The key to learning math
Mary Fernando
“Hands-on, take-off!”
To me, these words are synonymous with PKS sir. They take me down memory lane to SRF Vidyalaya. This school was set up to teach children in the play-way method. We were a small group of passionate teachers with a zealous principal.
After a few years of teaching, we realized that teaching math was not as easy as we had thought. Helping children fall in love with the subject seemed to be an unattainable goal.
At this juncture, we had the great opportunity of meeting Mr. P K Srinivasan. Dressed in all white, this tall, indomitable man stepped into our school. Our principal, Mr. Sundaram, left no stone unturned to ensure that we would be the torchbearers of the new math pedagogy that PKS sir was proposing.
He took us through the basics of elementary numbers, the so-called confusing integers, tormenting fractions, and weird algebra. He introduced the dot patterns of 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., so that the child could “see” the number without having to count.
He emphasized the use of fingers and counters to introduce fundamental operations, saying “hands-on” with activities would enable children to “take off” with concepts. He repeatedly said, “Concepts cannot be taught, they have to be caught.” Making bundles of 10 sticks, replacing numbers with strips of tens and ones to understand the nuances of carrying over and changing, was (and is) a great revelation.
The place value strips placed one on top of another to reveal a four-digit number broke the monotony of expansion of numbers. The use of two different colours for positive and negative integers and playing the game of addition of integers with the rule that the addition of a positive and negative integer is 0, is in my opinion, still the best substitute for rules.
Understanding fractions by folding paper, and adding, multiplying, and dividing fractions with the same was magic. Diagrammatically representing fraction division, improper fractions, etc., drives away one’s dislike for math.
Making a right angle by folding a paper twice, locating the centroid, in-centre, cirumcentre, by folding paper was more fun with the learning objective achieved in a flash.
Imagine visualizing algebra. Yes, it was possible with PKS sir. He used number patterns to arrive comfortably at variables. He associated lines, squares, and rectangles to variables X, X2, XY, respectively. Identities and factorizations could be visualized so clearly. These are only a few of my favourite concepts, which l continue to use to help children overcome mental blocks that hinder math learning.
Word problems are another story. PKS sir initiated open-ended questions, such as ‘write numbers greater than 45’. He coined the term ‘story problems’ and asked us to encourage children to create their own stories after giving them situations like 5+4. In due course, I started teaching word problems as comprehension passages and helped children solve them by posing leading questions. The children gradually learnt to visualize and then analyze whether the given situation was a put-together, take away, multiples, or sharing.
Not to forget the magic squares. Every textbook has them today, but 40 years ago PKS sir was a pioneer. Squares of even order are tougher. PKS sir would develop a 4×4 magic square with the numbers of a date, say a birthday as the first row (dd/mm/yyyy) and present it to the birthday child. Sundaram sir learnt to do odd number magic squares of the order of 5×5, 7×7, 9×9,… in a jiffy, which he shared with us with childlike joy. I’ve forgotten the rules, but I’m sure sir still remembers them!
Today, there is no math textbook without worksheets based on these activities. I’m reminded of PKS sir‘s love for children. He went the extra mile to establish the idea of ‘hands-on, take-off’.
PKS sir has provided us with the key to making teaching and learning math a joy for the child and delight for the facilitator.
The author has been a math teacher and has headed math departments in schools across India. She retired as the academic coordinator in Nosegay Public School, Uttarakhand. She is now helping children with academic difficulties.
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