Please revisit on the 30th of September =)

Technology

When I was in primary school, I would often look forward to computer class. A typical Math class I had everyday would include learning tools such as the whiteboard that the teacher would used (not forgetting the unbearable smell of the markers), workbook, worksheets, ruler and the never-seemed-to-end rote practice of Math sums. Computer class opened up a new way of practicing Math as it incorporates more fun into learning. The school offered a number of computer software that helps students to learn and practice Math skills such as operations, geometry, patterning, estimation and many more. There were many fun games in the program that somehow made students enjoyed learning math subconsciously. I can vividly remember controlling the character named Coco in the game, to help him reached the top of the building by planting seeds for him to climb. The game involved math concept like simple operations, counting and problem solving. Using technology like computer software, Math had been a very enjoyable learning experience for me.

You may want to try out some interesting online games suitable for Kindergarten children:

Fun Kids Online Math Game
Canon Math (addition)
Zuma (matching colours)





There are various emerging technology such as electronic gadgets like iphone and ipad. The children in my center as young as 4 years old know how to use their parents' iphone to play and download games. Just last week, a child in my class came to me excitedly and said, "Teacher Xinli! I have ipad you know. My daddy buy for me." I notice, or most of us should have realized, that technology has taken over most of the current generation's play experiences, from watching cartoons to playing Wii games, PSP etc. There was a 5 year old boy who told me that he likes staying at home because he can play video game with his brother all day. Children now spent lesser time critically thinking to construct materials to play, instead, they can just hold on to an iphone, shake it, and the dice in the screen will roll by itself. Even though I strongly feels that children need authentic materials to learn, the virtual element of technology has overshadowed what I advocate- first hand, real, and hands on learning. I've heard of this joke, about how human of the future generation will have a much bigger head with small and limp body since they will only use their brain to create more advance technology and then rely on those inventions.

Some technological tools to learn Math:


However, I cannot underestimate the power of technology as it has greatly influenced how children acquire knowledge nowadays. As I have previously mentioned, I did find learning Math enjoyable through the technology approach too. More importantly, it is how adults educating children weigh the importance of both technology and hands on approaches to strike a balance in children's learning and their attitude to learn. Thinking through my teaching experience for the past one and a half year, I have never really include technology into children's learning. I find that it is a time to start after reading the chapter, as I have a clearer idea of the impact of teaching Math to children using technology, as well as the appropriate tools to teach Math.


goodbye~

Chapter 1 and 2 reflection

The first thought that crossed my mind when i flipped open the textbook was, "Wow, it's colourful." It didn't strike me as a book that will have colours, so i was pretty surprise. It kind of reminded me of my Biology textbook during secondary school. Frankly speaking, i had this stereotypical attitude towards math since young. I've scored amazing high marks, but also outrageous bottom line marks during my years of study with math. That is probably one of the reason that made me mad, it wasn't consistent.

The 6 principles mentioned in chapter one has become a guideline that i will reflect on each time i conduct a math activity in class. I always conduct hands on math activities to my class of children. I believe that children need to learn mathematics with understanding, and that should be build through authentic experience rather than memorizing formula. There was once i did estimation and measurement, where the children estimate how many of them could stand on a chair, squat under the table, stand on the table etc. They had a lot of fun! And then I came across this video:



I am talking about preschool's math, I wouldn't be able to designed a hands on activity to teach "Differentiation" (I dreaded this topic so much during secondary school).

Chapter 1 also addressed positive attitude as one of the factors in becoming an efficient educator to teach math to young children. Eventhough math is never my favourite subject, I do find teaching math to preschooler and kindergarten fun. Many of us should be familiar with Albert Cullum (A Touch of Greatness). He is one of the very inspirational educator that I really look up to, as he was a teacher that would go beyond textbook in making learning a joyful experience. Below is a blog entry by Albert Cullum's ex student:

"Al Cullum changed all that. He taught me that there was a world of greatness, creativity, and beauty just waiting to be experienced. Every thing Al touched was magical, be it history, math, poetry, or art. His classroom hummed with joy and excitement. Every subject was treated with contagious creativity. We solved math problems in King Tut's tomb, raced around the room solving geography problems, read great poety to our peers, guessed the names of masterpieces of art and I'm not even scratching the surface." Ken Ramirez.

I've had children who are unable to differentiate 12 and 21, 13 and 31 and so on. One of the child in my class would ask me how to write the number 9. It worries me sometimes that situation like this happened. I would go home and cracked my brain to think of interesting ways to help them recognize numbers. One of it was "all then 'teens' begins with 1". My other challenges would be parents, because they are more keen to see worksheets and results, while I always always focus the process.

Chapter 2 highlights many familiar child development theories that connect to how children learn math. I agree that visual aid is a very important tool in teaching math. Children need to see and touch to internalize the fundamental of a particular math concept. Providing physical model, pictures, manipulatives or real objects is definitely going to make math learning fun and effective for young children. The coordination of teachers and the classroom environment plays a crucial role in providing optimal math learning experience for children. It would be nice to have us sharing about some of our interesting teaching experience on Mathematics =) With that, i shall sign off now~

Goodbye~