Archives for 2010

A-Math: Kinematics Vocabulary List on Displacement, Velocity & Acceleration (Includes a printable note)

Many students don't like the topic in A-Math known as 'Kinematics'. My guess is that it is linked closely to Physics which is a subject not favourited by many too.

To be able to understand Kinematics, I always get my students to be familiar with what I call a 'Kinematics Vocabulary List'. [Click here to download a printable note]

I hope you find this list useful. I would like to hear from you how you find Kinematics in Differentiation & Integration. Do you like it or dislike it? Leave me a comment.

$A-Math-KinematicsVocabList$

E-Math: Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fraction the Real Disguise Way (Video)

real-disguise With the completion of June Intensive Revision BootCamp over the school holidays, it has been my great pleasure to share with the participants on how to understand confusing Maths concepts easily, use a shorter time to solve their questions, enjoy learning :)

In the next few weeks, I'm going to share with you some of the important concepts I taught in my workshops. I hope you find the posts and videos useful. Remember to leave me a comment and subscribe to my blog (found on the top right hand side of this website).

Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fraction is suitable for Secondary one to four students.

Length of video : 5 minutes.

Type of Numbers In A Simple Mindmap

Students whom I coach know that I'm a 'lazy' person when it comes to memorizing. So the way I teach is also free of memory work most of the time or if memorization is involved, I will cook up funny, ridiculous mnemonic (I can't spell this word, had to google for correct spelling) to help them remember better.

In this post, I'm sharing with you how I come out with a simple mindmap from Mindmeister.com to remember the type of numbers. For example, what are integers, whole numbers, natural numbers? I get confused easily and I'm sure some of you also face the same problem, isnt it?

Click on image for a bigger view.

This is useful in topics like Set Notation and Inequality, topics in E-Maths. If you like the mindmap, feel free to save it by 'Right Click' and 'Save as'. You can refer to it whenever and wherever.

If you're having problems understanding Set Notation, Inequality, join me at my Intensive Revision BootCamp this holidays. Click here for more information.

E-Math: How to Construct Angle and Perpendicular Bisector 'Live Demo'

I taught my E-Math class on 'How to Construct Angle and Perpendicular Bisector', a skill learnt in lower Secondary and forgotten by many Secondary fours.

You must know the steps. I'm so glad that when I found something really useful which shows the step-by-step. It's like a 'live demo'.

You must definitely check out this website on construction:

Angle Bisector: http://www.mathopenref.com/constbisectangle.html

Perpendicular Bisector: http://www.mathopenref.com/constbisectline.html

On top of these 2 skills, I suggest the following as well which could be tested together in a question.

Concepts of bearing
Angle properties of Circle
Construction of quadrilaterals
Special properties of quadrilateral eg Do you know the diagonals of a kite intersect at 90 degrees?

Demoralized After Receiving Mid-year Results

Last week, I received a sms from a student "I felt demoralized even so when I kept doing the test papers my school teacher gave me, yet I didn't do well."

Have you felt like this before?

It's like why is my hard work not showing any improvements?

First of all, we need to understand Mathematics just like languages needs time to be built up, you can't rush through, not to mention last minute preparation. Consistency is the key to success.

Secondly, doing many papers don't guarantee good results. Some of you might be shocked. Aren't we always told that practice makes perfect? Practicing is the first step, what follow is important too! I'm referring to reviewing your mistakes and recognizing your strength. Many students miss out the second step of reviewing. As a result, their essential concepts aren't strengthened and remain the same level as before. How would this help to improve?

Thirdly, all doubts must be clarified consistently. You can either arrange a time with your school teacher or tutor to ask all the burning questions you've on a topic or maybe the reason why your method can't get you the correct answer. Don't waste the opportunity of just bringing your questions with no preparation and expect your teacher to feed you with the solutions. This won't be useful for you.

I hope you find this post beneficial and if you're lost and demoralized due to your results, I would like to invite you to our annual June Intensive Revision BootCamp for A-Math & E-Math. Click here to find out more or call me at 9685 7675 to discuss.

Fear Kills. Courage Saves.

“There is no stupid question! Except, possibly, a question not asked.” -Christer Romson

Everyone of us faces problem, big and small.

Students face problem in learning, in passing examinations, in communicating with classmates, teachers and parents, in handling stress, in boy-girl relationship...

Parents face a different set of problems. Working parents must learn how to balance work and family life. Some face problems in having a proper conversation with their children. Many don't seem to know what's happening to their children in school. Many don't understand the reason(s) for their children not doing well despite sending them to tuition classes, arranging for one to one private tutors to come to their house.

Today, I'm writing this post to share with you as a student or parent how I handle my set of problems and you can probably get a few practical tips when you read further.

As many of you know, I teach. I coach. My problem is getting students to ask questions openly. First, we need to understand why students don't ask and would rather remain quiet.

FEAR.

Fear of being embarrassed.

Fear of asking 'stupid' questions.

Fear of being laughed at.

Fear of falsely labeled (by classmates) of being attention-seeking.

So why is it important for students (and parents) to ask questions?

It helps them to clarify any doubts instantly instead of being accumulated at the back of their head months after months.
Asking promotes thinking. The fact you ask shows you're thinking! It makes you more of a thinker instead of just being a sponge; only absorbing.
By asking, it gives me (the trainer) an indication if the students have understood what have been discussed. I can then move on to the next concepts.
Asking relevant questions keep your mind alert and attentive as understanding is reinforced.

So what do I do to get students to ask questions?

I lead by example. I ask them questions first. It can be questions about the concepts we've just discussed or it could be something related to their school, clothing, bags, shoes, movies they watch, hobbies they have. Just get them start talking.
I thank you for every question they ask. It's a form of emotional reward for them.
I encourage all my students to ask any questions freely and that there isn't any stupid question in my class.

If you're a student reading this post now, ask yourself: Could you've been better in the subject when you just ask a few more questions? Are you going to allow fear (FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real) from paralyzing you? What is one action you're going to do today? Are you going to continue to 'act blur' and pretend that everything's okay when it isn't?

If you're a parent reading this post, ask yourself: Do you know what your child is going through? Is your child happy in school? Is your child doing well in the subjects or is he failing miserably? Is he pretending everything's okay? Is he saying that he knows what to do to buck up? Is he telling you not to care?

We need courage, support and encouragement to face our problems.

We need to act in spite of fear to achieve great things.

We need to constantly remind ourselves that fear is nothing but a feeling and we can take control and turn it into energy.

Leave me a comment, I would love to hear from you on how you handle your fear, your problems.