Maths Yr 4 - Adding Fraction

It took hours for my hubby to teach Aidan about adding fraction. If it were me, I would just give him the answer to the homework and deal with his understanding later. But Thank God for having my hubby around to tutor his son.

So, Aidan learned about adding fraction. My hubby did run through the steps with him the morning after, but I just put it in the flow chart below, so that he could get the picture and remember.

Senang je nak buat campur atau tolak pecahan ni. 

Tiga basic steps:
Step 1. Dapat je soalan, check penyebut (nombor kat bawah tu). Kalau sama je semua, so, pergi step Kalau tak sama:

• Periksakalau penyebut yang nak dicampurkan atau ditolak ada persamaan (we called it least common denominator) ke tak. Sifir kene hafal! Kalau ada persamaan, pilih nombor yang kecil antara penyebut, dan sama kan penyebut yang lain. Contohnya: kalau 1/3 +1/6.. ingat sifir 3 dan 6. 6 adalah nombor terkecil yang sama di dalam kedua-dua sifir 3 dan 6, maka, jadikan 1/3 kepada nombor yang mempunyai penyebutnya 6 iaitu 1/3 = (1x2)/(3x2)=2/6.
• Jika penyebut yang hendak ditambah atau ditolak tidak mempunyai nombor gandaan terkecil yang sama, darabkan kedua-dua nombor itu. Contohnya 1/3 = (1x6)/(3x6)=6/18 dan 1/6=(1x3)/(6x3)=3/18
• INGAT! apa-apa cara pun, pastikan nombor atas (pengangka) dan bawah (penyebut) di darabkan dengan nombor yang sama untuk mengekalkan nilai pecahan itu (refer not equivalent fraction).

Step 2. Bila dah dapat penyebut yang sama, tambah kan pecahan-pecahan tersebut. 

Step 3. Jawapan yang didapati mungkin jawapan terkecil yang kita perolehi, atau mungkin juga boleh dipermudahkan jika perlu. Permudahkan jika boleh. 

To be an 'expert' in adding and subtracting fractions, these might helps:

1. Remember your multiplications table
2. Understand equivalent fraction and its concept. 
3. Always remember to multiply top and bottom with the same number to keep the value of the fraction equivalent. 
4. Add or subtract as usual (from left to right, whichever comes first)

Reading

Yup, with the gadgets and so forth, reading books always a struggle for parents like us! both myself and my husband love reading very much, but, obviously, it's neither Aidan's nor Aimar's favourite way in spending free time. 

I've tried a lot of method. Nope, so far, fiction is a no-no for a 8 year old and 10 year old boys. Aidan prefers non-fiction encyclopedias about things, animals and many more. Aimar, hmm..I'm still figuring out. 

Somehow, I bought a book for Aidan over the weekend. 

I haven't gone through the material, but I was surprised that it took Aidan only two days to complete it and he was so into it. I knew he learned some new words such as 'traitor', 'envied', 'prosthetic'. I knew he was happy to discover that nasi lemak cost only RM0.20 when mama was small. 

Now, will try to entice Aimar to read it. 

To any struggling parent, try this!

Math Yr 4 - Fraction / Pecahan - an introduction

An introduction on basic fraction information. 

Fraction is simply and closely related to division! That is the core to understand it. 

Aidan is starting fraction in his Math class. Salute his teacher, she's fast, she teaches well, she gaves lots of homeworks and unlike some of the teachers, she did marked her students homeworks, timely. 

The exercise is on the types of fractions. 

