My First Taste of AKM101

AKM101 (Sep10) : Current Initiatives in the Primary Mathematics Curriculum

Some of the things I learnt and re-learnt on 7 September 2010:

1. It is possible to make a square using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 pieces of the tangram. I found an interesting link here:
http://www.edex.com.au/pdf/tn060566.pdf

2. The scaffold we provide for our pupils, as implied by its name and by its nature, is to be removed eventually. I believe we all want our pupils to be independent learners.

3. The Mathematics Framework in Singapore is largely influenced by two documents (1980s) ~
[a] An Agenda for Action (NCTM, USA)
http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=17278
[b] Cockcroft Report: Mathewmatics Counts (UK)
http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/cockcroft/index.html

These 2 important documents shifted the paradigm of Math teaching to problem-solving. Reading these documents reinforces the principle that our education is undergirded by our internal needs and external trends.

4. The PERI Report cited 5 examples of Pedagogies that apply across subjects ~ Learning by: [a] Inquiry [b] Interacting [c] Doing [d] In and Out of the Real World [e] Reflecting.

I spent some time browsing through the report and appreciated its relevance in our ever-changing world as well as its greater emphasis on non-academic programmes within the curriculum using the Programme for Active Learning. PAL aims to develop character and useful life-skills, something my school is actively engaging in so as to engage our pupils better!

The PERI report can be read from here:
http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/peri//files/peri-report.pdf

5. TSLN & TLLM - Teaching Schools, Learning Nation & Teach Less, Learn More. Behind these acronyms lie a whole host of things for me to learn, explore and discover in this journey and adventure, and be a teacher with good practices!