No Fear in Learning Math for These Grade 4 Kids
Math may be the most feared subject for many Filipino learners, but not the students of Bagong Buhay I and E Elementary Schools in Bulacan. At the MathDali Graduation held last 28 March 2017, Grade 4 pupils who have shown excellence in the subject were recognized in a simple yet meaningful ceremony.
Two awardees from Bagong Buhay E Elementay School, Mary Andrea Boraga and Gelaiza Bernardo shared their experiences.
“Tuwing math subject po, parang tinatamad ako kasi po medyo mahirap yung pinagaaralan (I don’t feel excited when it’s our Math subject. It’s so difficult, I feel lazy),” Mary Andrea said. “Pero po nung dumating na po yung MathDali, excited na po ako. Nagkakamali man po kami, lalo po kaming natututo. (But when we started watching MathDali, I got excited. Even if we make mistakes, we still learn.)” Mary got a perfect score in their Math posttest.
WATCH: Kids sing and dance to the MathDali Theme Song!
“Nahihirapan po ako noon. Minsan po sumusuko nalang po ako kapag po hindi ko po nasagutan yung Math problem (I had a hard time before. I just gave up when I could not answer a Math problem),” Gelaiza said. “Ngayon napakasaya po kasi may natutunan po kami at nakakapag-review din po kami. (Now I enjoy learning Math. We also get to review the topics.)”
Students also handed a dozens of letters and posters thanking Knowledge Channel Foundation. In one letter, fourth grader Martin Sia wrote:
“Maraming salamat ng sobra po sa inyong pagtuturo sa amin. Sa inyong tulong hindi kami nahirapang mag-aral ng Math. Yun ay natutunan namin sa paraan ng “magtanong, mag-isip at huwag matakot magkamali.” Dahil po sa inyo nagkaroon po ako ng kumpiyansa sa sarili upang mag-aral ng mabuti ng Math. Natutulungan niyo po kaming maging kreatibo sa pagsagot sa Math problems. Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng paghihirap po ninyong ginawa. Thank you MathDali!”
(Thank you so much for teaching us. Learning Math became easier with your help. We learned by asking, thinking critically, and not fearing from making mistakes. Because of your program, we gained the confidence to learn the subject well. You taught us to answer Math problems creatively. Thank you MathDali!)
MathDali is one of Knowledge Channel’s newest shows with the aim to increase the interest and confidence of Filipino children in learning the subject. The 20-minute production challenges and encourages learners how to solve equations and answer numerical problems. It is hosted by celebrity youth icon Robi Domingo, along with teen stars Joj and Jai Agpangan, Igiboy Flores, and Vic Robinson.
Text by Michael Ramos