Padmapriya Shirali is Part of the Community Math Centre based in Valley School (Bangalore) and Rishi Valley (AP), where she has worked since 1983, teaching a variety of subjects – mathematics, computer applications, geography, economics, environmental studies and Telugu. In the 1990s, she worked closely with the late Shri P K Srinivasan. She was part of the team that created the multi-grade elementary learning program of the Rishi Valley Rural Centre, known as ‘School in a Box.’ She is currently part of the NCERT textbook development group.
Padmapriya Shirali
padmapriya.shirali@gmail.com
From the Author
Handbooks
Preparatory (Class 3-5)
Patterns and Pre-Algebra
Mathematics is the study of patterns – in numbers and in geometry, more commonly – but also in the most unexpected places. Patterns are beautiful and catch our attention. All of us notice them either in our surroundings, in clothes, in constructions, and so on.
Handbooks
Foundational (Pre-primary, Class 1-2)
Preparatory (Class 3-5)
Money
Most children witness the usage of money during purchase transactions at grocery stores or vegetable vendor shops. While the usage of digital payments has increased across the country and in all types of transactions, currency (coins and notes) is still used for various payments such as services offered by maids, cobblers, pavement purchases, vending machines, etc. Also, older people continue to be more comfortable with money transactions.
Handbooks
Preparatory (Class 3-5)
Middle (Class 6-8)
As Hot As Math?
The content of the PullOut section has, so far, largely been topic based and focussed on mathematical activities and pedagogy. This particular PullOut is an attempt at integrating mathematics with science concepts in order to develop responsible ways of living. The topic covered- Temperature -is appropriate for upper primary, class 6. The objectives are to understand the concept of temperature and the factors that affect it, discuss and experiment with ways of measurement of temperature and to notice its relationship to our daily living.
Handbooks
Preparatory (Class 3-5)
Mastery of Multiplication
When do we know that a student has mastered a particular concept well? An ability to repeat a learnt process or a practised algorithm is not a necessary indication of mastery. One looks for the ability to apply the concept in situations or contexts, where the concept is embedded indirectly.
Handbooks
Teaching Data Handling
All mathematical topics that are taught in the primary school are born out of the need of children to understand their world. In the process of acquiring and growing in this understanding children encounter various types of numerical data.
Handbooks
Multiplication
Here are some questions which arise while teaching Multiplication: Should children memorise the multiplication tables? What is an easy and convenient way of modeling multiplication? Is it enough if one only teaches the procedure of multiplication? Perhaps answers to these questions can be found if we reflect on the importance we give to construction of knowledge. If we see that children must understand how facts are derived, how procedures are derived and how concepts can be visualized, then our approach will be dictated by that understanding.