Direct, Inverse and Joint Variation

Had to cover this topic during the exam week coz it will also be included in the midyear exam. Thankfully there was a break in the Form 5 exam schedule. Discuss the problems from PATS 5 with my girls. This is another topic that is very easy and can be covered in 1 or 2 periods only. The girls were able to solve the problems given. Its a happy moment for me to see the happy faces of my students when they're are able solve a problem. As I mention earlier, the 5 KA girls are my 'special' girls. I've seen a lot of changes in them. You see I've been teaching them since Form 4. This year they are more eager and serious to learn except one or two students. I really have to work more closely with this 'one' particular girl. It's quite difficult to give full attention to her coz I have one whole class depending on me (as oppose to my 4 SA class as majority of them are able to do maths with just a little bit of help). The extra class I have with a few of the 5KA students seem to be helping them cope with math. Maybe I have to schedule personal tuition for this girl after school. I'm always willing to help out coz I'm usually available after school (except when I have to go for courses or meetings).

I'm putting up this video on direct, inverse and joint variations for your revision

Writing Up Direct, Inverse and Joint Variation Formula




Direct and Inverse Variation Video





Joint Variation Video

Exams

It's been quite sometimes since my last entry. You see my girls are having their mid year exams now so there is no teaching going on. I really hope they will do well in their exams. The Form 4 have finished their Math paper but Form 5 still have Maths 1 on Thursday. My 5 KA girls didn't do so well in paper 2. I hope they can do better in Paper 1. Well at least the girls and I know the topic that they are weak in. Hopefully we can brushed up on these topics before the real SPM exam in November. I have high hopes on them coz I know they can do a lot better if they put more effort into it. The're so much that a teacher can do, the rest is up to the individual students. Success comes only to those who work hard, that's the law of nature.

Interactive White Board (IWB)

I've just learned how to use the IWB last Tuesday (very interesting and useful for teaching math). Tested the IWB with my 4 SA girls on Friday. I can be more relax for this class coz I've finished the syllabus for the mid year exam. Thank you Poh Liang for calibrating the board for me. Got Mesia, Sukania and Yuet Ting to use the IWB for solving some problems on sets. It took some time to get used to writing on the board. The good thing is we don't have to rub the board, we just have to flip to a new page and all the workings that were done can be saved directly to my laptop. Furthermore whatever we wrote on the board can be captured and turned into a movie (i'll post the movie we captured on that day here)

The questions I use was from the modules on sets (questions 4, 6 and 7) available on the extra worksheet link. Answers are also provided there.

Extra Lessons

Had an extra session with my 5 KA girls on Thursday at Hazira's place. Surprised to see Hidayah (my ex-5SE 2008 student) there. It turned out that hidayah is hazira's elder sister. Glad to know that she'll be joining KDU to take a hotel management course there. Wish her the all the best in her studies. Five students were there at the session namely fatin, nina, siti, farhain and hazira. Glad to see that they're very serious for this upcoming mid year exam. We manage to cover 4 topics - sets, graph function, number bases and matrices and yes, they were able to solve all the problems given correctly. See...,math is not so bad after all. Used the PATS worksheets prepared by Pn Noraizah (thank you for that). I'll post the worksheets and answers asap. Manage to work closely with Farhain this time. I think she needs the extra coaching coz she's been missing quite a number of classes due to her Police Cadet activities. Hopefuly we'll get to continue our sessions again. I know the students can do much better if they put in more efforts in their studies. The best present for any teacher is to see that that their students are successful.

Revision Again

Did more revision for my Form 4SA girls. Some students still need to do more exercises (Students can download more questions from the extra worksheet site link). Some are tired of doing the same things over and over again. I gave time for them to do their stuff during half of the math lesson (feel a bit guilty coz I'm suppose to use the time fully). Got to think of what to do for Friday class.

Thank you to the teacher from SMS Muzaffar Shah for all the modules. That's the beauty of internet. You are able to share and use the vast resources that are available on the net.

Solving Simultaneous Equations using Matrices

Did this topic in my 5KA class today. Had to rush thru a little bit coz this topic will be included in the mid year exam which will start next Monday.Very happy to see most of them are able to solve the problems given. I was told by my students that Datin Lee taught them this topic when I was away. Thank you Datin for making my job easier. Gave them some homework from the textbook. Hope they will complete it by the next class coz I really need to rush to cover the topic for the midyear exam. I consider the 5KA girls my special girls and I really hope they can do well in their exam. These are the things that were done in class today

Simultaneous equations can also be solved using matrices


Example:

Using matrices, calculate the values of x and y for the following simultaneous equations:

2x – 2y – 3 = 0

8 y = 7x + 2

Solution:

Step 1: Write the equations in the form ax + by = c

2x – 2y – 3 = 0 ⇒ 2x – 2y = 3

8y = 7x + 2 ⇒ 7x – 8y = –2

Step 2: Write the equations in matrix form.




Step 3: Find the inverse of the 2 × 2 matrix.

Determinant = (2 × –8) – (–2 × 7) = – 2




Step 4: Multiply both sides of the matrix equations with the inverse







So, x = 14 and y = 12.5

You can download extra questions on matrices from the site links

Sekolah Bestari (Smart School)

Was away for two days last week for Seminar Sedekad Sekolah Bestari(Smart School) in Sekolah Alam Shah Putrajaya. Didn't realised that i've been involved with the Smart School for almost a decade already. Did the Smart School had any effect on me? Definately the answer is yes. I don't think I'll be in this position now if it's not for the Smart School. I was exposed to so many things on ICT that I wouldn't have if I'm not in the Smart School. Did see some interesting presentation from students from selected Smart Schools around the country. The Victoria Institution (VI) Band was fantastic. No wonder they are able to go internationally. The Sekolah Alam Shah Wind Orchestra was also impressive as all the other presentations by the other students like the research done by the Tunku Kurshiah College Girls, robotic and F1 by the Alam Shah boys and the use of I-Kit in teaching & learning by 2 teachers from SMK (P) Temenggong Ibrahim, Johor. I really think that students nowdays are a lucky lot to experience all these while still in school. I didn't had that oppurtinity when I was in school (that was ages ago). So students, make the best of your years in school, there's so many things to look forward to.

Posted here are some photos on the VI Band (courtesy of BTP)