGS. Apparently, I tutored the latter’s cousin a few yrs ago, all the way from Sec 2 to JC2 in Math and Physics, and who is now a first year undergrad; just learnt that he scored 2 A’s and 2 B’s in his A-levels (he might have told me about it); anyway, that proves my point, that you can come from a ‘neighbourhood’ sec sch and then go to a ‘low-ranked’ JC and still do well at the A-Levels. Contrast this with the two ex-IP students that I helped this year to re-take their A-Levels. So students out there pls wake up; no one owes you good grades.
The three tutees agreed to revise some sec 3 topics instead of me teaching them a Sec 4 topic. So for this class (Sat 2.15 to 3.45pm), I will only start teaching Differentiation in Jan 2013. So ydty two of them covered Indices, Surds and Log while the remaining one wanted to revise Trigonometry. Every time, I find joy in proving to students that Logarithms is a VERY EASY topic. Once you understand what a logarithm is, everything about it becomes very easy (I’ve posted another article on Log; pls do a search on it, under A Math study tips I think).
Trigo is a much harder topic, especially the proving of some Trigonometric Identities. However, there are heuristics to use in solving the latter, and these techniques work 95% of the time. I like ‘proving’ qns because there is no answer to find, and students normally dislike such qns precisely because there is no answer to find. But I can’t blame them; imagine spending 6 yrs of your life in pri sch only learning how to find answers, so students become obsessed with finding a numerical answer, and eventually get defeated by qns that ask them to prove something already known.
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SEC 1 / SEC 2 MATH & SCIENCE TUITION 2013 @ Bukit Batok
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
Sec 2 Math (Investment amount: $120 per mth):
Wed 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm; (4 vacancies)
Sun 12.30 pm – 2.00 pm; (3 vacancies)
Tutor(s):
Mr Teng K. S., NTU undergrad majoring in Math.
Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
Sec 2 Science (Investment amount: $120 per mth):
Fri 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm; (4 vacancies)
Sun 10.45 am – 12.15 pm; (3 vacancies)
Sec 1 Math (Investment amount: $120 per mth):
Tue 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm; (4 vacancies)
Sec 1 Science (Investment amount: $120 per mth):
Thur 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm; (4 vacancies)
Tutor(s):Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
To register, kindly send an sms to 97860411, indicating the Student Name, Subject and Level.
Pri 3 to Pri 6 Math & Science Tuition at Bukit Batok Central
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
The following subjects and levels are provided (each lesson is 1.5 hrs):
Pri 6 Math: Mon 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm, Wed 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm, Fri 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Pri 6 Science: Mon 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm, Wed 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm, Fri 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm
Pri 5 Math: Mon 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm, Wed 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm, Fri 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Pri 5 Science: Mon 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm, Wed 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm, Fri 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm
Pri 4 Math: Tue 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm, Thur 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Pri 4 Science: Tue 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm, Thur 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm
Pri 3 Math: Tue 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm, Thur 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm
Pri 3 Science: Tue 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm, Thur 5.45 pm – 7.15 pm
DETAILS:
Location: Blk 627 Bukit Batok Central #07-640
Tutor(s): Mr Jay Lim, Master of International Management, experienced full-time tutor.
Average Class Size: 3-6 students.
Fees Per Month:
Pri 5 or Pri 6: One subject, once a week: $100 per mth; One subject, twice a week: $160 per mth; Two subjects (3h), once a week: $160 per mth; Two subjects (3h), twice a week: $280 per mth; Two subjects, EVERY day (3h) Monday to Friday: $580 per mth.
Pri 3 or Pri 4: One subject, once a week: $80 per mth; One subject, twice a week: $140 per mth; Two subjects (3h), once a week: $140 per mth; Two subjects (3h), twice a week: $240 per mth; Two subjects, EVERY day (3h) Monday to Friday: $480 per mth.
Note: Lessons will begin on Dec 3 onwards.
For enquiries, call or sms to 97860411. To register, sms Student Name, Subject, Level and Day/Time to 97860411. Thank you.
