Weekly Reflection - Algebra (3N Band 2)

I found out that my current band of 3N students are rather weak in their algebra basics. This has caused quite a lot of problems when teaching algebraic fractions. I have 're-taught' them all the areas in algebra. Although this will take up time but this is better for them and I make them do class work every lesson while I only provide answers if everyone in the class has finished what I target to finish. They are pushing to finish the questions in algebra now. In fact, I have included questions on formula and algebraic fractions in the long worksheet (to be done in class part by part), which will allow me to complete my chapter / syllabus as well. The type of questions has ranged from NA to express questions but I did not tell them. This is to prevent them from having any reason to give up or not to try at all. So far, they have been doing in class and we are going through in class. Slower than the other classes but more effective and it really drills into their head. Once again this is 'Teach Less, Learn & Drill (Do) More!'

Weekly Reflection - Matrices (5N2)

This batch of 5N2 is much more keen in learning, as compared to the previous batch. They are on task and they really get their work done. Their attitude is more positive. For the first 2 chapters, venn diagrams and matrices, they have done well in the tests. What I have been doing during lesson time is really to focus on the main and important points as well as the formula to be learnt. After that, I will show them examples of how to do the various kinds of questions. all this while they will copy down into a 'Math Notebook', everything that I write on the board and all the examples I show. after each example, I will give a few similar questions to let them do. This is something like drilling but also allowing them to do their work (class and home work) in class as well as clarify all doubts in class. I cut down on the theory and talking part. You can call this 'Teach Less Learn and Drill (Do) More! :)

Weekly Reflections - Cumulative Frequency Curve (4 Express)

This is a rather dry topic and I personally feel that the theory part should be cut short and forcus more on practical. I spent 1 double period for both my 4E3 and 4E4 to show and explain to them what is a CF curve, its uses, how to find all the quartiles and information using the CF curve. On top of that, I stress to them what to look out for when drawing curves and what are my expectations. After that, I will give them exam-based questions to do and practise during lesson time. Every period they will spend 20 minutes doing 1 full exam-based CF curve question while I move around to check their graphs and the next 20mins on going through the graph and answers. This will go on for the rest of the week. I find that this is time-consuming and effective, instead of asking them go home do homework and I mark. at least I am able to stress to each of them where their mistake or problem is, there and then.

Weekly Reflection - 4E3 & 4E4

This week I realise that our 4E students are really very very tired. Many of them are down for SYF, SRP and CCA. For example, CO members are down for 4 days SYF as well as CCA, which means they are down for 5 days a week until 6pm or so. By the time they reach home and finish dinner, it is 8pm. Malaysian students reach home around 9pm. By the time they finish their homework (which is not properly done due to rushing), they will be very tired and the time will be rather late. End up, they have no time to study for their tests next day (may be 2 or 3 tests) and not perform during the tests, end up going for SRP. even if they manage to finish, they will be lack of sleep and cannot focus on the lessons the next day. Their mind may switch off anytime. I hope this problem can be resolved somehow. I am still thinking about how to do it or help them.

Weekly Reflection - 3N2

This class is still alright in overall behaviour and attitude. The main problem is Hong Xiang and Ting Xuan. These are the ones negatively influencing the girls around and they are not doing much work for all subjects. As for the rest, their attention span is really very short, despite they are trying hard. They really give up easily the moment they see something not familiar. The group is big and it is quite tough to for me to really go around to check on their work one by one. The only best thing I could do is by observing from the front and ask for file or book check every term. They are trying hard to do but somehow, many of them really are very inconsistent. For first 2 questions testing on 1 theory or formula, they can do correctly for them but still get the 3rd question wrong which is similar to the first 2 questions. They cannot retain all the way. I find that this group of people really have to spend more time on them to finish the topic. They need much more drilling.

Weekly Reflection (Wk 5) - E. Mathematics (1T1)

This is really a challenging class to teach and get them to all focus during lesson time. They are hyper active and the boys are letting words and noise 'freeflowingly' flow out of their mouth. In order to keep them busy, I have changed my teaching in 1T1 to making them copy every single thing taught in class. They will each have a 'notes' book for daily lesson and copy every single theory, formula, example and exercise question that I show or go through in class. They are kept busy every single minute. Homework is also done in class because I find that if we give them homework, they will simply forget or don't do, etc. I will end up spending more time running after them for submission and wasting precious lesson time to scold or nag at them. I have done it in a way such that each sub topic I have done the theory part, I will show examples and then pick questions to get them to do on board or on the book and go through. Homework is part of my lesson.

Weekly Reflection (wk 05) - E. Mathematics (5N2)

After past 4 weeks of teaching 5N2, I realized that this batch of 5N2 students are much more motivated and well-behaved during Math lessons. Although the speed may be slow, but they are really putting in effort to try out every question given to them and copy down whatever that is taught in class. However, as usual, there will be a couple of 'sleepyheads or restless heads' in the class. After some observation, I find out one big common problem with most of our NA students. They really tend to give up trying or doing a question very very very easily. some of them simply give up by just looking at a question, just because they find it different or a bit more difficult than the usual questions they do. I really have to spend a lot of them reminding them 'please try' and 'don't give up' over and over again. I even have to go from student to student to check of they have tried their best. This is quite worrying as I am wondering if this is only happening to our NA students or the whole nation. With this 'easily giving up' attitude, the best solution will be, of course, 1 to 1 session or tuition with each of them, but it is not possible in school situation. I am still trying to figure out how to 'eliminate' this attitude from our NA students, even after 4 years of teaching 5NA. This attitude is already kicking in, in our 3NA students now......