But I guess, to understand fraction (pecahan), we must understand these few things:

1. Fraction is a part of a whole (Pecahan ialah sebahagian daripada 'satu' bahagian penuh)
2. It consist of two parts that is numerator and denominator. In maths language, fraction is divisions of numbers. That means, 3/4 (words three over four) is equal to 3 divides by four. (Ia terdiri daripada pengangka dan penyebut. Di dalam bahasa matematik, 3/4 (tiga per empat) adalah sama dengan tiga bahagi empat).  
3. Three basic types of fractions are proper fraction, improper fraction and mixed fraction. (Tiga jenis pecahan adalah pecahan wajar, pecahan tak wajar dan pecahan bercampur).
4. There's also equivalent fraction which have the same value although the numbers difffer. (Ada juga pecahan yang sama bahagiannya walaupun nombor pengangka dan penyebutnya berbeza).

For a start, this should suffice. We'll learn about adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions in time comes. 

Khalifah Child

a sharing from mothers to mothers - credits to Tchr Shormiza, Principal of Khalifah Method School, Ampang, KL.

...

'Khalifah' in Arabic is often translated as 'vicegerent' which means one who acts in the place of leader or king.

Before Adam a.s. being created, Allah swt made everything else, the sun, the moon, the stars, the planers, the air, the water, the animal and every other things and beings. Human being were then created, to be the Khalifah in this Earth. There's an important job that awaits us, to acts on behalf of Allah while we are living being in the Earth, before the ultimate world of akhirat; heaven and hell. 

We should keep reminding us these responsibilities. 

And being a parents, we should know, the child that was bestowed upon us is a khalifah in the making, and we have to ensure they do understand the real concept of being a khalifah child. 

A khalifah concept may sound 'too islamic' or 'arabic', but somehow. it was not supposed to be misinterpret it as some 'extremist' might take it. 

A simple concept introduced by Prof Muhammad al Mahdi (and a concept that the Khalifah Method adhere to) is not to be understood that we are trying to shape our children to become of the religious jihadist that always been misunderstood and seems to be overboards on the actions they took such as ISIS or any other things.

When kids are given two things, which is
1. A positive, accurate and motivational worldview
2. A good understanding of the Laws of Learning
They will naturally move in the direction of all that is good and right. 

The idea is to introduce three simple basics that being khalifah require us to 

1. perfect ourselves

2. help others' to be good

3. perfect the physical world for all living beings

Let's instill these ideas to our kids. 

...

One of the greatest Islam philosopher, scientist, medical doctor and an educator, Ibn Sina has defined three stages of educating our children.  

Shared here an interesting summary on his description about stages of educating children. 

http://muslimheritage.com/article/ibn-sina-education#section5

It is understood that every child is born unique even if they were twins of few microseconds. Handling one and each of them would be different and as time passes by, the child we knew last week might not be the same boy that stood in front of us today. 

As they grow, they would discover their 'free-will'. 

While we can, we should 'groom' our children so that when they understand that they do have free-wills and they can just use it and best is to use it at the right intentions, right aims, right actions and for the good of themselves, others and the worlds. 

We, the parents, should grab the chances to use the rightful way of Laws of Learning, so that the could have a motivational and accurate worldview. 

We could, insyallah. 

To start with, introduce them to the concept of Allah. Nope, not really the part Allah would punish them if they missed their prayers and so on...but teach them how merciful and loving Allah is. Tell them the Greatness of Allah being the Creator.. how beautiful the rainbows are and how great the fish could survive in the water. Teach them the idea of Allah sees and knows. They just have to ask and pray whenever, and if the time is right, Allah will grant their wish and if not Allah has a better plan for them. 

A very simple straightforward concept, but would be essential and a good start. 

Let's try. 

...

BM Thn 4 - Karangan: Faedah Bersukan

Bahan untuk Aidan memperkayakan bahasanya dan membantunya menulis karangan bertajuk "faedah bersukan" menggunakan simpulan bahasa dan peribahasa yang bersesuaian.

Contoh karangan fakta bertajuk Faedah Bersukan (courtesy http://azuralea.blogspot.com/)

          Bersukan merupakan aktiviti riadah yang dapat mengeluarkan peluh daripada tubuh badan kita. Malah, kerajaan menggalakkan rakyatnya sentiasa melibatkan diri dengan aktiviti sukan.Hal ini kerana melalui bersukan banyak faedah yang kita peroleh.

