tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961727131900697758.post1564120454083151246..comments2023-06-26T16:40:46.536+08:00Comments on Education WA: Learning times tables in 1 semesterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961727131900697758.post-39689034206268690092011-08-26T17:09:38.076+08:002011-08-26T17:09:38.076+08:00Teachers are the second line of defence. Parents ...Teachers are the second line of defence. Parents are the first line. Continue teaching your child for as long as they enjoy it. Nobody in their right mind should tell you otherwise.<br /><br />What a wonderful start for your child.. If only all students had parents that could do what you are doing. It would save me a lot of sleepless nights and afterschool classes.<br /><br />We often notice in year 8 that student understanding of fractions greatly increases once algebra is introduced and similarly, students with strong fraction and times table skills pick up algebra quicker. It is a fantastic thing that you are doing.<br /><br />Problem solving is an area to travel next, applying algebra and solving puzzles can be great too. United we solve and quizzles spring to mind although there are many great ones out there.<br /><br />Perhaps another avenue to draw attention to your kids is to school them in IQ test geometry type puzzles. By practicing NAPLAN type questions (without telling the school) may force them to consider accelerating your children. Just don't tell them I said so.<br /><br />You should notice that the curriculum will pick up pace through primary as National Curriculum brings WA back into line with the rest of the country.<br /><br />Russ.Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02342230372505375612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2961727131900697758.post-77212048486318642662011-08-26T16:44:56.163+08:002011-08-26T16:44:56.163+08:00Hi, I just thought I would drop by and thank you f...Hi, I just thought I would drop by and thank you for your informative blog. I have two children at school. One is 8 and the other 7 (going on 30!). Although, they are still young, it seemed to me that what the Primary school was teaching was not sufficient for my children's needs. So I spent the first two years with my oldest taking her through the basic math addition/subtraction tables until she could recited them in her sleep. Then side swiped the system and taught her the times/division to five until she could do it in her sleep. It was then, I took off from the curriculum and decided to start her on very simple algerbraic functions. We did this for a year and my only thoughts were to get her to see numbers in all kinds of different ways. This year, she went into year three and just took off. Currently she is simplifying fractions and sees the fun in ways in which to find the answers and or, ways to outsmart her Mum! However, I was called into the classroom the other week and rudely told what I was teaching my daughter was stuff they learned in year 5.<br /><br />I guess my questions are; should I continue to assist my daughter how maths is cool? Or do I follow the cirrcula line and just tow the line with others?<br /><br />I grew up with repetition maths until I could recited it in my sleep and I spent the rest of my years thinking Maths was the coolest ever. More so, I loved trying to work out the tricks and devices used to find possible solutions.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />B.<br /><br />ps: As a result of what happened in my oldest daughter's class, I am secretly teaching the youngest one as well and we keep it a secret so she can fly under the radar for a while...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com