Just-Math

Developing skills for Higher Level Math

2012-01-14T10:49:00.002+08:00

It takes an accumulation of various skills in mathematics to be able to work on high school math materials, like in calculus. These skills are build up from the fundamental of mathematics (from addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), handling fractions, expansion of expression, factorization, algebra, etc. If students are lacking in any of these skills, it would be very difficult and time consuming for them to complete the task. These fundamental skills takes time and effort to master.

At "Just-Math" we give the students the correct materials and the required time to master all the relevant skills required in learning higher school maths.

Take a look at the question below. The skills required are numerous and a student will be able to acquire and master these skills at our math center.

What it takes to be good in mathematics

2012-01-07T11:35:00.002+08:00

A very Happy New Year to all parents and students. Thank you for continuing your trust in "Just-Math" into year 2012.

Today, the mother of a form 3 student approached me to inform that her child is not too good in mathematics. She hoped that "Just-Math" could help her child improve in mathematics.

I honestly told the mother that whether the child could improve in her mathematics or not is very much dependent on the child herself. If she is willing to put in sufficient effort, with the help of the materials provided by "Just-Math", and with the guidance of the instructor in "Just-Math", she should be able to improve in due time. The pace of progress depends very much on the student herself. The more effort put in, the better will be the progress.

I gave her some specially prepared worksheet to test her on math ability. Sadly, she face a lot of difficulties in subtraction ( like 23-17, 25-8, 35-17, ....). Most of the time, she needs to use her finger to perform the subtraction. When she started to work on multiplication, I also noticed that she is not able to memorize the multiplication table and find it extremely difficult to complete the worksheet on 3 digit x 3 digit multiplication.

Remember, it takes (1) effort, most importantly, (2) the right materials, and (3) the right guidance to excel in mathematics.

Does the above situation happens to your child? To me this is a very common situation happening to our students. Parents must take measures to address this situation.

Under acceptable standards, a student finishing standard six education should be able to easily perform the four operation of mathematics, i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. These skills are needed to help them in furthering their calculation ability in secondary and higher education.

At "Just-Math" we will be able to prepare your child adequately in meeting the challenges in secondary and higher school mathematics.

"Just-Math" facilitating self learning

2011-11-23T08:29:00.001+08:00

The parent of a 5 year old girl came to enquire about the "Just-Math" program. They wanted to know how we were able to guide children to self-learn.

Basically the program structure and its implementation is the key in helping students self learn. When a child first enroll, we will perform a basic assessmment on his/her current ability in mathematics. Following this assessment, we wil be able to determine where to start the child's learning journey. The study plan will then be put in place to help the child progress in every step of their learning journey.

Along the learning path, the child's progress is monitored closely and the appropriate learning materials are assigned to them based on their prevailing ability. Under such circumstances, there would not be a situation that the child is unable to handle the materials assigned to them. When new materials are initially assigned to them, they may face a little difficulty, however with practice, they will be able to master the required skills. This process of monitoring, ensuring appropriate mastering, assignment of new learning focus and continous monitoring is repeated over and over again to help strengthen the self learning process.

Have confidence, your child will be in our good hands.

Addition & Subtraction Table - Is memorizing necessary?

2011-10-14T14:10:00.000+08:00

Today the father of a boy student with me asked me if it is necessary to memorize addition and subtraction? To be honest, like the multiplication table, it would be essential that children are able to do addition and subtraction without the assistance of fingers. The answer is yes, not only memorizing, but internalizing the skill is important. Like adults, children should also be expected to perform simple addition and subtraction mentally and with reasonable speed.

At "Just-Math", students are given various worksheets that has minute steps in learning and internalizing these skills. The students' accuracy and speed are monitored closely to ensure that they acquire the needed skills before moving them to higher level worksheets. As the learning method employed in "Just-Math" is based on individualized learning, each student will be able to acquire these skills along the way. In no circumstance will they be left out unable to catch up. This is the most important component of "individualize learning methods".

Increased Concerntration - Generally ??

2011-09-24T23:40:00.000+08:00

I had this student with me now for about 2 months. When he initially join the Just-Math Development Program, he was working on his worksheets at a very slow pace. He took more than 1 hour just to finish a 3 page set of worksheet. His father informed that he was also slow and not able to concerntrate in all his homework at home.

Now, two months later, I noticed his improved ability to concerntrate and is now able to complete his 3 set worksheet within 15 minutes. I had a discussion with his father and found out that he is now also able to concerntrate better in his school homework. He can now complete his homework faster and has more time for other activities.

Another satisfied parent. I am happy for this student on his improved ability to concerntrate. Well done !!!!

Starting out at a simple/easy level. Why?

2011-09-21T13:57:00.000+08:00

Just yesterday, a parent of a new student asked as to why the worksheets assigned to his son is so easy.

