The Singapore Method and Math in Focus

Presented October 22, 2015 by the Faculty at St. Thomas More

Catholic School

Why Singapore and Why Math in Focus?

In the International Trends in Mathematics and Science study, children in Singapore consistently

ranked among the top three in Math while American students fall between

9th and 11th place.

Mastery, not just Memorization

While American math instruction often relies on drilling and memorization of many skills each

year, the Singapore method focuses on children not just learning, but really mastering a limited number of concepts each year. The goal is for

children to perform well because they understand the material on a deeper level; they

are not just learning it for the test.

Students in the same classroom may learn the concepts at

different paces, but ultimately they all learn them and help

develop their own solid foundation for further math

learning.

Underlying Premises of Singapore Math1. Problem solving is at the heart of any math

program. You must learn math to understand and solve problems.

2. Students must understand the conceptual base to understand and solve problems.

3. Students must posess the relevant skills and understand the processes involved in problem solving.

4. Students must possess metacognition- the understanding of their own learning process.

5. Finally, students must possess confidence and persistence to be successful problem solvers.

Key Points about Singapore Math and Math in Focus Curriculum • A language based program helping children

make connections between pictures, words and numbers

• An accelerated program, driving all ability levels

• A cumulative program that revisits concepts covered earlier by connecting strands of mathematics

• Topic intensive with fewer topics covered per grade level

• Mental-math strategies embedded in the program

• Highly visual which benefits accelerated learners AND those who may struggle with math

Now, let’s try it ourselves!