Theoretical

Underpinnings of
Singapore Math
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Professional Development

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Yeap Ban-Har, Ph.D.

National Institute of Education
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore
Da Qiao Primary School

banhar.yeap@nie.edu.sg

Catholic High School (Primary)

video of dice problem

solving problems

overview

instructional models
Bruners theory
Skemps theory
Dienes theory

introduction

Wellington Primary School

Task
Move 3 sticks to make 3 squares.

Lesson Study Problem

Wellington Primary School

Task
Move 3 sticks to make 3 squares.

Task
Move 3 sticks to make 3 squares.

Task
Move 3 sticks to make 2 squares.

Task
Move 3 sticks to make 2 squares.

Task
Move 3 sticks to make 2 squares.

A Problem
from Singapore Grade 6 National Test
Jim bought some chocolates and gave half of them to
Ken. Ken bought some sweets and gave half of them to
Jim.
Jim ate 12 sweets and Ken ate 18 chocolates. After
that, the number of sweets and chocolates Jim had
were in the ratio 1 : 7 and the number of sweets and
chocolates Ken had were in the ratio 1 : 4.
How many sweets did Ken buy?

Jim bought some chocolates and gave half of them to Ken. Ken
bought some sweets and gave half of them to Jim. Jim ate 12
sweets and Ken ate 18 chocolates. After that, the number of
sweets and chocolates Jim had were in the ratio 1 : 7 and the
number of sweets and chocolates Ken had were in the ratio 1 :
4. How many sweets did Ken buy?
chocolates
Assuming that both boys did
not have any sweet or
chocolate before they bought
the chocolates and sweets.

sweets
1
2

Jim

Ken

1
2

1
2

1
2

1 1
2 8

3 parts 12 + 12 + 12 + 12 + 18 = 66
1 part 22
Half of the sweets Ken bought = 22 + 12 = 34
So Ken bought 68 sweets.`

1
2

A Problem
from a Singapore Classroom
88 children took part in a swimming
competition. 1/3 of the boys and 3/7 of the
girls wore swimming goggles. Altogether 34
children wore swimming goggles.
How many girls wore swimming goggles on
that day?
Fairfield Methodist Primary School

 88 children took part in a swimming competition. 1/3 of the boys and 3/7
of the girls wore swimming goggles. Altogether 34 children wore
swimming goggles.
How many girls wore swimming goggles on that day?

88

34

54

88 children took part in a swimming competition. 1/3 of the boys and 3/7
of the girls wore swimming goggles. Altogether 34 children wore
swimming goggles.
How many girls wore swimming goggles on that day?

34 20 = 14

34

54 34 = 20

54

3 x 7 = 21

21 girls wear goggles.

A Curriculum
That Helps
Average
Students
Reach High
Achievement

TIMSS 2007

Grade 4

1995

2003

2007

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies

Advanced

38

38

41

High

70

73

74

Intermediate

89

91

92

Low

96

97

98
North Vista Primary School

TIMSS 2007
Average

Indonesia

Thailand

Malaysia

Singapore

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies

Advanced

40

High

15

12

18

70

Intermediate

46

14

44

50

88

Low

75

48

66

82

97

Grade 8

Method Used in Singapore Textbooks

Mathematics Curriculum Framework

Beliefs
Interest
Appreciation
Confidence
Perseverance

Numerical calculation
Algebraic manipulation
Spatial visualization
Data analysis
Measurement
Use of mathematical tools
Estimation

Monitoring of ones own thinking

Self-regulation of learning

Mathematical
Problem
Solving

Concepts
Numerical
Algebraic
Geometrical
Statistical
Probabilistic
Analytical

Reasoning,
communication &
connections
Thinking skills &
heuristics
Application & modelling

Every Child Counts

effective
mathematics

teaching

Bina Bangsa School, Indonesia

Primary Mathematics 1A

Pedagogical
Principle:
Bruner

Number
Bonds

PCF Kindergarten Telok Blangah

Number
Bonds

PCF Kindergarten Telok Blangah

Bruner

Division

The concrete
pictorial abstract
approach is used to
help the majority of
learners to develop
strong foundation in
mathematics.

National Institute of Education

Division

Princess Elizabeth Primary School

Catholic High School (Primary)

mathz4kidz Learning Centre, Penang, Malaysia

bruners theory

concrete

A lesson from Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics

mathz4kidz Learning Centre, Penang, Malaysia

concrete
experiences

from
concrete
to

pictorial

mathz4kidz Learning Centre, Penang, Malaysia

from
pictorial
to

abstract
All Kids Are Intelligent Series

mathz4kidz Learning Centre, Penang, Malaysia

symbols

using

concrete

materials

Professional Development in Ateneo Grade

School, Manila, The Philippines

Lesson Study in a Ministry of Education Seminar on

Singapore Mathematics Teaching Methods in Chile

Primary Mathematics (Standards Edition) 2A

Pictorial Before
Abstract

bruner

Lesson Study in a Ministry of Education Seminar on

Singapore Mathematics Teaching Methods in Chile

skemps
theory
conceptual
understanding
Bina Bangsa School, Semarang, Indonesia

Keys Grade School, Manila, The Philippines

Keys Grade School, Manila, The Philippines

Skemp

Understanding in mathematics
relational
(conceptual)
instrumental
(procedural)
conventional
Teaching for conceptual
understanding is given
emphasis in Singapore Math.
Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 6

Pedagogical
Principle:
Skemp

Fraction
Division

Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 6

skemp
Scarsdale Middle School New York

Dienes
Dienes encouraged the use of
variation in mathematics education
perceptual
variability
and
mathematical variability.

Pedagogical
Principle:
Dienes
Primary Mathematics Standards Edition

Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 1

Pedagogical
Principle:
Dienes
Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 1

Pedagogical
Principle:
Dienes

Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 2

homework
Are you able to see how these tasks are varied
according to Dienes idea of mathematical
variability?

How is Task 4
different from
Task 5?

16

Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 5

16

30
Primary Mathematics Standards Edition Grade 5

What is the given

in Task 5? What is
the given in Task
6? Are these
different?

Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics

Standards Edition

Can you see how Dienes idea is

used in designing these tasks?

dienes
theory
of

variation

dienes
Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

Emphasis on
pictorial
representation
and systematic
variation to
enhance
conceptual
understanding

conclusion

PCF Kindergarten Pasir Ris

Instructional Models
Coaching
Modeling
Providing
Explaning
Da Qiao Primary School

Children are truly the

future of our nation.
Irving Harris

This presentation is based on part of one of

Singapore pre-service mathematics method
courses.
50% of Singapore elementary teachers are not
college graduate and they are not trained to
be specialists.
The TEDS-M findings provide some evidence
into the effectiveness of this form of
professional development.

TEDS-M Elementary Teachers

Content Knowledge

TEDS-M Elementary Teachers

Pedagogical Content Knowledge

TEDS-M Middle School Teachers

Content Knowledge

TEDS-M Middle School Teachers

Pedagogical Content Knowledge