Teaching math in fun and exciting ways
By Jude Toyat
When we talk about mathematics, we always associate it with numbers.
We seldom relate it to fun and enjoyable activities like singing or storytelling, which can actually help to ensure better development in the subject especially among primary school students, said Batu Lintang Teachers Training Institute college deputy director Anis Alisya Abdullah.
“It is important for teachers and parents to know that they have big responsibility in educating their children and students through various teaching methods that should be able to attract their attention.
“Mathematics, for example, can actually be taught in extremely fun and meaningful ways,” she said during the closing ceremony of Mathematics Carnival 2016 held at the institute on April 16.
She added that children’s basic instinct was actually to play, not study.
“Therefore, if teachers are able to plan their lessons in such a way that the students think that they are playing, the students will fight to enter their classes and learn from them.
“Through this programme, we hope that the teachers and parents will be able to learn one or two things to better educate the younger ones, incorporating fun in studying to ensure better growth in terms of education,” she added.
The annual event organised by the institute’s mathematics department incorporates lots of exciting mathematics activities including the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition, Math Games, and paper engineering activities that involves a total of 260 students from 30 schools around Kuching.
The institute will also organise similar carnivals in August that will incorporate not only mathematics but also Science, English, Bahasa Melayu, physical education and many other subjects.
“So, please come again and join us for an even bigger carnival in August,” she added.