Dr. Maths is a mathematics learning program designed for children in the age group of 5 - 12 years or classes 1 - 6. The Dr. Maths program comprises two basic components: the Foundation component and the Supplementary component. The Foundation component is a carefully sequenced self-learning program for each class. The Supplementary component gives you and your child access to additional online resources on the Dr. Maths website.
The Foundation program for each grade is divided into 12 modules, each covering a particular topic relevant to that grade. Children who sign up for the program through an annual subscription will get 4 quarterly packs of modules that will cover the entire curriculum for that grade.
This part of the program is entirely on-line with a user log-in. It comprises of the following:a) Assessment: short multiple choice tests your child can take after completing a specific module of his / her classb) Game links: Interactive games that make concept learning exciting and fun c) Tutorial links: A selection of the best online tutorials that provide a lucid explanation of key concepts.
We suggest you do not as there is a deliberate and planned progression in the sequencing. Try and get your child to do the sheets in the same order that they are in. Even if your child is finding some worksheets easy, encourage her to do it. They are meant to build "math confidence" that will come in handy when the program takes her to the next level.
Each module has a few (minimum of 5) sheets that are meant to enrich the child’s learning. The enrichment sheets should be attempted by the child after completing the whole module. These sheets mostly require thinking skills of a higher order as the child applies his or her knowledge to more challenging situations or problems. Some children may require assistance in undertaking the task outlined in the sheets while others may see it as an enjoyable challenge!
At the end of every module, is a Mixed Bag of questions covering all concepts and sub-concepts that have been taken up in the module. These sheets can be used for revision, review or assessment.
At the end of every module, is a Mixed Bag of questions covering all concepts and sub-concepts that have been taken up in the module. These sheets can be given to the child as an assessment; do ensure no assistance is given to the child while he/she attempts the Mixed Bag so as to be able to get a better picture of the child’s understanding. In addition, your child can take the online assessments related to that module. Together, the Mixed Bag and the online assessment will give you a fair idea of where your child stands.
A child not performing well on the Mixed bag section could be due to various reasons and not because he/she has not understood the concept taught in that module. Our suggestion would be to see the areas he/she has not performed well, and do those sections of the module again with your child.
The Dr. Maths curriculum is closely aligned to the school’s early years’ curriculum without replicating the exact textbook pattern and sequence or style. All major topics have been covered as concepts, not chapters. If you have completed the Dr. Maths module along with your school material on a particular concept, you could use the Mixed Bag section of that module for a quick revision and recap of the concept and possible question types. The Mixed Bag section covers all concepts and sub-concepts that have been taken up in the module and takes approximately 30-40 minutes to complete.
In order to assist busy parents to participate in their child’s learning process, we have deliberately tried to keep the daily study and practice time for the Dr. Maths program at roughly 15 - 20 minutes. Two to three sheets a day is sufficient.
We would recommend that the child spend about 15-20 minutes every day doing the worksheets in the given sequence. However, we understand that pressures of school academics and other activities may not allow your child to work on the program every single day. Hence, at the very minimum, it is advisable that you set up a regular study routine where your child is working on the Dr. Maths module at least four times a week, twice on weekdays and twice over the weekend.
We do not expect the parent to actively assist with the worksheets, except in the lower grades where help may be needed with reading. You may supervise the child and offer assistance where needed but we would recommend that you get your child into the habit of independent learning as early as possible. In order to assist busy parents to participate in their child’s learning process, we have deliberately tried to keep the daily study and practice time for the Dr. Maths program at roughly 15-20 minutes. Of course, we suggest that you use the Parent Tips to add variety, richness and fun to the learning process.
It has been our objective to create simple yet appealing worksheets that the child will be able to attempt largely on his or her own. They are designed to excite and engage the child’s mind. The progression is gentle, deliberate and focused. The sheets are designed to keep parental time involvement at a minimal level, except where help is needed with reading in the lower grades. After using the worksheets, we are sure you will feel the same way. At the same time we know that children differ greatly in their style of learning. While some children are independent learners, others need active involvement and assistance from the parent. We leave it to you to discover and decide the correct level of involvement for your child.
Each module has tips for parents on how to add value to the child's learning. These parent tips are referenced to worksheet numbers for easy understanding and usage. Apart from reinforcing the child’s learning, the parent can use the tips to build a sense of comfort and `fun’ surrounding mathematics. This will help the child to develop a strong liking for the subject and create great ‘quality time’ opportunities for you and your child.
Progress is a feature of all learning societies and so it is in the Dr.Maths program. Yes, you should evaluate your child’s work and progress by using the answer keys provided though it is not critical that this is done on a daily basis. Your child will be able to move on to the later sheets even if a few days work is not checked.
