1. Differentiated Instruction
Using Singapore Math
Yeap Ban Har
Marshall Cavendish Institute
Singapore
yeapbanhar@gmail.com
Slides are available at
www.banhar.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/MCISingapore

2. One Problem, Every Student:
Differentiated Instruction Using Singapore Math
(Grades 2 – 7)
A workshop presented by Dr. Yeap Ban Har, Principal of Marshall Cavendish Institute.
Learn to differentiate a task to cater to a mixed-ability class. Find out how Singapore
Math is designed to enable all learners to learn mathematics well. Understand how
Singapore Math is designed with adequate scaffold to enable struggling learners to
learn the subject well. At the same time, learn how to extend a task to engage
advanced learners while keeping the lesson accessible to the rest of the class.
Room 115-B (Convention Center)

3. introduction

4.  Land
 270 sq miles
 People
introduction  4.7 million
 GDP per capita
 1965 USD510
 2010 USD43,300
in current USD
Junyuan Secondary School,
Singapore

5. Experiencing
Singapore Math
All major international tests (literacy, science and mathematics) between 1964
and 2003 were placed on a common scale. Selected countries shown in the table.
Score 1960-1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
500 Japan Japan Japan Japan
Korea Korea Korea
Hong Kong Singapore Hong Kong
Hong Kong Singapore
400 Thailand Singapore Malaysia Malaysia
Thailand Thailand Thailand
The Philippines
300 Indonesia Indonesia
The Philippines The Philippines
Reference: E. Hanusek, D. Jamison, E. Jamison & L. Woessmann (2008)

6. This presentation
focuses on one of the
main features of
singapore math Singapore Math which
is based on the
philosophy of Teach
Less, Learn More and
Nurturing Every Child.
Junyuan Secondary School,
Singapore

7. One Problem, Every Student:
Differentiated Instruction Using Singapore Math
A workshop presented by Dr. Yeap Ban Har, Principal of Marshall Cavendish Institute.
Learn to differentiate a task to cater to a mixed-ability class. Find out how Singapore
Math is designed to enable all learners to learn mathematics well.
Understand how Singapore Math is designed with adequate scaffold to enable
struggling learners to learn the subject well. At the same time, learn how to extend a
task to engage advanced learners while keeping the lesson accessible to the rest of the
class.

8. One Problem, Every Student:
Differentiated Instruction Using Singapore Math
A workshop presented by Dr. Yeap Ban Har, Principal of Marshall Cavendish Institute.
Learn to differentiate a task to cater to a mixed-ability class. Find out how Singapore
Math is designed to enable all learners to learn mathematics well.
adequate scaffold
Understand how Singapore Math is designed with
to enable struggling learners to learn the
subject well. At the same time, learn how to extend a task to engage
advanced learners while keeping the lesson accessible to the rest of the class.

9. one
problem

10. example 

11. Addition within 100 Singapore Math is based on
the idea of Spiral
Find the value of 68 – 6 . Curriculum as explained by
Jerome Bruner.
Find the value of 85 – 60 . “A curriculum as it
develops should revisit this
basic ideas repeatedly,
Find the value of 65 – 23 . building upon them until
the student has grasped
the full formal apparatus
Find the value of 54 – 9 . that goes with them.”

12. Example 1 Grade 1 Addition
Find the value of 42 – 17 .



13. Example 1 Grade 1 Addition
Find the value of 42 – 17 .



14. Example 1 Grade 1 Addition
Find the value of 42 – 17 .



15. Example 1 Grade 1 Addition
Find the value of 42 – 17 .



16. Example 1 Grade 1 Addition
Find the value of 32 – 14 .
Anchor Green Primary School, Singapore

17. Example 1 Grade 1 Addition
Find the value of 32 – 14 .
Anchor Green Primary School, Singapore

18. Intellectual activity is anywhere and everywhere,
whether at the frontier of knowledge or in a third-
grade classroom
Jerome Bruner
Mathematics is an excellent vehicle for the
development and improvement of a person’s
intellectual competencies …
Singapore Ministry of Education

19. CPA Approach is a main
feature of Singapore Math.
It is based on Jerome
Bruner’s theory of
representation.
Escuela Guetamala, Vina del Mar, Chile

20. example 

21. Example 2 Grade 4 Mixed Numbers

23. Recommended Lesson Structure
solving one problem
60 minutes
guided consolidation
independent work

24. example 

25. Calvin spent a third of his allowance on a gift and
a fourth of the remainder to buy a book. He then
had $36 left.
What was Calvin’s allowance before he bought
the gift and the book?

26. Calvin spent a third of his allowance on a gift and
a half of the remainder to buy a book. He then
had $36 left.
What was Calvin’s allowance before he bought
the gift and the book?

27. Calvin spent a third of his allowance on a gift and
a fifth of the remainder to buy a book. He then
had $36 left.
What was Calvin’s allowance before he bought
the gift and the book?

28. 8 units = $36
15 units = ?
2 thirds  $45
1 third  $45 2
4 units = $36
5 units = $45
Method 3 Method 3
4 fifths of the remainder = $36 2 thirds of his allowance = $45
The remainder was $36 4 x 5 = $45 His allowance was
$45 2 x 3 = $67.50 .

29. One Problem, Every Student:
Differentiated Instruction Using Singapore Math
A workshop presented by Dr. Yeap Ban Har, Principal of Marshall Cavendish Institute.
Learn to differentiate a task to cater to a mixed-ability class. Find out how Singapore
Math is designed to enable all learners to learn mathematics well.
adequate scaffold
Understand how Singapore Math is designed with
to enable struggling learners to learn the
subject well. extend a
At the same time, learn how to
task to engage advanced learners
while keeping the lesson accessible to the rest of the class.

31. Math Intervention
at Middle School
Yeap Ban Har
Friday 2:30 – 3:30
Room 118B Convention Center
Slides are available at
www.banhar.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/MCISingapore