            Salah satu daripada faedahnya ialah dapat menyihatkan tubuh badan. Apabila kita berakreasi seperti berbasikal,bermain badminton dan sebagainya,badan akan mengeluarkan peluh dan berlaku pembakaran lemak dalam tubuh kita.Kesannya, badan kita menjadi sihat dan cergas serta tidak berasa lesu ketika belajar di dalam kelas.

           Seterusnya, melalui bersukan kita 

dapat mengeratkan hubungan dan menambah kenalan. Kita dapat berkenalan dengan sesiapa sahaja tidak mengira umur, bangsa mahupun agama. Kebiasaannya, ketika kita berjoging di taman-taman, kita akan bertegur sapa dengan individu yang berada di kawasan itu. Hal ini akan mengeratkan hubungan dan perpaduan antara kaum dapat dipupuk. 

          

Sekiranya kita berbakat dalam bidang sukan, dan menjadi ayam tambatan pasukan kita, kita akan dapat mewakili pasukan sekolah,daerah, negeri mahupun negara. 

Bak kata pepatah, jauh perjalanan, luas pemandangan. Melalui sukan, dengan mewakili sekolah, daerah, negeri mahupun negara, kita boleh menimba perlbagai ilmu dan pengalaman. 

Apabila kita berjaya memenangi mana-mana kejohanan sukan, maka kita telah berjaya mengharumkan nama sekolah.Nama kita juga kian dikenali dan rezeki makin bertambah. Seperti bidalan peribahasa harimau mati meninggalkan belang, manusia mati meninggalkan nama.

          Bersukan juga boleh memupu semangat setiakawan yang tinggi untuk meraih kejayaan. Di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan. Kita sepasukan akan berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk mencapai kejayaan, berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjining. Sekiranya kita mendapat kejayaan, sagu hati yang diterima pasti memberangsangkan. 

        Kesimpulannya, tiada menjadi kerugian jika kita aktif bersukan.Marilah kita bersama-sama menyahut seruan kerajaan untuk menjadikan rakyat Malaysia masyarakat yang cerdas dan cergas.

        

English Yr 4 - Characters

English is all about learning and using words correctly. 

One must have high content of vocabulary for a beautiful write-up of a simple essay. 

This is one is an additional to what Aidan learned from school last week. 

English Yr2 - Nouns

Hope this could help for Aimar to start with the nouns...

Four basic nouns in English would be 
1. Common and Proper Nouns  refers to either ANY or SPECIFIC person, animal, place, thing or idea.
2. Singular and Plural Nouns refers to either ONE or MORE THAN ONE (common or proper) nouns. English grammar has few sets of rules on how could a singular noun being make to plural nouns. Also, we never just the indefinite article ('a' or 'an') for plural nouns.
3. Countable and Uncountable Nouns are the nouns used to reflects the 'quantity' of the nouns. 
4. Possessive Nouns (and do not get confused with Possessive Pronouns) shows the ownership of some things with reference to the owner or owners. 

Maths Yr 4 - Multiplications of 7

Aidan came back and told me that his teacher taught an easier method to memorize multiplications of 7...

Cool!!

Sejarah Thn 4 - Artifak

It's a new subject introduced for the Year 4. Aidan's teacher was assigning his students to look for examples of artifacts (world or local) and these are 'hand-clicked' and 'hand-picked' by him. 

A very good exercise to let them learn and make it interesting rather than reading books and memorizing history the conventional way.

Kudos, teacher!

Sejarah Thn 4 - Salasilah Keluarga

History is learning your roots. 

What's best than getting to know your family. The history teacher assigned his students to prepare the family tree. A good exercise for Aidan as he started calling his grandmama and aunties asking for full names and photos. 

:)

English Yr 4 - Class Play (Directed by Aidan)

The school is having an English Month this month. Aidan decided to join the poetry reading and volunteered to direct the class play. 

