Singapore Math Professional Learning Network says that the “authentic Singapore math pedagogy revolves the idea that fewer topics taught in greater depth at each grade level results in better understanding and retention.“
What makes Singapore Math such a strong curriculum?
- Singapore Math emphasizes the development of strong number sense, excellent mental-math skills, and a deep understanding of place value.
- The curriculum is based on a progression from concrete experience—using manipulatives—to a pictorial stage and finally to the abstract level or algorithm. This sequence gives students a solid understanding of basic mathematical concepts and relationships before they start working at the abstract level.
- Singapore Math includes a strong emphasis on model drawing, a visual approach to solving word problems that helps students organize information and solve problems in a step-by-step manner.
- Concepts are taught to mastery, then later revisited but not re-taught. It is said the U.S. curriculum is a mile wide and an inch deep, whereas Singapore’s math curriculum is said to be just the opposite.
- The Singapore approach focuses on developing students who are problem solvers (from Staff Development for Educators).
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