"Singapore Math" Method?

[KL]

I was just watching Fox News just now and a "News you may find interesting" bit was just shown and talked about how certain schools in the US have been adopting the "Singapore Math" method, and the classes have experienced a 25% jump since introduction.

I've never heard of this method before. Doing a quick search I came across the Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Math

Anyone of you in Singapore (or elsewhere!) have experience with this method and can share more about what this is about?

[zlyne]

Hello KL

I am from Singapore, but never heard of this Singapore Math Method. Never knew it had a name or it is now branded ! What I know is to just follow the school system, whatever the method was, as there was no alternative.

I did a Google search on this (I think you would have done too ? ) and came across a review and comparison at http://www.welltrainedmind.com/J01singapore.html.

There's also a website http://www.singaporemath.com/, belonging to a company which brought this method to the U.S.

Here is their Singapore Math Story at http://www.singaporemath.com/Singapore_Math_Story_s/10.htm and it also explains why Singaporeans never heard of Singapore Math!

Cheers!

[anushyam]

Heloo...Me from S'pore too.

And as zlyne correctly pointed out, I went ,"Singapore Math?!! What's that?"

But in general I agree that Asian standard of Math teaching has been very good. Take Abacus training, speed mathematics etc. My parents used to memorise the multiplication tables from x1 to x16 and even know, if u wake them from their sleep and ask them what is 16x16, they'll say it correctly!!

I read the URL from Wiki. The bar system of teaching algebra as a pre-algebra module is difficult but a good beginning for kids who are more visual. I couldn't quite grasp it when i was studying it (because i was used to trial and error mthds) but it worked well for some kids.

Anushyam

[zlyne]

Heloo...Me from S'pore too.

And as zlyne correctly pointed out, I went ,"Singapore Math?!! What's that?"

But in general I agree that Asian standard of Math teaching has been very good. Take Abacus training, speed mathematics etc. My parents used to memorise the multiplication tables from x1 to x16 and even know, if u wake them from their sleep and ask them what is 16x16, they'll say it correctly!!

I read the URL from Wiki. The bar system of teaching algebra as a pre-algebra module is difficult but a good beginning for kids who are more visual. I couldn't quite grasp it when i was studying it (because i was used to trial and error mthds) but it worked well for some kids.

Anushyam

Hello Anushyam

My aunt who is in her 50s now used to tell me that her dad forced she and her siblings to memorise up to the  12 multiplication table before starting Primary 1 (7 year-old)! Rather amusing but amazing!

But, I think kids now have started to know their multiplication table earlier than I did.

I couldn't really get the bar-model method too. I used lots of algebra in Primary 6 which is more useful for secondary schools, isn't it? However, I guessed there's more problem-solving in lower primary now and since they have not started algebra, the bar-model system is the way out. Or is there any other methods ?

[lyka]

Hi Guys,


  I found this site www.lovetolearn.net, click on singapore math they have resources regarding this.

[anushyam]

Ya... our kids are starting to learn everything earlier Zlyne!! 

Just on this topic, I think the Little Math may offer some good ways for us to teach math concepts to our kids. In fact we could try to use abacus for early math teaching.

I'm planning on getting one in wood but i don't know where to look for one. Do u have any Idea Zlyne?

Anushyam

[chispa]

Hi!


A school I used to work at adopted the singapore math program.  Like any other math program it is not a answer to all.  Some of the brightest students who attended this school for over 5 years using this program were not able to qualify for AP classes when they went to the public school for high school.   (The school was a private school that went just to 8th grade.) Actually, not one placed in the advanced classes! It has some good things but the students found huge holes in their education.  As a teachert what we find is that there is not one program that is complete.  Good teachers supplement their curriculum constantly!  We try to learn as much as we can to benefit our students!

[KL]

OK, so I finally took some time to look through the sites mentioned by Zylne, in particular:

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/J01singapore.html.

and

http://www.singaporemath.com/

(see this page about the Singapore Math story:
http://www.singaporemath.com/Singapore_Math_Story_s/10.htm )

Very interesting!!

Wow, looks like there's almost as much controversy in the field of teaching Math as there is in teaching reading!!


Thanks so much for those links, Zylne, karma to you!

btw, we're starting to shift resources towards getting out Little Math beta testing build, now that LR is launched. Stay tuned!

