Singapore Math
a program for parents
Yeap Ban Har
Marshall Cavendish Institute
Singapore
yeapbanhar@gmail.com
Slides are available at

www.banhar.blogspot.com
 Land
 270 sq miles
 700 sq km

introduction

 People
 5.3 million
 GDP per capita
 1965 USD500
 2012 USD60 000

Junyuan Secondary School, Singapore

in current USD
1982
Introduction of Singapore mathematics
textbooks as they are known today.
1992
Introduction of ProblemSolving Curriculum
1997
Thinking Schools
Learning Nation

Mathematics is “an excellent
vehicle for the development and
improvement of a person’s
intellectual competence”.
Ministry of Education Singapore 2006
features of
a math lesson

Greenridge Primary School, Singapore
SEED Institute, Singapore

Let’s Learn Fractions

Prolonged Engagement
Anchor Task
Bruner
CPA Approach
Greenville Elementary School, New York

2,476 x 3

Bruner
CPA Approach
Vygotsky
Working in Groups
Nanyang Primary School, Singapore
Bruner
Spiral Approach
242 – 128
537 – 272

432 – 178
200 – 18
perentage
correct

Polya
Problem Solving

Singapore

52

International

27
perentage
correct

Singapore

60

International

25
Singapore Math focuses on
the use of visuals and initial
concrete experiences. The
emphasis is not just knowing
how but also knowing why.
Seely Place Elementary School, New York

Edgemont Parents' Evening 2013