Free Bar Modeling Guide To Help Parents

On of the key challenges for kid in maths in primary school is on bar modeling. As such, I have prepared a guide to cover bar modeling. Tips include basic structure of a bar model,  different types of modeling representation, how it relates to different maths concept ( e.g. ratio, fraction, add/sub etc), summary of the different types of problem sum bar modeling techniques

If you would like to have have a copy of it, please drop me a mail or post your message here..thanks!

regards

Bar Modeling Workshop For Parents 101

As per requested by parents and what I see as a need to help both parents and kids with busy schedule, I am organizing a workshop on bar modeling for acros primary level. Learn about the different models and when to use what. Msg me for detail! Cheers!

Where To Start Teaching Multiplication

Multiplication is considered one of the first complex concept the child will learn in primary one. In typical school environment and textbooks, it usually starts by 2 times table followed by 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 etc.

Question here is, does our brain learn better in this sequence?

Fact of matter is, we should approach from what the child is familiar with.

In this case, 10 times table is probably a good start. Why? They have been learning to count by groups of ten haven't they:)

Once 10 is done, 5 can be taught easily as they just have to 'insert' a five between every 10 times table.

Next on the list is 2 times table as it is based on the even numbers pattern and also just a modification of sequence counting but adding one more.

4 times table can follow on from 2 as it is just even numbers but with skipping one even number.

8 times table requires what I call visualization. Basically you have to realize that 8 times table is just a matter of adding 8's. And 8 is just 10 short of 2. So we can actually just add 10 every time and minus 2 e.g. 8 -->18-2--> 16--> 26-2-->24 etc

I have used this on student using special worksheet and did a test. The student actually took half the time in his times table calculation!!

There rest of the tables requires some other manipulative which I will explain in future.

Bar Modeling 101

When talking about challenging maths topics, bar modeling is often the main thing that students have problem with. Now bar modeling is a tool and we need to use it to help us. But before that happens, we have to understand it. I have created a very simple version mind map for people who wants a good and quick overview of the differences and usage of bar modeling.

It is a basic 101 tutorial to gives a bird's eye view. Of course it is not meant as a full reference as there are more than 30 types scenarios that I have I identified.

Going To Primary One

Going from kindergarden to Primary One is a key milestone for both you and your child. Nobody says it is going to be easy for them but preparing them a bit earlier ( in the correct manner) will go a long way in making school less stressful for both your child and you.

Some of the key concept that can be introduced includes
- Addition/subtraction
- Number bond
- Multiplications/Division
- Fraction
- Bar Modeling (YES!)

Of course , by the time you read here you probably think only the first item is doable. Fact is all these concepts are possible to teach to the child given right tools, material and teaching method.

I will try and come up with a post on how you as a parent can teach these to your kid effortlessly.

PSLE Maths .... Not just calculation

Do You Know??

-There are about 5 types of bar modeling but there are more than 30 types of scenario that it can be used. So the key is not just about finding the right model to draw.

-Most parents complain that there child did very well till they are primary 3. Do you know why?

-Children can learn complex maths concept at young age in a fun way and help to make learning easier down the road and prevent them from being stressed later on.

-Learning maths by memorizing answer or question requires more time spent and yet shorter retention?

Common Myth Of Maths 2

"My child has been doing very well till Primary 4. The grade deteriorated after that"

I am sure you have heard of this often. Now, there isn't anything wrong with the kid suddenly. It is just that sometimes the learning method concept was not taught or learnt properly e.g. memorization instead of understanding. When at a young stage, parents and kids are tempted to memorize rwther than understtanding it ( for obvious reason of getting quick result...NOT LASTING).As the child go higher level, answering by identifying key words will not help.

So how do we avoid this. Two key things- start early and understand concept not memorize ( given right tools and method )

Common Myths Of Maths

I thought I just want to share on the approach to bar modeling involving fraction.

When we think about fraction we tend to want and make sure all denominator are equal. However, this approach is typically used for basic fraction manipulation (eg. 1/2 - 1/3 ->3/6 -2/6 = 1/6

In some situation, we actually try yo make the numerator equal instead.

Consider case , 2/3 of number of apples is equal 1/4 of numbers of pear. In this case, apple and pear are two different quantity and hence their parts are not equivalent. e.g. 1 part of apple does not equal 1 part of pear => total is not 3+4 parts

Instead , we should express 1/4 as 2/8 so that both numerators are equal and two parts of apple are indeed equals two parts of pear, meaning the unit are standardized.

What I Want This Blog To Be

I hope that I can help to address the problems that parents and children have with Maths via the following

- solving specific problem sum submitted through this blog
- providing advise on approach in handling Maths
- Introduct methods and tools for home practice
-sharing of experience by the community

Why This Maths Blog

There are actually a few things that cause me to start this blog. For one, I have been closely linked to the  educational line in my life both due to work personnal wise since my kids are doing maths in school as well. So I wanted to have a blog related to it to share my experience.

There other reason is that I come across many children (parents as well..) frustrated or confused in maths and they could not get much help in school.

Given all this, I thought it would be good to have a forum to help people with maths difficulty and internet is the best and easiest way to do it