From Supergirl Dhruti to Priya Aunty!

Dhruti joined Maths2Art around a year back. I still remember her back then – the sheer hatred for Math, the clear disinterest in learning, the usual “I am not good at it” notion.

She had somehow decided that Math was not for her and she could never be good at it.

This is how her notebook looked like.

I noticed that she had a hobby – sketching designer models. I praised her drawings and saw her brighten up. I assured her that at Maths2Art, I wholeheartedly supported such creative hobbies and she could manage her interests very well once she took charge of her studies. I shared the story of fashion designer Dr Mark Liu with her and she was amazed to see how Maths can be used for fashion designing.

We started working together.

I explained her Math concepts in my usual “simple and visual” style to ignite her curiosity, encourage her creativity and nurture her intuition.

She slowly started asking more questions. She made mistakes, she stumbled, she even performed poorly, but she didn’t give up. She slowly started to regain the faith that she too could be good at Maths. She realised that she too could understand Math concepts.

And then, I started to see progress! I could see an amazing positive transformation in her. Her outlook towards learning had completely changed !

This is how her notebook looks like now.

She has marked her working herself and found out her mistake as well. (take a look at second worksheet)

To identify your own mistakes is the most crucial part of any learning journey!

She is a self-learner now.

Using her self-learning skill, she gave me a new surprise. She made a ‘Thank you” video using a website called Powtoon.

Initially, she made a video using an app called ‘Episodes’. However I was not able to view it without downloading the app. So she looked out for better ways to create such animation videos, she stumbled upon Powtoon and found it quite cool.

This is the beautiful output of her summer holiday self-learning project. She learnt this animation skill on her own! Dhruti, you make me proud!

Here is the script of the animation

Hello !

I am one of Priya Aunty’s students, Dhruti!

I’m 12 years old and I believe that Priya Aunty is one of the best teachers in the world!

I begged my mom to not send me to any maths tuition cuz I hate math. I just don’t understand it….

I can’t believe I met someone as great as Priya Aunty!

I was so shy on the first day I got here.

I thought she would scold me a lot cuz I ain’t good at Maths and all….

But soon enough (the first day lol) I began to like her so much !! I went home the first day and told my mom how amazing she is at teaching.

I can’t really say she teaches us But she definitely does pester us until we finish and go home 🙂 ( I know she agrees about that too Lol)

She is the best math teacher I have ever had.

At Maths2Art, I mentor my students to be self learners, rational thinkers and creative artists.

June 29, 2018

I am now able to connect everyday things to help my maths.

Love letters don’t have any fixed format and this time, one of my love letter looks like this. Thank you very much Iona for taking out time and putting together all these points so nicely.

You guys are the true Ambassadors of Maths2Art.

Iona is a grade 10 student, studying at UWCSEA school. She joined Maths2Art last year. In next few weeks, her family will be relocating to another country. Before going, she gave me this beautiful piece of paper. It means a lot to me Iona.

Here’s what Iona has written

Dear everyone at maths2art,

Maths2art has helped me not only become better at maths, but has made me appreciate the ‘art’ behind maths. Before doing maths2art, I struggled to find ways to make problems easy by connecting maths to life, however with the help of Priya I am now able to connect everyday things to help my maths. For example, when I was struggling with functions, Priya told me stories of ‘tomatoes’ and ‘blenders’ , to help me understand it better.

I really enjoy reading Priya’s stories and hearing of new things she is doing every week not only to help her students but everyone. It has really motivated me to try harder. Priya unlike any other maths centre I’ve heard of really strives for self study and encourages you so that you feel confident without her. It reminds me of the quote ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Thank you,

Iona

Grade10, UWCSEA school

Iona, I am so proud of you for the journey you have covered. I sincerely wish that more children come out of their Math struggle and connect this beautiful and useful subject to everyday things around them just like you.

April 19, 2018

“I can never do Maths” is just a Myth!

Thank you Hatice Toprak Yong for sharing with me this cute & sincere letter written by your daughter and my student Miray ! I am happy & humbled to receive such a beautiful feedback by a primary 3 student.

Miray, you have made us all believe that “I am not good at Maths” is just a myth. We all can do it and ‘see’ Maths all around us.

I sincerely wish that more children come out of the Math anxiety zone and experience the Joy of Learning.

Here’s what Miray’s mother has written:

Hi we found Priya just right in time. My daughter did not enjoy the maths before and subject was going very fast in P3 , she gave my daughter confidence and with her gentle teaching , my daughter excelled and passed her test with good marks . Most importantly she steers children towards self studying. Here is a letter written by my daughter . Thank you teacher Priya .

And here’s what Miray has written:

At first I thought “I can never do Maths” And one day, my mother, my father and I met Teacher Priya. She said everything that I needed to know. Teacher Priya said I could improve in my Maths in a week ! I was surprised. I thought to myself “This would never work for me”. But I said ‘Yes’ to try it out.

The first time I went to Teacher Priya’s place, I enjoyed myself. It was very fun working with Teacher Priya. Teacher Priya will always encourage you to Maths. She will tell you the right ways to do maths.

Finally I got the in the middle of the year exam paper’s back. I did not pass for Maths. I felt sad but teacher Priya said that we have another chance in SA2.

We practiced and practiced until my hands got tired but we practiced in a fun way. When I made mistakes, I learn them again. It was finally the time for my SA2.

I did my SA2 knowing what I was doing. It was easy. The day I got my SA2 paper back I could not dare to look but then I found out I was ……. 2 TOP in class ! I got a notebook from my teacher in school. I got 55 & 1/2 out of 80!

The next day I did a Maths Quiz and I got 4 out of 6 and I was the one going up on stage reciving the prize from the principle. I was so proud ! A lot of thanks to teacher Priya!

by: Miray, Haig girls school

November 16, 2017

“You have now taught me how to self study.”

Thanks a ton darling for this lovely hand-written note ! It made my day ! You have motivated me to coach more students for self study.

I am so proud of you for the journey you have covered – from being ‘Scared’ or ‘Nervous’ to being a happy ‘Self Learner’ !

Let me make one fundamental correction in your note though – It was not just my efforts , it was the hard work that you put in which eventually paid off. So the bigger credit goes to you. Keep it up and be an awesome self learner!

You can surely come anytime to clear your doubts and I will tell the least as usual 😉 I will help you find the solution yourself.

Here’s what she wrote –

To Priya Aunty,

Feedback –

Thank you for all your effort you have always been giving . You have now taught me how to self study. But, I still will come to clear my doubts.

After you make me understand the topic, (visually) and then if I make a silly mistake, there were 5 more questions waiting for me until the topic is understood and simple to do. You have even got me to get rid of my fear of studying maths! I have received a lot of self-confidence from you! I used to get scared or nervous when I was trying to solve a math problem, thinking that it will be wrong! Now I have become confident with my answer, because of you. Thank you for your effort once again!

From:

Your student,

Arushi

PS : Arushi joined Maths2Art in 2015 when she was in grade 4.Currently, she is a proud Self Learner student of grade 6.

June 28, 2017