"Whatever that can be measured is not important, whatever that is important cannot be measured" -Einstein
I have been hearing this quote since the first day of class but i did not realise the real meaning until yesterday's session. Indeed, in the journey of learning Maths, it is the process that counts. The process of learning Maths is to train and develop young learners into critical thinkers and equipping them with the necessary strategies to problem solve. More often that not, teachers and parents are guilty of taking children straight to the end product of learning Maths, which is obtaining the correct answers, without even giving them the opportunities to make mistakes and develop strategies.
Personally, I am also guilty of the above to a certain extent at times. I always thought that learning some concepts of Maths, has to be, to a certain extent, via memory work (i.e multiplication tables and number bonds) and that was what I was brought up doing too. Yesterday's session had proven my mindset wrong and I was surprised and amazed by the different strategies that young learners could use to approach the concept of multiplication and number bonds directly or indirectly.
As a Math teacher, I now understand that apart from introducing to young learners the concepts of Maths, it is also significance that I guide them through the process of learning it through the CPA approach with plenty of hands on activities for exploration and experimentation.
Most importantly, I am really glad that I have cleared the doubts of preschool children doing assessment books and am clear of the importance of them not doing it. I am able to explain my rationale to parents in future should there be queries about it.
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