How to Teach Your Child Math

This September Mommy Mundo continues its partnership with PLDT Home Fibr to bring moms more educational webinars that aim to aid their homeschooling journey as they #RediscoverLearning at home.  On September 16th, the two companies joined with 88Tuition of Singapore, an online enrichment platform that focuses on supplementing a child’s learning while providing activities that allow parents and children to bond.

The first event’s topic was focused on how to teach children math.  It came to no one’s surprise that it was widely attended by many parents, many of whom could be struggling to teach their children math.  Hosted by Riki Flores with guest speaker Dr. Lillian Koh, who is the Director of Research at Curtin University in Singapore.

During the session, Dr. Koh answered as many questions as possible on the subject of teaching children math.  Of the many, these were among the most popular:

• When can parents start teaching their child math?

Kids learn math basics at young ages, younger than most parents realise. Understanding the concept of a set, identifying shapes, and understanding concepts like greater than or less than are learned well before the age of six. More formal math education, however, can begin at around ages five or six, when these concepts can be concretised and given names.

• Why is it called Singapore math?

The term was given to the system and style developed in Singapore for learning math and its concepts.

• What sets Singapore math apart?

It employs a three-step process, specifically: concrete, pictorial, and abstract. It relies on materials, making math a more hands-on experience and concretising the abstract concepts for the learners.

• How can parents apply the Singapore math principles to their children?

First, understanding the reason behind the method and its exercise would be key to applying these principles. Second would simply be finding everyday objects that students can use and applying the method. As with many things: just do it!

• Are there links to Singapore math games online?

There are many websites that provide supplementary math games, including Singapore math. For starters, there is the Singapore Math Source and websites like Organised Classroom. Another resource would be Acre, which provides educational books for both parents and children.

• What routines can make both parents and children confident when learning from home?

The simplest answer is the routine that works best for everyone. Both children and adults thrive on routines. For children, it gives them a sense of security and structure, which are needed for a home-learning environment. Molding that routine into one that allows parents to still maintain their other obligations would be key.  An easy suggestion is to work with the kids in the early morning, when they are most alert, and then setting up tasks for them to do for the rest of the day. 

For most subjects–not just math–parents learned that going from concrete concepts to abstract concepts, going from known or learned facts to unknown facts, and going from simple ideas to more complex ideas, is the best transition for teaching their children anything.  It is, of course, especially true for subjects, such as math and science, which will work with a lot of different concepts and ideas.

To learn more about 88Tution and its different courses, visit their website, and get to know their various programs.