Let me just go through the program initiation process.

1. When a student is newly enrolled, a status check is done.

2. This is through some oral question appropriate to his expected ability and some worksheets appropriate to his expected ability.

3. Based on the oral responses and the worksheets' outcome, we will be able to assess his current ability. He may have the ability above his expected ability or below his expected ability

4. We will then assign worksheets slightly below his ability. This is done so for the following reasons:
a) we want to ensure that he starts at a level that he is confortable and is able to work with.
b) to build his confidence that he is able to work on the worksheets assigned with ease.
c) to minimise anxiety in venturing into new areas

5. His performance in class and on homework is closely monitored to ensure he does not face any learning difficulties.

6. If any learning difficulties are identified, his worksheets will be reassigned to ensure that difficult areas are appropriately dealt with effectively.

7. With the above process in placed, we forsee that students will have little difficulties in following the program.

What the Center enviornment looks like

2011-09-17T08:08:00.000+08:00

Confortable learning envoronment

Individualised Learning helps slow learners as well as fast learners.

2011-09-14T23:02:00.000+08:00

A parent having an OKU child approached me today to enquire if "Just-Math" program is able to help slow learners.

"Just-Math" program is designed with small increamental difficulty. This means it is useful for children having different learning requirement, including the slow learners. Slow learners can practice the needed area many times until they are confortable with it before moving them further.

Similarly, fast learners can also benefit from this program. Fast learners only needed very few repetition in order for them to progress on. The fast learners do not need to wait for others to catch up before they can proceed to another more difficult area. This is the power of Individualised Learning Methods.

This means whatever your learning requirements, "Just-Math" program is able to accomodate you effectively.

It is really effective.

2011-08-13T23:41:00.000+08:00

Today, the mother of one of my students approached me to inform me that she has noticed marked improvement in his son's calculation ability. He no longer makes many mistakes in his school math. She also inform that in the recent exam, the son scored 94 marks in his mathematics. He was only able to to get about 60 to 65 marks before this.

I was very glad that I was able to help this child improve his mathematics.

Welcome to "Just-Math"

2011-05-31T10:56:00.000+08:00

To all existing students and parents. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation towards your confidence in me in guiding your child / children in their math development journey. Let me assure you that the interest of your child is my top-most priority in my current involvement in this program that I am offering. I will personally observe your childs development and would assign learning materials that will suit him/her in every moment of his/her learning.

Continue to have confidence in me, and I will not let you down.

Thank you again.

Just what is "Individualised Learning" all about?

2010-06-29T09:01:00.000+08:00

The concept of "Indivudualised Learning" is rather confusing to a lot of parents.
Individualised learning is not the same as indivudualised teaching or coaching.

Individualised teaching or coaching is about "one to one" teaching and coaching.

Individualised learning is about children learning materials at his/her own pace.

Why is self learning important and necessary?

2010-01-18T07:45:00.000+08:00

One question I would like to pose parents. As a child, how do we learn how to walk? Can we teach children how to walk?

We all know that children will need to learn how to walk on their own. All the parents can do is to provide the needed guidance, the environment, the support and most importantly, the encouragement to do so. Here we employ the same concept in learning mathematics. As a math instructor, we can provide

1) the conducive environment to learn
2) the just right level of difficulty to children to encourage them to pick up the skills needed, i.e. the right worksheet to work on at different stages of learning
3) the encouragement, the guidance and the support needed

Similarlily, these learning environment needed to be duplicated at home to facilitate learning. The instructor (myself) will give you (as parents) guidance on how to monitor and support your child at home.

There are frustrations, however , but we must persist with love and care so that the children can continue to learn under these favourable environment.

Math is all about practice? Maybe More than that?

2010-01-18T07:40:00.000+08:00

Many people would agree that in order to be good at mathematics, one needs to practice a lot.

Well, I also agree to this point, but I would also agree that it would be more effective if one practices using the correct material suitable to ones ability. If we give materials which are too easy, then it would not pose any challange to the student. However if the materials given are too difficult for the children, then it would frustrate their learning interest and the child would give up upon a few attempts.

In ensuring that a child receives the correct learning materials, here is what we will do:
1) before starting with the program, a simple test is given to the child to determine what level of math ability the child has. From here, we start them off at a level that he is able to confortably and confidently work woth.
2) while learning, we place importance in observing the child's ability to complete his/her work using the correct techniques. Usually the time taken to complete the work and the accuracy of the answers are used as the measurement criteria to guage whether the child is ready to move on.
3) each subsequent worksheet given to the child has very small incremental difficulity so as to make learning as simple as possible.

These cycle of observation is repeated every time the child attends classes so as to ensure they learn at the correct level using the correct techniques all the time.