It's a good exercise for him. I saw the increase in his confident level when he told me "the cast were great but I told them to learn to act and speak normally rather than reading the script".. cute!

I supported him. We prepared the props with him contributing in giving information and ideas. 

The play went well. Congratulation Mr Director. 

The props:

 Scene 1 – Farmer & Wife

Narrator: Once upon a time on a farm all the animals were having fun, except for the farmer.

Farmer: (talking to his wife). I don’t like all the noise those chickens make in the henhouse.  I wish I could do something to stop that noise!

Wife: I know… especially because you like to wake up late.

Farmer: I was thinking about buying a rooster.  Maybe he would put them in order.

Wife: It’s a good idea… and maybe he would also get rid of the mice.

Farmer: Those mice are another problem we have!   Come… let’s go to town, we need to get the rooster right away.

 Scene 2 – Rooster, Hens & Mice

Narrator: When the rooster came to live to the farm, the chickens thought they would have more fun, but soon, they were disappointed.

Rooster: The fun is over!  Everybody get to work!  … and you little hens…

Hens 1, 2, 3, 4: Are you talking to us?

Rooster: You’re the only hens I see around here, so …yes…I’m talking to all of you!

Hen 1: What can we do for you?

Rooster: To begin with, you can’t go out to play anymore!

Hen 2:  What!

Hen 3: Your heard me… no more playing outside.

Hen 4: But, what are we going to do?

Rooster: You have a lot of thing to do inside the henhouse.  You must keep everything clean.

Hens 1, 2, 3, 4: But everything is clean and in order!  Please, don’t do that to us.  We can work and play at the same time!

Rooster: I said no!  And don’t you disobey me… or you will be punished.  That’s why I’m here for.  Your goal from now on …is to obey my orders!  Do you understand?

Hen 1, 2, 3, 4: It’s not fair!

Rooster: I don’t care what you think.   I’m not here to please you… but to make you work and stop all the noise you make.

Narrator: Then the rooster said to the mice.

Rooster: And you ugly mice… get out of the farm!

Hens 1,2,3,4: No, please… they are our friends!

Rooster: You’re not here to make friends, you are in this farm to work… remember!

Hen 1: I beg you rooster, let them stay with us.

Hen 2: They don’t have a place to live.

Hen 3: They depend on us.

Hen 4: Say yes…please.

Rooster: No!  I am the one who gives orders around here!

Mouse 1: Lets pack.

Mouse 2: Good-bye… hens.

Mouse 3: Don’t forget about us.  Remember all the good times we had together.

Rooster: Stop all this drama!  Go to sleep now!   Starting tomorrow morning, you all will wake up earlier than ever.

Hen 1,2,3,4: You must be crazy!

 Scene 3 – Hens & Mice

Narrator: But there was nothing the hens could do.  And from that day, the farm became a very sad place to live in.  Visits were not allowed, there were no conversations, and no games.  Everyday, at 4 o’clock in the morning, the rooster would climb up to a pole and start to sing.

Rooster: Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo.

Hen 1: He’s a dictator!

Hen 2: I’m really angry with him!

Hen 3: We should talk to the mice and make a plan.

Hen 4: The mice are gone.

Hen 1: Gone forever.

Hen 3: That’s what you think.  I know where they are hiding.

Hen 4: Then what are we waiting for.   Let’s go and talk to them!

Narrator: So the hens and the mice got together and made a plan to stop the rooster from bothering them.

Hen 3: So, what’s the plan.

Mouse 1: Tonight I will put glue to the pole where he sings every morning.

Mouse 2: Just be careful, don’t make a lot of noise.

Hen 1: Yeah, we don’t want him to wake up and find out.

Mouse 1: Don’t worry, I have everything under control.

 Scene 4 – Rooster, Hens & Mice

Narrator: That night the mouse put glue to the pole, and the next day the rooster climbed to the pole to sing.

