This short course is part of a module participants for Specialist Certificate in Mathematics Teaching (Primary) is offering. This module focuses on whole numbers and using everyday things to teach.

1. yeapbanhar@gmail.com
w w w . b a n h a r. b l o g s p o t . c o m
Bina Bangsa School, Jakarta

2. In this short course, we will discuss:
• the basis of counting
• problems based on whole numbers
• teaching and doing problem solving based on everyday situations
• teaching word problems
• one learning theory
Another short course that is relevant for the teaching of whole numbers is Learning
Theories.
yeapbanhar@gmail.com
w w w . b a n h a r. b l o g s p o t . c o m

3. To Count or Not to Count

4. Count!

5. 3 cats + 2 dogs = 5 cats ?!
3 cats + 2 dogs = 5 dogs ?1
3 animals + 2 animals = 5 animals
The nouns are the
same.
We can count.

6. Problems Using Everyday Things

7. Problem 1
How many cups are there in this
structure when there are 9 cups in the
lowest layer?
Stack the Cups Problem

8. Stack the Cups Problem
Look for a
pattern!

10. Big ideas:
• Making connections
• Mathematical modeling – connecting
reality to mathematical concepts
• Creative thinking – fluency, flexibility,
originality, elegance
• Looking for patterns and generalizing

11. Teaching Using Everyday Things

12. Are there
enough straws?

13. Are there
enough straws?

14. Are there
seven
flowers?
More than
seven? By
how many?

15. How many are there?
Design worksheets based on children’s art work

17. Everyday situations as:
• As data source
• As learning tool
• As problem
This can be used to facilitate skip counting.
Student scan also be asked to solve a problem – how many
children are there in the room?

18. Curriculum Structure

19. Curriculum Structure
Group Activity
When do students learn whatever they learn?
Your group is given a list of topics.
Discuss with your group members when each topic
is introduced and when it is completed in the
Singapore curriculum.
Are there missing topics?

21. K 1 2 3 4 5 6
Whole Numbers
Cardinal Numbers, Place Value
To To To To To 10
100 1000 10000 100000 million
Add and Subtract
Multiply
Divide
Factors
Multiples
Combined
Operations

22. Dienes

23. play structured practice

25. Word Problems

26. Problem 2
Addition – Word Problem
Strategies
• Count all
• Count on
• Make ten

27. Problem 3
Multiple Operations – Complex

28. 110 g
290 g

29. Participants of Specialist Certificate Programme may choose to work on some of these.
The portfolio will include about ten entries to showcase your professional ability.
• Write up the solution of the Stack the Cups Problem. One portfolio entry may consists
of a collection of problems discussed in all the modules. Provide different ways of
solving the problems, include the ways discussed in class. Occasionally, problem
extension may be given. Typically one entry consists of about four problems from a
range of topics. You may also look for / design your own problems based on whole
numbers and solve them in different ways.
• Design a learning task based on everyday situation. Provide a photograph of the
everyday situation and a description of the task. Provide the responses that students
may give and what students can learn from this task. See an example of such a
portfolio entry at www.banhar.blogspot.com