Helping Children Learn

Mathematics a s e m i n a r f o r p a r e n t s

Yeap Ban Har Marshall Cavendish Institute, Singapore yeapbanhar@gmail.com

Slides are available at

www.banhar.blogspot.com

Land 270 sq miles

700 sq km

People 5.3 million

GDP per capita 1965 USD500

2011 USD50 000 in current USD

Junyuan Secondary School, Singapore

introduction

1992 Introduction of Problem-

Solving Curriculum

1997 Thinking Schools Learning Nation

1982 Introduction of Singapore mathematics

textbooks as they are known today.

Mathematics is “an excellent

vehicle for the development and

improvement of a person’s

intellectual competence”. Ministry of Education Singapore 2006

Singapore Math focuses on

the use of visuals and initial

concrete experiences. The

emphasis is not just knowing

how but also knowing why.

Greenville Elementary School, New York

Escuela de Guetamala, Chile

Seely Place Elementary School, New York

Archipel Basisschool Tweemaster-Kameleon, The Netherlands

Archipel Basisschool Tweemaster-Kameleon, The Netherlands

28

62

4

3

Let the piece of paper

represents a cake.

3 fourths 3 =

4

13

4

3

Let the piece of paper

represents a cake.

3 fourths 2 =

8

32

8

62

4

3

Let the piece of paper

represents a cake.

3 fourths 2 =

4

3

2

12

4

3

Let the piece of paper

represents a cake.

3 fourths 2 =

8

3

4

3

2

12

4

3

Let the piece of paper

represents a cake.

3 fourths 2 =

8

3

8

1

4

12

4

3

2 fourths 2 =

1 fourths 2 =

Archipel Basisschool Tweemaster-Kameleon, The Netherlands

King Solomon Academy, London UK

A number is of a second number.

The sum of the two numbers is 120. 5

3

A number is of a second number.

The sum of the two numbers is 120. 5

3

8 units = 120

1 units = 120 8

1 units = 15

120

80 40

The smaller number is 3 x 15 = 45.

The larger number is 5 x 15 = 75.

Edgewood Elementary School, New York

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 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.

20 Box C

Box A

Box B

116

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.

20 Box C

Box A

Box B

116 – 20 = 116 – 16 – 4 = 96

4 units = 96

4 units = 80 + 16

1 units = 96 4 =

24

24 24

24

Box A ….

Seely Place Elementary School, New York

Singapore Math focuses on

number bonds and mental

strategies.

Greenridge Primary School, Singapore

Singapore Math allows average learners perform

at a high level. The following are some data from

some international research on math achievement

and attitude. Many of the students also enjoy

learning.

Score 1960-1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

500 Japan Hong Kong Japan Korea

Hong Kong Japan Korea

Singapore

Hong Kong Japan Korea

Singapore

400 Thailand The Philippines Singapore Thailand

Malaysia Thailand

Malaysia Thailand

300 Indonesia The Philippines

Indonesia The Philippines

Reference: E. Hanusek, D. Jamison, E. Jamison & L. Woessmann (2008)

All major international tests (literacy, science and mathematics) between 1964 and

2003 were placed on a common scale. Selected countries shown in the table.

mathematics

gra

de e

ight

ma

them

atics

Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Hong Kong

Japan

48

47

49

34

27

32

8

14

19

9

23

56

53

37

53

611

613

609

586

570

adva

nced

like m

ath

dislik

e m

ath

ave

rage

International 3 26 31 500