iPad Apps - Singapore Math, Bar Models Grade 2

Date:  Mar 1, 2014

Time flies.  Today is first day of March of 2014.  Already.

Today going to introduce one of the app I like and I think Jay Jay not so fond of it, but he has no choice but must learn to like it.

His father say so.  Muahahahahaha.

Oh ya, I do let my kids play iPad from time to time, only before bed time.

And some times I will say “Education Games” for 15 mins, and after education games, you can play any of your game for 10 mins.

This actually works!

The kids actually will get the chance to learn more things from the iPads, before they play the games.

Kay Kay will play his “Sight Words” games.  Very awesome games.

Jay Jay will play this Singapore Math game.  Actually is not a game, it is more like an assessment app.  HaHaHa.

Anyway, the title is called “Singapore Math, Bar Models Grade 2”.  It’s free for few questions, to unlock all questions, you need to pay US$9.99.

A bit pricy, but I think it is a very well done App for kids in P2.

 

By the way, if want to know more about other math apps that is suitable for Singaporean kids, go to below link.

http://singaporemathsource.com/resources/singapore-math-ipad-apps/

If you want to know more about this “Singapore Math, Bar Models Grade 2” app, click on below link.  It is quite cool.  And you may have guess, there are Grade 3, Grade 4, and so on.  I am very sure the person who wrote this will be rich.  I got to spent some time to write apps too.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/singapore-math-bar-models/id461707896?mt=8

In primary 2, Jay Jay started to learn bar model diagram to solve addition and subtraction problems.

This is what they called “Word Problems” in school.

What I found is Jay spent a lot of time in “drawing” “perfection” rectangle in the word problem instead of trying to figure out what is the problem.  So, it actually “slow” them down in that sense.  As they need to use ruler to draw perfect rectangle and so on.

So, this app helps in the sense that he does not need to draw perfect rectangle as it will always become a perfect rectangle.  So, he can focus in is workings.  And understanding the question.

On Singapore Math app, you are given a problem, and you simply need to solve it using a bar model diagram.

The process involves drawing two rectangle, size it, add a text in each block, and then add a bracket and show the total, and mark down the question mark for things you need to solve.

Then, pull up the working area to write your equations and do your workings.

Then, you fill in the answer.  If you get it right the first time, it will be 3 stars.  If you get it wrong, each time, 1 star will be deducted.

Cool, isn’t it?

Here is the video of me trying to solve the word problem.  Quite fun!  Easy to learn.

And most important thing is the concept.  The more question he does, the more bar model diagram he drew, the more better he grasp the concept.

Also, running the app on iPad serve as an incentive for him.  After doing 2 questions per day, he gets to play iPad games such as Minecraft, fieldrunner, monopoly, and so on.

Check out the tutorial, it also teach them how to solve each type of the problems.

When you go to harder questions, it has the necessary tutorials too.

This is the introduction video about this Singapore Math Bar Model Grade 3 app.  Take a look and you get what I mean.

Not only you can play the game in order, they also shuffle the questions so that each time you get a group of different questions.

So, you have comparison model, you have part-whole model, and all these are according to MOE P2 syllabus.  Which is a very cool app.

Later part, there will be money and measurement question too.

Multiplication and division will reintroduce slowly too.

So, with this app, not only the child will be happy using it, by giving a little incentives after each lesson, it also encourage them to learn.

Try it!

Jay & Chinese Calligraphy

Date:  Dec 6, 2013

Don’t play play.  

When it come down to Chinese Calligraphy, we are darn serious about it.

My view:  Chinese Calligraphy is one of the root that a Chinese should learn.  So, Jay is a Chinese, not only I want him to speak Chinese, read Chinese, I also want him to write Chinese.  Note that the use of “I want”.  Wahahaha  Usually I give him a lot of freedom in choosing his activities.  But for this, I “demand” it has to be learned.  

This is a father’s demand not request.  So, Jay bo-bian, must learn.  First, write the 9-squares big words first.  Later, then, we will refine the skills to write the small square words.  Muahahahaha.

So, I first made him learn to write the Chinese characters.  You can go to Popular to get one suitable one for him, such as P2 must-learn-to-write Chinese Characters.

Then, once he is comfortable, write it on the proper Chinese calligraphy paper (also get from Popular).

When we are young, we use real ink.  But for them, I think we compensate a bit, use those Korean brand where the ink is supplied inside the brush.

Not easy to teach.  But once he masters it, he will learn how to balance the art.  His writing will become much better.

Look at the word, the strokes is not done properly.

See what I mean?  Four different sizes, big and small, etc.  NOT ACCEPTABLE.

He actually got scolded for this.  Wahahaha.

Learn to focus, son!

Focus, and make balance on each side.

Demo.

It is not easy for Jay.  But let’s hope he can learn well here.

Jay is a good boy.  And he listen, and he tries his best.

OK.  Day one completed.  I like the 笑.

Well done Jay.  You have to remember, when daddy is angry with you, is because you did not focus in writing it well.  The art of writing it well has something to do with distributing the space and balancing the word/character through out this 9 small little squares.  If you can master the 9 squares, then, when it come down to small little square or no square at all, your writing for Chinese will greatly improve.  Daddy 用心良苦, ok!

Here is a video clip when he writes.