Seminar Recap: How to Have a Good Start in Learning Math Olympiad for K2&P1

张涛老师

Seminar Recap: How to Have a Good Start in Learning Math Olympiad for K2&P1   

For children in K2–P1, learning the Math Olympiad is a crucial stage for developing strong attitude and thinking habits. Many parents wonder: When should my child start? and How can I help my child get off to a good start?

To help parents gain clarity, Tr. Jeremiah hosted a seminar featuring Tr. Smith, Head of the P1 Department and Lead Teacher of P1-P3 at Kangaroo Learning Center, to deliver a structured and practical seminar on August 15, 6:00–7:30 PM.

1. Meet Our Speaker

Tr. Smith is the Head of the Primary 1 Department and the lead teacher for the P1–P3 Math Olympiad program. Recognized for excellence in teaching, he was awarded the "Best Young Teacher"in Singapore by Fang Tian Education in 2024.

His students have consistently achieved remarkable results. In 2024, during the P5 NMOS, out of eight students, two ranked within the Top 30, and five achieved Gold awards. In 2025, his P6 students excelled in multiple competitions: out of ten students in the RMO, two obtained High Distinctions and four achieved Distinctions. In the SASMO competition, five students earned Gold awards, with one student ranking among the Top 3 in Singapore.

2. Seminar Highlights

17:30 | Parents Arrival & Registration

Parents and students began arriving for registration 30 minutes before the seminar. Many came early, ready to take notes and capture key points.

18:00｜Seminar Officially Begins

Teacher Smith began by addressing two of the most common questions parents have: “What is Math Olympiad?” and “Why Should Children Learn It?”

He explained that while the Math Olympiad can be challenging, it is also deeply rewarding then outlined the three key elements to getting a “good start” in Math Olympiad:

• Self-awareness of Understanding — True understanding means “you won’t easily forget it, and you can explain it clearly to others.”
• Right Attitude — Not fearing difficult problems, valuing the thinking process, and avoiding the mindset of “just looking for the answer.”
• Right Habits — Reviewing mistakes promptly, summarizing methods, and continuously reinforcing what has been learned.
  

18:50｜Joint Effort from Parents and Children

Tr. Smith shared not only how parents can support their children during the early stages of Math Olympiad preparation, but also how children themselves can take the initiative to improve.

What Parents Can Do:

Use the Feynman Technique for questioning — Ask “Can you explain this to me?” or “Why is this so?” instead of the closed-ended “Do you understand?”, to encourage children to express and think for themselves.

What Children Can Do:

• Avoid Mindless Imitation — Think independently first before referring to solutions.
• Don’t Take Notes Immediately — Focus on understanding before writing things down.
• Can Explain to Someone — The best way to check if you’ve truly understood.
• Don’t Feel Embarrassed About Asking Questions — Never fear asking questions or making mistakes; remember that wrong questions are precious.
  

Support Your Child’s Mindset in Three Ways:

1️⃣ Gain Objective — Help children understand the purpose and direction of their learning so they can study with motivation.
2️⃣ Avoid Projecting Your Own Perspective — Listen more and allow children to explore and express their own ideas.
3️⃣ Use Success to Fuel Progress — Acknowledge effort and achievements promptly, turning a sense of accomplishment into sustained motivation.

Master The Art of Managing Mistakes (Manage Wrong Questions) by Following a Three-step Approach:

1️⃣ Error Autopsy: Identify the root cause of the mistake.
2️⃣ Summary: Extract key problem-solving steps and methods.
3️⃣ 3× Correction Rule: Correct and reattempt the question three times to ensure full mastery.

Throughout the session, parents listened attentively and captured key moments, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.

7:30 PM – Exclusive 2 Lessons & Learning Kits

Every attending parent received an exclusive learning kit to help their children continue practicing at home:

• 《Mastering Number Sense》- 15 days step-by-step learning and practice along with the 5 fundamental math olympiad topics
• 《Little Olympian》– 7 years of past papers questions from top competitions like SASMO, SMKC and Spring Cup.
  

All booklets are specially designed by Kangaroo Learning Center to reinforce class learning and build a strong foundation.

Students were able to enjoy 2 lessons at $20, exclusively for parents attending the seminar, by scanning the QR code to register.

3. Parent Feedback

After the seminar, many parents stayed to discuss strategies with Tr. Smith on how to plan their children’s Math Olympiad learning more effectively.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive! Parents appreciated the practical content, found the teaching methods clear and insightful, and mentioned that they themselves also learned valuable strategies alongside their children. Many expressed hope that Kangaroo Learning Center will continue hosting similar seminars to support more children in strengthening their math skills and confidence.

4. Closing Remarks
This seminar not only helped parents to understand the importance of starting Math Olympiad learning early, but also provided parents with actionable strategies for both short-term and long-term development.
   
We look forward to bringing you more seminars, resources, and updates.
     
For more information, please contact our Head of Lower Primary Tr. Zhang Tao, via the QR code below.