Second Marshall Cavendish Singapore Mathematics Global Forum 2011

Da Qiao Primary School, Singapore

St Edward School, Florida

Plenary Session

Average Learners, High Achievement: The Case of Mathematics Learning Dr Yeap Ban HarPrincipal, Marshall Cavendish Institute

Average Learners High

Achievement

International Studies

Students in Singapore have demonstrated high achievement and positive attitude towards mathematics.

In Trends in Mathematics and Science Study, about 40% of Singapore’s 4th and 8th graders are in the Advanced International Benchmark (the international average is 5% and 2% respectively).

Advanced

Intermediate

Low

High

199

5

200

3

200

7

38 4138

70 7473

89 9291

96 9897

Gra

de 4

Inte

rnati

on

al

5

26

67

90

Advanced

Intermediate

Low

High

Aver

age

Hon

g Ko

ng

Sing

apor

e

2 4031

15 7064

46 8885

75 9794

S. K

orea

Taiw

an

4540

7171

8690

9598

Gra

de 8

Junyuan Secondary School, Singapore

TIMSSTrends in International Mathematics and Science Studies

Advanced

Intermediate

Low

High

Gra

de 4

19

95

38

70

89

96


Gra

de 8

19

9942

77

94

99

Fuchun Primary School, Singapore

Advanced

Intermediate

Low

High

Gra

de 4

19

95

38

70

89

96


Gra

de 8

19

9942

77

94

99

Gra

de 4

20

03

Gra

de 8

20

07

38

73

91

97

40

70

88

97

Fuchun Primary School, Singapore

The attitude index for Singapore students in TIMSS is also relatively high compared to other high-performing countries.

Also, the majority of students in Singapore opt to study mathematics in Grades 11 and 12 when they are no longer required to.

Marsiling Secondary School, Singapore

Singapore

Taiwan

Japan

Hong Kong

Att

itude

Ach

ievem

en

t

71 41

67 40

50 24

62 23

Gra

de 4

Kazakhstan

Russia

International

England

89 19

62 16

80 16

72 5

Taiwan

Singapore

Hong Kong

S Korea

Att

itude

Ach

ievem

en

t

37 45

33 40

60 40

47 31

Gra

de 8

Japan

England

International

Hungary

30 26

30 10

40 8

54 2

High achievement was not a given. In 1960, among 30 615 candidates who sat for the first Primary School Leaving Examination, 45% of the candidates passed.

Keon Ming Public School, Singapore


Achievement

Focus of School Mathematics

rationaleThe rationale of teaching mathematics is that it is “a

good vehicle for the development and improvement of a person’s intellectual competence”.

Wellington Primary School

Thinking Schools Learning Nations

This initiative was introduced in 1997. Since then Ministry of Education in Singapore has been injecting various initiatives into the system. These initiatives are intended to give schools the impetus to refine their programs to include the development of generic competencies.

National ExaminationSingapore has six years of compulsory primary education. The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is conducted at the end of this.

Singapore Examination & Assessment Board


A restaurant had the same number of apples, oranges and pears at firstAfter 38 pears, some apples and oranges were used, there were 90 fruits left.


Number of Apples

Number of Oranges

Number ofPears

A restaurant had the same number of apples, oranges and pears at first

Number of Apples

Number of Oranges

Number ofPears

After 38 pears, some apples and oranges were used, there were 90 fruits left.There were twice as many apples as oranges left

38



Number of Apples

Number of Oranges

Number ofPears

After 38 pears, some apples and oranges were used, there were 90 fruits left.

38

There were twice as many apples as oranges left.The number of pears left was 15 fewer than the number of apples left.

90

15



Number of Apples

Number of Oranges

Number ofPears


38


90

15



Number of Apples

Number of Oranges

Number ofPears


38


90

15


105 : 5 = 21

5 units = 90 + 15 = 105

Number of pears = 21 + 21 + 23 =65Number of oranges used = 65 – 21 = 44

Archipelschool De Tweemaster – Kameleon

The Netherlands


Achievement

Pedagogy

Math in Focus

Pensar sin Limites (Spanish Edition)

Pensar sin Limites (Spanish Edition)

Maths Champion (Indonesian Edition)

Primary Mathematics (Standards Edition)


Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

My Pals Are Here! Mathematics (Second Edition)



Initial Concrete

Experience

Subsequent Pictorial

RepresentationMy Pals Are Here! Mathematics (Second Edition)

St Edward School, Florida

Eventual Symbolic

Representation



Achievement

Critical Factors

DirectionCurriculum That Focuses on 21st Century SkillsArchipelschool De Tweemaster – Kameleon,

The Netherlands

King Solomon Academy,London

High School Attached to Tsukuba University.Japan

PushNational Examination

Bukit View Primary School, Singapore

Pathlight School, Singapore

SupportTextbooks & Professional Development


Keys Grade School, The Philippines

Lesson Study at Da Qiao Primary School, Singapore

In-service Professional Development in Chile

Pre-service Teacher Education in Singapore

In-service Professional Development in The Philippines

SynopsisSingapore's mathematics education has attracted international attention because of the high performance of its average learners. This plenary lectures explains what school mathematics should focus on, how the subject can be taught to make it accessible and useful to all learners, and what the critical factors are in supporting an education system where its average learners have high achievement. The speaker show how Singapore has used international research literature to benefit its students.

PCF Kindergarten Pasir Ris West, Singapore