Where needed, (especially where the knowledge is of procedural nature such as a series of steps or method) the program includes Explanation sheets, giving step by step instructions for doing a particular type of ‘sum’ or calculation. In addition, solved examples are provided when new concepts or techniques are introduced. We also provide an answer key for each worksheet to assist you/the child.
There is no clear and universal answer to this question. The number will vary depending on the age of the child, the topic being studied and the complexity of the worksheets. Two to three worksheets every day should be sufficient but some children may want to do more. As the parent and administrator of the program at home, this decision will have to be made by you and we are confident that you will do it well since you know your child best. While too little time spent will mean no learning is taking place, please remember that overloading the child with too many worksheets can also be counter-productive.
Dr. Maths focuses more on the “Why” while speed mathematics programs target the “How”. While doing something quickly is indeed helpful, it is equally (if not more) important to understand why we are doing it. In Dr. Maths, the focus is on logic and concepts rather than memorising the technique or algorithm. For the child, it becomes more enjoyable and less stressful if he or she understands why a particular procedure is being followed. Also, in the program all new knowledge is linked to previously acquired knowledge and not presented in discrete, unrelated bytes. As a result, our students are able to ‘construct meaning’ for themselves ensuring that learning is long term and permanent…it is for no small reason that our tag line reads: Fun fearless learning at its best!
We do understand that some children do not share what is being done at school. If you are aware of the concept which is being dealt with at your child’s school, you could use the Dr. Maths module related to that concept to reinforce at home. In our modules, concepts are explained in a friendly format that talks to the child through simple instruction, solved examples and a `do-it-yourself’ routine. Each concept is broken into smaller sub-concepts so that learning is easier for the child. Abundant use of visual representation keeps the child engaged and makes the explanation more effective.
Dr. Maths wants that the time you spend doing maths with your child should be FUN for both of you. The Parent Tips section of each module provides useful ideas, activities and games for the parent to use outside the formal learning setting. Not only does this supplement the child’s learning but gives you a great opportunity to bond with and have fun with your child.
There are many mathematics learning programs available and it can be quite difficult to make a choice. We understand your dilemma. As parents, you will no doubt make the best choice and decision for your child. To assist you in understanding and evaluating the program better, we would like to refer you to the `What is Dr. Maths?’ and `Why this Program?’ sections.
We have found that while there might be minor differences, the mathematical concepts are fairly similar across all the Boards, particularly from grades 1 to 6. Therefore, we do not have different worksheets for different Boards and we are confident that students from different boards will find them equally useful and relevant. Rather than producing another cloned text-book, we have attempted to create a unique learning program using our accumulated experience of working with children in this age group, something that will offer great value to you and your child.
A student’s ability to use mathematics effectively involves appropriate use of symbols, signs, notations and terms. These often turn into stumbling blocks unless students are provided an opportunity and are encouraged to read, write and discuss the processes undertaken. As students communicate their ideas, they are simultaneously extending, refining and consolidating their learning. As you use the program, you will notice that our sheets use a lot of language and speak-aloud techniques.
No, none at all. A jar of old buttons or kidney-beans (rajma) will do and you don’t have to buy them!
The format of the Mixed Bag and the online assessments is quite different. The Mixed Bag is more detailed and may require longer calculations while the online assessments are multiple choice questions that are a quick test of your child’s understanding of the module. The online assessments require application of concepts learnt in the module and will develop analytical and critical thinking skills in your child. These can be timed and hence your child will learn to think and work faster.
You will be able to view the correct answers for the online assessments and see where your child has gone wrong. This can point you in the right direction for further practice. Your child can take the online assessments any number of times and you will be able to view the best 3 scores for every module.
The online assessments for class 1 and 2 comprise ten questions while classes 3-6 have 20 questions in all. In case you pick the `timer’ option, you get 30 minutes for class 1 and 2 and 45 minutes for class 3-6. At the end of the time limit, the test will be submitted automatically whether or not your child has completed it. Also, during an assessment, if the computer is idle for more than 5 minutes, the test times itself out and your child will need to start over.
We recommend that you walk your child through the entire process for the first online assessment, especially for grades 1 and 2. Subsequently, your child may be able to complete the assessment on his own. We have tried to keep the process easy and simple.
Your child has the option to pick an `easy’ or `difficult’ assessment for every module. These differ in the complexity and difficulty levels of the questions. It may be worthwhile to take a couple of `easy’ tests before opting for the `difficult’ tests. Currently, only the `easy’ option is available on our website. We are in the process of developing more assessments.
