can singaporemathematics

enhance student learning in the U.S.?

Yeap Ban Har, Ph.D.National Institute of Education

Nanyang Technological University

Opening Presentation

Selected Features of Singapore Mathematics

Slides can be downloaded from www.mathz4kidz.com

Overview ofEducation System

• Grades 1 – 6 (compulsory education)• Primary School Leaving Examination Grade 6• Grade 7 – 10• General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level

Grade 10• Grade 11 – 12 or Polytechnic• General Certificate of Education Advanced Level

Grade 12 or Diploma

There are variations for advanced and struggling students.

emphasis onproblem solving

Reference: Singapore Ministry of Education 2006

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

emphasis onproblem solvingnationaltest

in the

Example of 1-point Items Example of 2-point Items

Which of the following numbers is the largest?(1) 6.59(2) 6.95(3) 6.509(4) 6.905

Adrian and Bala shared the total cost of a present. Adrian paid $15 more than 3/8 of the cost of the present. Bala paid $25. How much did the present cost?(1) $160 (2) $64 (3) $40 (4) $16

A movie started at 11.45 a.m. The movie was 2 hours 25 minutes long. What time did the movie end?

Prawns are sold at $1.35 per 100 g at a market. What is the price of 1.5 kg of prawns?

In the figure below, ABCD is a square, AED is an equilateral triangle and BFD is a straight line. Find <AFD

Reference: Singapore Examinations & Assessment Board 2004-2008

A B

CD

EF

Mrs Hoon made some cookies to sell. 3/4 of them were chocolate cookies and the rest were almond cookies. After selling 210 almond cookies and 5/6 of the chocolate cookies, she had 1/5 of the cookies left.

How many cookies did Mrs Hoon sell?

chocolate cookies

almond cookies

210

1/5

5/83/8

3/8 – 1/5 = 7/40 210

1/40 30

32/40 960 She sold 960 cookies.

school programsinclude

forall students

enrichment

Wellington Primary School

Telok Kurau Primary School

A lion weighs 135 kg. A cow weigh 87 kg more than the lion. An elephant weighs 139 more than the cow. How heavy is the elephant?

(Primary 2)

Raffles Girls’ Primary School

In twice-a-year tests designed by the schools, problems such as this one are given to challenge students. However, there is an expectation that every student makes significant effort to acquire the ability to solve such problems.

complex problem solving

is expected of every student

parentalexpectations

Seminar for Parents on Problem Solving

system-wide intervention

Northlight School

Fuchun Primary School

presence of‘safety nets’

learning support programat entry point

Princess Elizabeth Primary School

foundation mathematicsat halfway point

Princess Elizabeth Primary School

teacher-initiated intervention

Princess Elizabeth Primary School

Da Qiao Primary School

teacher-initiatedintervention

Telok Kurau Primary School

emphasis onconcrete topictorial to abstract

representations

Catholic High School (Primary)

especially onthe model method

mathz4kidz Learning Center, Malaysia

teacher education

National Institute of Education

teacher trainingpre-service

National Institute of Education

professional developmentin-service

Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

Hougang Primary School, Singapore

teacher learningfrom textbooks