Published on: October 15, 2023
Mathematics can be a powerful tool for students to make sense of the world around them. Without good estimation skills, we cannot approximate distances, or the number of people in a crowd, or how much our grocery bill will be, looking at a shopping cart full of groceries.
Transforming the Way Students Learn Math
What better way to develop good number concepts than through interesting and motivating activities that keep students actively learning mathematics! These days, learners are eager to crack their math books, not because the books have become easier but because we’ve changed the way we think about math. Our learners now know they can work with numbers successfully. They’re learning to understand rather than to memorize, anzd are developing strategies rather than a set of procedures.The Math@JBCN Approach
Math@JBCN is done through hands-on activities to make connections between abstract concepts and the concrete models that represent them. We also follow the Singapore Math strategies which motivate students to work with numbers. By giving learners a battery of Singaporean strategies, like branching, regrouping, partial quotient division, and many more, we make math accessible, and we approach it in context.Model drawing is the next and most widely known piece of the Singapore Math puzzle. It’s a step-by-step, visual method of translating a word problem into a diagram, in order to solve it. It works with word problems from addition all the way to algebra questions.
Concepts like factors, LCM and HCF are abstract. When students use manipulative materials and reasoning skills to discover an abstract relationship, the learning is more meaningful and permanent.
Students use square tiles to discover the relationship between rectangular arrays and prime and composite numbers.. By associating numbers with their factors in an area model, students acquire a deeper and longer-lasting understanding.
An example for teaching prime/ composite numbers and factors: The teacher uses 12 tiles and asks the student volunteers to place these tiles into rectangular arrays. Some possibilities are 1 × 12, 2 × 6, and 3 × 4. (For the purposes of this activity, a 1 × 12 and a 12 × 1 will be considered the same array.) The possibilities look like this: 3×4
3x4
2×6
2x6
1×12
1x6
Students will discover that prime numbers have only one rectangular array, whereas composite numbers have at least two. They also understand the meaning of factors.
Building Confidence Through Math
Learning math today is less about meaningless drill-work and more about understanding, less about procedure and more about application. Through these practical, hands-on strategies and manipulatives, learners are gradually growing in confidence and no longer see Math as everyone's famous academic bugbear. In fact, the math class has become an area of joyous discovery and interesting applications!This article is contributed by
Mrs. Raman (Vice President Academics, JBCN Group of Schools)
FAQs
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How does JBCN teach math innovatively?
JBCN uses hands-on activities, Singapore Math strategies, and manipulatives to make math interactive and engaging. Concepts are taught through real-world applications, fostering a deeper understanding.
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What are the benefits of real-world math applications?
Real-world applications help students see the relevance of math in everyday life. By solving practical problems, learners develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that extend beyond the classroom.
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How does JBCN encourage math problem-solving skills?
JBCN emphasizes strategies like model drawing, branching, and regrouping to simplify complex problems. Students are encouraged to understand the “why” behind the math, making them confident problem-solvers.
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How do students excel in math at JBCN?
By focusing on understanding, application, and innovative strategies, students at JBCN develop a strong foundation in math. This builds their confidence and fosters a love for the subject, enabling them to excel academically and practically.
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