Primary School Mathematics Model Method

The children's primary school mathematics problems are getting more and more problematic. Well, the comprehension of the questions is one challenge to the children. Another challenge is, the primary schools are teaching model method, which to me, is more challenging than using algebra!

Pei Pei once asked me why she had to show the working using model method even though she could solve the problem without the model. I asked her teacher during parent-teacher meeting, and the teacher shared that model method helps the children to make the mathematics problems visible, and the children should learn to use model method as soon as possible, so that they can use this method to solve more difficult questions. 

Now it is Hao Hao's turn to learn the model method. But he finds it difficult to understand what the bars are all about. Therefore, I have to think to ways to help him understand the interpretation of the bars.

Instead of a bar, I used concrete objects to represent. In addition, I learnt from a friend that to help children to grasp the idea of the question, instead of using complicated names, change the questions to name of people whom they can relate to.

Part-whole Concept

Example: Daddy has 3 marbles, Mummy has 2 marbles. How many marbles do they have altogether?

Of course, if you don't have marbles at home, you can use other objects that you can find at home!

Then replace the marbles by blocks. 

After that, use bars to represent. 

Comparison Concept

Example: Daddy has 3 marbles, Mummy has 2 marbles. How many more marbles does Daddy have?

Again, use the real object, followed by blocks, then by bars.

Model method is one of the heuristics to solve mathematics problems. Other heuristics include tabulating, guess and check, working backwards, simplifying a problem, and considering special cases.


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Primary Mathematics - More Than, Less Than

5 is __ more than 3. Oh, there is a word "more"! So do addition, and the answer is 5 + 3 = 8!  

5 is 2 less than __. Oh, there is a word "less"! So do subtraction, and the answer is 5 - 2 = 3!

Incorrect!!!

Have you ever encounter this problem when your children are doing mathematics questions on "more than" and "less than"?

When I spoke to Pei Pei's Primary 1 form teacher during the parent-teacher meeting a few months ago, I sought her advice on how to teach my children in solving this kind of problem.

The teacher shared with me that using concrete objects e.g. LEGO bricks, rubber bands and so on, to show the children, and to get them to think whether the answer required is bigger or smaller than or as same as the other two numbers in the question. 

After the child grasps the concept using concrete objects, then we can use symbols to reinforce the concept. The teacher shared with me that Primary 1 pupils learn about number bond, which shows the relationship between numbers. So using the concept of whole and parts, the children can see that "parts" are smaller than the "whole", and that the "parts" make up the "whole". 

 For example:

After looking through the school worksheets, I figured out that there are 4 general types of questions:

Type 1: Whole is Part more than Part. 

Type 2: Part is Part less than Whole.

Type 3: Part more than Part is Whole.

Type 4: Part less than Whole is Part.

Each type has 3 possible questions, for example, for Type 1, the questions can be:

__ is 2 more than 3.

5 is __ more than 3.

5 is 2 more than __.

So it works out to have 12 variations of questions!

Just to share the approach I attempted with my children to guide them in solving e.g. 5 is __ more than 3. 

Question 1: Is this number bigger than or smaller than or as same as 5? Is this number bigger than or smaller than or as same as 3?
[If the children still cannot get the correct answer, use concrete objects to guide them]

Question 2: Can you show me the number bond?
[Guide the children to understand that 5 is "whole", 3 and the answer are "parts"]

Question 3: How do you get the answer?
[Guide the children to consider 5 minus 3 to get 2]

How do you teach your children to solve "more than" and "less than" questions? Please share with us!

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