Rooster: Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo…. What’s happening?  I can’t move my feet!  My feet are stuck to the pole!

Narrator: And the rooster saw that everybody on the farm were having fun.

Rooster: Hey… hey… here I am… over here!  Somebody help me!

Narrator: Then the hens and the mice turned up to look at the rooster who was stuck to the pole.

Hen 1, 2, 3, 4: Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Mouse 1,2,3: You look so funny!

Rooster: So, you did this to me! … why?

Hen 1: So that you know how unpleasant it is to have somebody tell you what to do.

Rooster: I’m sorry.

Hen 1: Are you really sorry?

Rooster: Yes, I am.  I learned my lesson.

Hen 2: We forgive you.

Hen 3: We will help you get down from the pole.

Narrator: An now nobody gives orders in the henhouse.  Everybody, including the rooster, get together to work and have fun.  And best of all, they are all good friends.

THE PROPS

Science & English Yr 2 - Human Needs

Just like Aidan, Aimar just couldn't get enough of Minecraft. As for the first chapter that he learned in Science subject for Yr 2 is about human basic needs, i put up a minecraft challange to suit his level. 

I asked him to create a world with all the four elements of basic needs. 

Unlike Aida, his creation was ok, but somehow, i knew he wanted to complete the task as soon as possible rather than focusing in being creative. Just typical Aimar and something that I can work on with him to nurture the creativity in himself. 

Arabic - Colours

It's tough job. Even the colours and nouns have genders. 

Arabic - Birds & Animals

Though the boys have memorized a lot of surah from the Juz Amma, I realized that they still stumbled and got confused with the arabic letters. To teach them all over again of alif,ba,ta will be a different game. I have to make it interesting and let them pick up indirectly. 

Arabic - Family and Relatives

Oh my, I knew arabic was complicated, but I couldn't imagine it's 'this' complicated. They have different names which are totally different for the father's and mother's side. hmmmm....

For now, all we have to do is memorizing. 

Science & English Yr 2 - Animals

An idea came when I realized Aimar's vocabulary is much worrying as compared to Aidan when he was at the same age. Though the science subject in school is taught in Malay, i'm opting to teach him in English so that he can add up his vocabulary and after all most reference are in English. take it or leave it. 

Aimar learned about animal this week. Funny that the syllabus taught about the animal classification based on its reproduction i.e. lay eggs or give birth and also about the way the animals eat i.e. vegetables only, meat only or both. somehow, he wasn't be taught on the scientific names such as mammals, reptiles, omnivores, carnivores etc.. that's a funny thing introducing animal science to an 8-year-old students. i read the KSSR summary, and confirmed, they did not teach the scientific names of animals classifications yet. so when will that be?

Anyway, i had fun compiling the details from the net. and here we go.

ANIMALS CLASSIFICATIONS 

ANIMALS CLASSIFICATIONS BASED ON THEIR DIETARY HABITS

 EXAMPLES ON LIFE CYCLE OF ANIMALS AND BABIES ANIMALS NAMES

EXAMPLES ON ANIMALS HOMES

BM Thn 4 - Peribahasa I

Belajar bahasa bukan sesuatu yang mudah. Tambahan pula bila bahasa ibunda kita ini amat berbeza dengan bahasa pasar dan bahasa suratan. 

Banyak komunikasi media di zaman ini di dalam bahasa Inggeris. Antara cara untuk mengayakan bahasa malaysia Aidan, saya rasa perlu untuk saya perjelaskan peribahasa dan simpulan bahasa yang kebiasaan kita guna dengan cara kehidupan harian. 

Ini percubaan yang pertama.

English Yr 4 - Idioms I

I wanted Aidan to remember and use idioms appropriately as often as possible. 

As he's not interested in reading fiction book like his mama, i put up a minecraft challange so he can relate to what i'm trying to teach him. 

Mind you, he was so eager to complete the challenge, and i'm on my trying to understand the game.