8. Why is Singapore Math so successful?
1. Fewer topics in each grade
Singapore U.S.
depth mile wide &
inch deep
9. Why is Singapore Math so successful?
2. The program is aligned
vertically: it doesn’t repeat.
Singapore U.S.
10. Why is Singapore Math so successful?
3. The program is
balanced so
students
understand
math, do the
math, and
apply the math
11. Why is Singapore Math so successful?
4. Uses a concrete to pictorial to
abstract approach to develop
understanding and mastery
?
Abstract
7 + 3 =
Concrete
Pictorial
12. Common Core State Standards
“Conceptual understanding
is not an option, it’s an
expectation.”
-Skip Fennel, February 2011
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Math Panel Advisor
Content Advisor, Common Core
13. Why is Singapore Math so successful?
5. Focuses on place value and
number sense
312
300
2
10
14. Why is Singapore Math so successful?
6. Puts problem solving at theheart
of the curriculum
15. Monitoring one’s own thinking
Self-regulation of learning
Beliefs
Interest
Appreciation
Perseverance
Confidence
Numerical calculation
Algebraic manipulation
Spatial visualisation
Data analysis
Measurement
Use of mathematical
tools
Estimation
Numerical
Algebraic
Geometrical
Statistical
Probabilistic
Analytical
Reasoning,
communication and
connections
Thinking skills and
heuristics
Application and
modeling
Mathematical
Problem
Solving
Concepts
16. Problem solving methods
“WE ARE NOT TEACHING
MATH, WE ARE TEACHING
THINKING THROUGH THE
MEDIUM OF MATH.”
-Dr. Yeap Ban Har, Singapore Ministry of Education
17. Big Ideas in Singapore Math:
1. Number Sense
2. Making Connections
3. Visualization
4. Communication
5. Variation
30. Monitoring one’s own thinking
Self-regulation of learning
Beliefs
Interest
Appreciation
Perseverance
Confidence
Numerical calculation
Algebraic manipulation
Spatial visualisation
Data analysis
Measurement
Use of mathematical
tools
Estimation
Numerical
Algebraic
Geometrical
Statistical
Probabilistic
Analytical
Reasoning,
communication and
connections
Thinking skills and
heuristics
Application and
modeling
Mathematical
Problem
Solving
Concepts
31. There are 3 red marbles and 12 blue
marbles. How many more blue marbles
than red marbles are there?
3
Red
Blue
12
?
Underlining key words - “more” - and
circling numbers don’t always work!
32. Donna has 6 books.
Mary has 8 books.
How many books do they have altogether?
Donna Mary
6 8
?
They have 14 books altogether.
?
86
33. Mary has 28 books. The girls have 96 books
altogether.
What’s the question?
Donna has 68 books.
Donna Mary
? 28
96
96
28?
34. A wading pool is half filled with water. When 12
more gallons of water are added, the pool is
7
8
full.
How many gallons of water can the wading pool
hold?
?
12 gallons
The wading pool can hold 32 gallons.
3 ⃞ 12
1 ⃞ 12 ÷ 3 = 4
8 ⃞ 4 x 8 = 32