Ilyasa
Group Tuition for 2013 starts this Saturday Nov 17 onwards …
TUITION CLASSES:
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:
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By EX-MOE TEACHERS & EXPERIENCED TUTORS
@ BLK 644, BUKIT BATOK CENTRAL, #01-68. S(650644).
CALL 65694897 OR SMS 98530744 OR 97860411.
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ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):
Just to remind existing students and potential students that some group tuition classes (for various subjects) commence this Saturday. Pls click on Tuition Timetable from the menu bar in the home page to find out the details.
So if you have not registered but you intend to start tuition during the school holidays so that you can have a good headstart to the academic year 2013, please register now or as soon as possible. The class sizes are from just two to six students, so places are indeed limited (not limited by policy, but by actual physical constraints).
To register, sms Student Name, Subject, Level and intended start date to 97860411.
Sec 4 A. Math Headstart Programme – Differentiation
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
The details of the 2-day, 6-hr programme are as follows:
Date/Time (choose one pair of sessions only):
(1) Sat 10 Nov (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 11 Nov (10 am to 1 pm);
(2) Thurs 22 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 23 Nov (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm);
(3) Thurs 6 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm) and Fri 7 Dec (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm);
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640.
Class size: Max 6 students.
Investment amt: $150 total for both days (6 hrs).
Topics: Calculus – Differentiation & Its Applications
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
General Paper: Tuition Timetable (2013)
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ORIGINAL POST (OUTDATED):
(1) JC2 General Paper:
Fri 7pm to 9pm (Mr Virgilio);
Sun 9.30am to 11am (Ms Foo);
(2) JC1 General Paper:
Sat 5pm to 6.30pm (Ms Foo) ;
DETAILS:
Location: Bukit Batok Central
Tutor(s):
Ms June Foo, NUS graduate, NIE-trained, Master of Arts degree, ex-MOE school teacher (including GEP and JC), alumnus of MGS and RJC.
Mr Virgilio E. Hollen, SMU undergrad, experienced tutor for General Paper, supported by Current JC GP teacher who wishes to be anonymous.
To register, kindly call, or send an sms to 97860411, indicating the Student Name, Subject and Level.
Sec 4 Physics Nov/Dec 2012 Headstart Programme – Electricity
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ORIGINAL POST(OUTDATED):
The details of the 2-day, 6-hr programme are as follows:
Date/Time (choose one pair of sessions only):
(1) Sat 24 Nov (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 25 Nov (10 am to 1 pm);
(2) Sat 8 Dec (10 am to 1 pm) and Sun 9 Dec (10 am to 1 pm);
Location: Blk 627, Bukit Batok Central, 07-640.
Class size: Max 6 students.
Investment amt: $150 total for both days (6 hrs).
Topics: Electrostatics, Current Electricity
Tutor: Mr Ilyasa; M.Ed (NIE), PGDE (NIE), BSc (NUS), A-Level (RJC); ex-sch teacher, full-time tutor (8 years) of PSLE, O and A Level Math and Physics.
To book a place in the programme, sms to or call Mr Ilyasa at 97860411.
Integrated Programme (IP) Math
IP students always give me headaches because they come from different schools and have their own syllabi, to the point I’ve kind of decided not to take in any IP students anymore. I’ve taught students from RV, ACS(I), NJC, RI, RGS, HCI and NYGS.
But now I’m in a dilemma, because my existing IP students are asking me to continue guiding them. Two YR4 RI boys and a YR4 RGS girl (plus her friend) are asking me to have a headstart programme in Nov/Dec to intro them to H2 Math. A YR2 NYGH student is asking me to do the same for her YR3 Math. The problem is, they may not all fit into the same session because of differences in availability and level.
If I were to proceed, it would be 2-hr sessions, lecture cum discussion style, and if they are spread out across several sessions in the same week, I would need a few more students to join us to avoid boring and expensive one-to-one tuition. So if you are an IP student and in the same level (preferably even same school) as them in 2013 (YR5 or YR3) and you need a headstart in Math, please consider joining us. You may contact me at 97860411. Thank you.
My resume: Mr Ilyasa
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