singapore
math
where east meets west
Yeap Ban Har & Char Forsten
Keynote Session
13 July 2009
www.banhar.blogspot.com

singapore
math
where east meets west
the contexts in which the
strategies are used are
significant in producing high-
achievement

singapore
math
where east meets west
seven
things
about
singapore
stuff you already know math
plus further insights into these

singapore
math
where east meets west
emphasis on
problem solving
Reference: Singapore Ministry of Education 2006

singapore
math
where east meets west
emphasis on
problem solving
is not a rhetoric

singapore
math
where east meets west
emphasis on
problem solving
in the
national
test

singapore
math
where east meets west
Example of 1-point Items Example of 2-point Items
Which of the following Adrian and Bala shared the total cost of a present. Adrian
numbers is the largest? paid $15 more than 3/8 of the cost of the present. Bala
(2)6.59 paid $25. How much did the present cost?
(3)6.95 (2)$160 (2) $64 (3) $40 (4) $16
(4)6.509
(5)6.905
A movie started at 11.45 Prawns are sold at $1.35 per In the figure below, ABCD is
a.m. The movie was 2 hours 100 g at a market. What is a square, AED is an
25 minutes long. What time the price of 1.5 kg of equilateral triangle and BFD
did the movie end? prawns? is a straight line. Find <AFD
A B
F
E
D C
Reference: Singapore Examinations & Assessment Board 2004-2008

singapore
math
where east meets west
Item Type Point Per Item Total Points
Multiple-Choice 1 20%
15 items 2
Short- Answer 1 30%
20 items 2
Long-Answer 3 50%
13 items 4
5
Reference: Singapore Examinations & Assessment Board

singapore
math
where east meets west
school programs
include
enrichment
for
all students
Photos: Wellington Primary School. Singapore

A shop sells bicycles for adults and children. The adult bicycles come in 2
colour choices: black and white. The children bicycles come in 3 colour
choices: red, blue and green. Mr Tan wants to buy a bicycle for himself and
another one for his son. How many different colour choices does he have to
buy both bicycles?
A shop sells bicycles for adults and children. The adult bicycles come in 2
colour choices: black and white. The children bicycles come in 4 colour
choices: red, blue, green and purples. Mr Tan wants to buy a bicycle for
himself and another one for his son. How many different colour choices does
he have to buy both bicycles?
A shop sells bicycles for adults and children. The adult and children choose
from any of these colours: red, blue, green, yellow and purple. bicycles come
in 2 colour choices: black and white. The children bicycles come in 3 colour
choices: red, blue and green. Mr Tan wants to buy a bicycle for himself and
another one for his son. How many different colour choices does he have to
buy both bicycles?
Materials that delve deeper into a basic
topic are used as part of the regular
singapore
math
program. For example, this school uses a
textbook plus teacher-produced
worksheets such as this to enrich
students’ ideas about multiplication.
where east meets west

Source: Maris Stella High (Primary) School, Singapore

Source: Maris Stella High (Primary) School, Singapore

complex problem solving
is expected of every student
In twice-a-year tests designed by
the schools, problems such as
this one are given to challenge
students. However, there is an
expectation that every
student makes significant
effort to acquire the ability to
solve such problems.
Source: Raffles Girls’ Primary School, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
parental
expectations
Photos: Seminar for Parents on Problem Solving

singapore
math
where east meets west
emphasis on
concrete to
pictorial to abstract
representations
Photo: Catholic High School (Primary) Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
especially on
the model method
Photo: mathz4kidz Learning Center, Malaysia

A lion weighs 135 kg. A cow
weigh 87 kg more than the lion.
An elephant weighs 139 more
than the cow. How heavy is the
elephant? (Primary 2)
Photo: Telok Kurau Primary School, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
presence of
‘safety nets’

singapore
math
where east meets west
learning support program
at entry point
Photo: Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

Variation in
kindergartens
Kindergarten is not part of
formal schooling.
Pre-school education
varies in types and
quality.
Teachers’ qualification
ranges from O-Levels to
masters degrees in early
childhood. Monthly fees
range from $65 to more
than $1000.
Photo: PCF Kindergarten Telok Blangah, Singapore

Variation in
kindergartens
Kindergartens that the
majority of Singapore
children attend are run by
grass-root organizations
and they struggle to
provide a high-quality
program due to lack of
resources and qualified
teachers.
One such provider of
kindergarten education is
the PCF Kindergartens
which has 255
kindergartens out of 485 Also, 50% of first-graders in Singapore come
kindergartens in from non-English speaking environment.
Singapore.
Photo: PCF Kindergarten Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
foundation mathematics
at halfway point
Photo: Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
teacher-initiated
intervention
Photo: Telok Kurau Primary School, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
teacher training
pre-service
Photo: Princess National Institute of Education, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
Photo: Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore
professional development
in-service
Photo: Hougang Primary School, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
teacher learning
from textbooks

singapore
math
where east meets west

singapore
math
where east meets west

TIMSS
1995 to 2007
Grade 4
Advanced 38 38 41
High 70 73 74
Intermediate 89 91 92
Low 96 97 98
Catholic High School (Primary), Singapore

TIMSS 2007
Grade 4
Advanced 24 40 41
High 66 81 74
Intermediate 92 97 92
Low 99 100 98
Catholic High School (Primary), Singapore

TIMSS 2007
Grade 8
Advanced 2 2 40
High 15 18 70
Intermediate 46 50 88
Low 75 82 97
Northlight School, Singapore

singapore
math
where east meets west
• emphasis on problem solving
• high-stakes tests include problem solving
• enrichment opportunities for all
• high expectations of children by parents
• pedagogies that facilitate learning
• multi-pronged intervention strategies
• professional development strategies

singapore
math
where east meets west
banhar.yeap@nie.edu.sg
www.banhar.blogspot.com
for addresses of websites and blogs of various
aspects of singapore math
thank you