[linzy]

If you are looking for a site that sells good abacuses for young children: www.abacus.com.  It is the site for the Right Start Math Program which is abacus based.

[KL]

Thanks for the referral, Linzy! The link seemed to point to a different site, so after some quick searching, it seems like you were probably referring to this one:
http://www.alabacus.com/

[joan]

I had a look at the Right Start Program and their abacus. It looks and works different from the Chinese abacus that I'm used to. Here's a link for the Chinese abacus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abacus

There are a lot of videos on how to use abacus and example of students using abacus. Check out:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/CvsnftXXKdw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/CvsnftXXKdw&rel=1</a>
This one shows American students using Japanese abacus: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/xguMYWW8EAU&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/xguMYWW8EAU&rel=1</a>
The Japanese abacus is very similar to the Chinese abacus. I think they work the same way.

I live in Singapore. There are abacus classes been offered outside of schools but I don't think (as far as I know) it is been taught in schools.

[vianbabe]

Abacus is taught in some Singapore primary schools. The school which my boy is starting primary 1 next Jan used to do abacus for all the lower primary students..But I am not sure if they still doing it in the past 2-3 yrs..I will find out and let you know when he starts P1!

I wanted to do abacus for my boy who loves maths..We did Shichida and Glenn Doman maths since he is 2. He has since developed a love for the subject which I hated!   However, I had also received a number of negative comments abt abacus. Kids who are good at abacus sure can count very fast, however in school, they never want to follow the method of doing workings! That's becos they already have the answer by the time they finish reading the question! Sadly, in schools, they require students to show workings! Actually my boy already has such issue with dot cards since he can count faster in his head. I did not want to complicate the issue by sending him for abacus. Now I had to sit down with him to show working as he practices his maths...He hates it and so do I cos it slows him down..But I do see the positive side of workings which let him understand that it allows him to self check for mistakes and also to slowly breakdown a tough problem which he will face later as he moves to higher grade level. 

As I slowly understand the "singapore method" of teaching maths, I do see the reasons why educators from Us are adopting it.. My boy's tutor has an American middle schooler who seems to have improve alot in maths which she never did after she adopted the Singapore way of learning! However, working in an international school with American curriculum also allows me to make use of their method to teach my pre-schooler in concept building for early maths. Correct me if I am wrong, but I feel that their method seems to work more on concept building for the younger ones for the early primary years..

Btw, Chispa, I can't agreed more than NO 1 method is complete or at least works for all.. That's why I am always looking out for other resources to supplement my boy's learning experience. I think learning process has to be fun in order to enjoy it more yah!

[joan]

Hi vianbabe,

I do see how the requirement to show detail steps can be a problem for kids who do mental arithmetics. One way to help them is for them to tutor others. When tutoring others they will learn to break down problems and they are forced to clearly articulate the reasons so others can understand.

Singapore schools have a special program for the gifted kids, maybe they won't be so rigid in that program. I don't think we should limit the kids because the traditional school system is rigid.

Joan

[asnmdirteha]

Hi!


A school I used to work at adopted the singapore math program.  Like any other math program it is not a answer to all.  Some of the brightest students who attended this school for over 5 years using this program were not able to qualify for AP classes when they went to the public school for high school.   (The school was a private school that went just to 8th grade.) Actually, not one placed in the advanced classes! It has some good things but the students found huge holes in their education.  As a teachert what we find is that there is not one program that is complete.  Good teachers supplement their curriculum constantly!  We try to learn as much as we can to benefit our students!

I would have to agree with chispa on finding supplemental math programs that assist with each student's learning skills. One website that I found really helped my students learn new math concepts is Beestar. My students started to understand the concepts which really helped when there are questions that tested their understanding. Most of my students are active learners and Beestar was capable of teaching them the skills they needed. Their overall homework and test scores have increased and I am very glad that Beestar is able to give them that extra understanding that my students need. I would say that whether you use Beestar, Singapore Math, or even Kumon etc., it really depends on the students. However, Beestar has been consistent in keeping my students entertained in math and learning new skills.

[fizlover]

Interesting stuff, but it seems similar to a lot of the workbooks we've been buying in the US.

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