Singapore Math Administrators Symposium, Chicago

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Singapore Math Administrators Symposium
 Chicago  27 – 29 January 2011
Yeap Ban Har banhar@sg.marshallcavendish.com
www.marshallcavendish.com/education/mci

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Session 
 Mathematics as a Thinking Tool
 Importance of Initial Concrete Experiences
Emphasis on Conceptual Understanding

mathematics
a thinking
tool

Revision of the Curriculum
1992
2001
2007
2013
thinking
curriculum and standards

TIMSS 2007
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies
Indonesia
Thailand
Malaysia
Singapore
International
Grade 8
Advanced
2
3
0
40
2
High
15
12
4
70
18
Intermediate
46
44
14
88
50
Low
75
66
48
97
82
Method Used in Singapore Textbooks

Experiencing
Singapore Math
A
C
B
In the diagram, ACEG and BDFH are squares. AB, CD, EF and GH are of the same length. The ratio of AB : BC is 2 : 1.
What fraction of square ACEG is shaded?
Grade 6 National Test Item
Singapore Examination and Assessment Board 2010
H
D
G
E
F

Experiencing
Singapore Math
A
C
B
H
D
G
E
F

Experiencing
Singapore Math
A
C
B

H

D
G
E
F

concrete
introduction

“… in which at some simple level a set of ideas or operations were introduced in a rather intuitive way …”
Bruner 1975, p.3-4

Experiencing
Singapore Math

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Traditional Gift from Singapore ‘Five Stones’

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Session 
 From Concrete to Pictorial

emphasis
visualization

Experiencing
Singapore Math

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Session 
Bar Model Method
Where Does It All Lead To?

emphasis
visualization

Experiencing
Singapore Math

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Dolphin show
1235
275
Bird show
960
1235 – 275 = ?
1235 – 235 – 40 =
960
1235 + 960 = ?
2235 – 40 = 2235 – 35 – 5 =
2195
2195 people attend both shows.

Experiencing
Singapore Math
2 units = $24
2 units = $24
1 unit = $12
The book costs $12.

Experiencing
Singapore Math

Experiencing
Singapore Math
3 units = $24
3 units = $24
1 unit = $8
The book costs $16.
2 units = $16

Experiencing
Singapore Math
3 units = $24
1 unit = $8
4 units = $32
The book costs $32 ÷ 3 = $10.67.
$24

emphasis
variation

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Session 
Variation, Not Repetition
Teach Less, Learn More

Experiencing
Singapore Math

emphasis
variation
connections

Experiencing
Singapore Math

How to make sure the butterfly cannot flyHow do you get a butterfly?First there is the egg which hatches into a caterpillar. The caterpillar eats and grows. At the right time, it makes a cocoon out of its own body. While in the cocoon, the caterpillar changes into a butterfly.When the butterfly is ready, it starts to break through the cocoon. First a hole appears. Then the butterfly struggles to come out through the hole. This can take a few hours.If you try to "help" the butterfly by cutting the cocoon, the butterfly will come out easily but it will never fly. Your "help" has destroyed the butterfly.The butterfly can fly because it has to struggle to come out. The pushing forces lots of enzymes from the body to the wing tips. This strengthens the muscles, and reduces the body weight. In this way, the butterfly will be able to fly the moment it comes out of the cocoon. Otherwise it will simply fall to the ground, crawl around with a swollen body and shrunken wings, and soon die.If the butterfly is not left to struggle to come out of the cocoon, it will never fly.We can learn an important lesson from the butterfly.If we do not have struggles and challenges in our work, we will never grow strong and capable. If life has no difficulties, we will become weak and helpless.Lim Siong GuanHead, Civil Service

Experiencing
Singapore Math
Session 
Current Developments
in Mathematics Instruction in Singapore

Revision of the Curriculum
1992
2001
2007
2013
thinking
curriculum and standards

thinking
textbooks

thinking
pedagogy

PERI Report
2010
engagement
pedagogy

engagement
pedagogy

thinking
national test
of a group of children are boys.
of the boys and 210 girls chose to go on a school trip.
of the children chose not to go on the school trip.
How many children chose to go on the school trip?

210
960 children chose to go.

technology
national test
A type of candy costs 40 cents each.
Find the largest number of candies that can be bought with $95.
$95 ÷ 40 cents = 367.5
The largest number of candies that can be bought is 367.

struggling
learners
system-wide strategies
learning support programs
foundation programs

lessonstudy
professional development

Singapore Math Summer Institute
Worchester State University, MA      6-8 July 2011
where content meets pedagogy
DrYeap Ban Har Dr Richard Bisk  Several Other Singapore Presenters 
Contact melissaooi@sg.marshallcavendish.com

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Singapore Math Administrators Symposium, Chicago

by Jimmy Keng on Jan 31, 2011

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