If your child does not know a particular question, he can skip the question and carry on with the rest of the test. After the last question, the child gets an opportunity to `Review Answers’ at which time he can either answer the unanswered questions or change any of his earlier answer choices, before he finally submits the test.
After your child completes the assessment and receives his score, you have the option to see the correct answers to all the questions and compare these with your child’s responses.
Your child gets an online certificate as soon as he completes an assessment. There are 3 types of Certificates linked to the child’s performance. Right after each test, the certificate can be printed by you or your child from the website. The certificate is automatically emailed to the parents’ email id, should you wish to print it at a later date. At any time, your child can access his latest certificate through his `My Account’ page on the website.
Your child can repeat the online assessments any number of times. Under the `Progress Record’ tab of My Account, you can view the best 3 scores for every module and the dates on which these were taken. This will help you monitor your child’s performance and ensure that he is on the right track.
You have the option of creating a Multiple Module Assessment for your child by choosing questions from two to six modules. After you pick these modules, your child’s assessment will automatically comprise a mix of questions from the selected modules.
The Multiple Module assessment can be useful in very many ways. It can help your child to prepare for a test or exam. It can help you to measure his retention and understanding of several modules that he has completed previously.
Dr Maths has identified some of the best free video tutorials available online to help you and your child understand key mathematical concepts better. As your child works on a particular module, you can supplement his learning through the related video links provided on our website. Many of these explain the concepts in a lucid and effective manner. These can be very helpful for your child by improving his conceptual understanding and reinforcing the learning at school.
We have put together a whole collection of interactive math games that will get your child really excited. These have been sourced from the internet and have been linked to the relevant Dr. Maths module. We have tried to make it simpler for you by giving a brief description of each game so you can pick exactly which concept you want to ‘play’ with.
Our children are living in the digital age and they are intuitively `tech-savvy’. Interactive games can be a very effective means of motivating children and getting them excited about something. The game links we have put together pertain to tried and tested games and you can let your child play these without any apprehensions. We have linked these games to the relevant Dr. Maths modules so that you do not have to plough through the enormous options on the internet to find something that will be useful for you and your child.
In case some links are not opening on your browser, you may need to refresh your browser and delete the cookies from your browser history. It may also help to use a different browser. We would recommend that you use Google Chrome, although most links will work equally well on the Internet Explore and Mozilla.
The Dr. Maths workshops are unique hands-on maths workshops where we work on exciting activities and games to encourage children to apply their concepts and skills to real-life situations. Each workshop deals with 2 or 3 concepts that are appropriate for that age-group. The setting is informal, interactive and enjoyable and the learning from such activities and games can often be very effective and permanent.
Dr. Maths is attempting to make these workshops available in different parts of Delhi NCR by rotation. Please watch our website for announcements on the dates and venues of future workshops.
If you are keen to enrol your child for one of the Dr. Maths workshops, please call at 98105-62847 or write to info@drmaths.com and we will give you all the information you need.
The workshops are very attractively priced in the range of Rs. 500 for a 90 minute workshop.
We thought long and hard about this. Our view is that a 1-month period is too short to gauge the effectiveness of the program. But we are also aware that you would like to make an informed decision. So please see the "Sample the Program" section where we have some sample worksheets. If you have more questions on the program drop us an email at subscribe@drmaths.com and we will do what we can to make you more comfortable before you make a subscription decision.
Yes, you can. However, we would advise you to time your subscription with the start of your child’s academic year. In case you have missed subscribing to the program at the start of the academic year, we suggest you opt for the 6 month subscription for the current class choosing either the first 6 or the last 6 modules. For the next class you can begin your subscription at the start of the academic year.
Sure. It will be treated as a regular subscription.
Trust us. We have your child’s best interest in mind when we insist you follow the program sequence at our pace. We will send you quarterly packs.
It will be delivered through a reliable courier every quarter to the address provided by you.
We will send you an email on despatch. In case you do not receive your packet within 7 days of despatch, please write to us so we may track your package and ensure delivery.
We currently deliver to the major cities in India. Our distribution reach is expanding rapidly. Please email us at info@drmaths.com to check if your location is covered.
You certainly can. Please drop us an email referring to your subscription number and we will send you a confirmation. You can also change your address online through your account that is set up for you when you sign up. The earlier you are able to provide us the changed address, the better it is. Please provide us up to 15 working days to update our system. We usually do it quicker but would like to keep a safety margin, just in case. You may also receive a call from us to confirm you have asked for a change. This is only to ensure that there is no slip up.
We’re afraid that is not possible.