About me
I graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical) and, subsequently, from the National Institute of Education (Nanyang Technological University) with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Before ‘The Brainery,’ I taught in a MOE school for 16 years and subsequently in an international school in Thailand for two years. As a Head of the Department in the Secondary School, I had many opportunities to initiate programs to make learning more experiential and beneficial.
I enjoy student interaction and value the rapport I build with them over time. Every child is different and unique. More importantly, they have the potential to achieve their goals with the right help and mentoring. As a teacher, enthusiasm is essential to me, and I make sure that it is a top priority in all my lessons. My commitment to teaching and my faith in my students always encourage me to give my best to bring out their potential. My confidence in my student’s abilities helps spur them to achieve beyond their expectations.
Teaching Philosophy
The Brainery adopts the ‘Making Thinking Visible Strategies’ and the ‘Growth Mindset’ as its foundation for teaching and learning, which resonates with me. I engage my students using the ‘Making Thinking Visible Strategies’ by giving them a structure, Polya’s four steps Process when problem-solving. I ask students to restate or tell in their own words what the problem is asking. They will tell what they know and what they need to figure out. Next, I have them draw a diagram, sketch, table, or whatever helps show their thinking. I also encourage students to highlight words in the questions that allow them to explain what they are thinking. Then I asked them to explain verbally their steps to solve the problem.
I believe that mindset is more important than initial ability in determining the progress made by students in their mathematical understanding. Students with a growth mindset will make better progress than students with a fixed mindset. I instill in my students a growth mindset to believe in themselves that their mathematics talents can be developed and excellent problem-solving abilities can be built over time. To view mistakes as an opportunity to learn and believe that effort creates success. With a growth mindset, they will think about how they learn and become resilient.
Over the years, I have equipped myself with various pedagogical knowledge and skills in the teaching of the ‘Model Method’ for mathematics problem-solving at the primary school level and integrating ‘Model Method’ with the algebraic method at the secondary school level to help students formulate algebraic equations to solve problems. I was a math mentor in the Differentiated Instruction workshop for subject-based banding teachers. I enjoy the spirit of reflective practice and sharing in the teaching profession.
