1. Singapore Math
a program for parents
Yeap Ban Har
Marshall Cavendish Institute
Singapore
yeapbanhar@gmail.com
Slides are available at
www.banhar.blogspot.com
2.
3. Land
270 sq miles
700 sq km
introduction People
5.3 million
GDP per capita
1965 USD500
2011 USD50 000
Junyuan Secondary School, Singapore in current USD
4. why do we teach
mathematics this way
Greenridge Primary School, Singapore
5.
6. Mathematics is “an excellent
vehicle for the development and
improvement of a person’s
intellectual competence”.
1982 Ministry of Education Singapore 2006
Introduction of Singapore mathematics
textbooks as they are known today.
1992
Introduction of Problem-
Solving Curriculum
1997
Thinking Schools
Learning Nation
7.
8.
9. Singapore Math focuses on
the use of visuals and initial
concrete experiences. The
emphasis is not just knowing
how but also knowing why.
24. 3
A number is of a second number.
5
The sum of the two numbers is 120.
King Solomon Academy, London UK
25. 3
A number is of a second number.
5
The sum of the two numbers is 120.
120
8 units = 120 80 40
1 units = 120 8
1 units = 15
The smaller number is 3 x 15 = 45.
The larger number is 5 x 15 = 75.
26. Box B contains twice as many
books as Box A. Box C
contains 20 more books than
Box A. Together, the three
boxes contain 116 books.
Edgewood Elementary School, New York
27. Box B contains twice as many
books as Box A. Box C
contains 20 more books than
Box A. Together, the three
boxes contain 116 books.
Box C 20 116
Box A
Box B
28. Box B contains twice as many
books as Box A. Box C
contains 20 more books than
Box A. Together, the three
boxes contain 116 books.
Box C 24 20 116 – 20 = 116 – 16 – 4 = 96
4 units = 96
4 units = 80 + 16
Box A 24
1 units = 96 4 =
Box B 24 24 Box A ….
34. Singapore Math allows
average learners perform at
a high level. The following
are some data from some
international research on
math achievement and
attitude.
35. 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 Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong
Japan Japan Japan
Korea Korea Korea
Singapore Singapore
400 Thailand The Philippines Malaysia Malaysia
Singapore Thailand Thailand
Thailand
300 Indonesia Indonesia
The Philippines The Philippines
Reference: E. Hanusek, D. Jamison, E. Jamison & L. Woessmann (2008)
37. ave adv high int low
Singapore 606 43 78 94 99
South Korea 605 39 80 97 100
Hong Kong 602 37 80 96 99
grade four mathematics
Taiwan 591 34 74 93 99
Japan 585 30 70 93 99
Northern Ireland 562 24 59 86 96
Belgium 549 10 50 89 99
Finland 545 12 49 85 98
England 542 18 49 78 93
Russia 542 13 47 82 97
United States 541 13 47 81 96
International 500 4 28 69 90
38. intermediate
advanced
high
low
average
South Korea 613 47 77 93 99
Singapore 611 48 78 92 99
grade eight mathematics
Taiwan 609 49 73 88 96
Hong Kong 586 34 71 89 97
Japan 570 27 61 87 97
Russia 539 14 47 78 95
Israel 516 12 40 68 87
Finland 514 4 30 73 96
United States 509 7 30 68 92
England 507 8 32 65 88
International 500 3 17 46 75
39. intermediate
grade eight mathematics
advanced
average
high
low
Singapore 611 48 78 92 99
Malaysia 440 2 12 36 65
Thailand 427 2 8 26 55
Indonesia 386 0 2 15 43
International 500 3 17 46 75
40. grade eight mathematics
dislike math
advanced
like math
average
Singapore 611 48 32 23
Malaysia 440 2 39 15
Thailand 427 2 26 16
Indonesia 386 0 20 10
International 500 3 26 31
41. grade eight mathematics
dislike math
advanced
like math
average
Singapore 611 48 32 23
South Korea 613 47 8 56
Taiwan 609 49 14 53
Hong Kong 586 34 19 37
Japan 570 27 9 53
International 500 3 26 31
42. perentage
correct
Singapore 82
International 52
43. perentage
correct
Singapore 52
International 27
44. perentage
correct
Singapore 45
International 23
45. perentage
correct
Singapore 60
International 25