September 8 th, 2010 *

Mathematics is an “excellent vehicle to develop and improve a person’s intellectual competence” Singapore Ministry of Education, 2006

The math curriculum in Singapore has been recognized worldwide for its excellence in producing students highly skilled in mathematics.

Educators in the United States took notice when students in Singapore ranked top in the world in mathematics on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 1993, 1995, 2003, and (Study done in Massachusetts)

 Bruner – CPA Approach  What students say about... ◦ Concrete “I like to learn with something I can touch, not just watching my teacher touch it. My teacher lets me touch and move lots of different things, too.” ◦ Pictorial “…pictures in my math and reading books, magazines, pictures I can color, and pictures I can draw…” ◦ Abstract “Numbers that my teacher writes, that I write, tally marks that I draw, number bond cards and numbers in books…”

Singapore Math curriculum… ◦ Helps students develop the necessary math concepts and process skills for everyday life and ◦ provides students with the ability to formulate, apply, and solve problems.

 Fewer topics are covered in greater depth enabling students sufficient time to gain mastery.  We can use this to our advantage during this time of transition…

Level 3ALevel 4ALevel 5A Numbers to 10,000 Numbers to 1,000,000 Numbers to 1,000,000,000 Addition and Subtraction Mental Math Two-Step Word Problems Multi-step Word Problems Learning the Division Algorithm concretely with place value charts and disks Re-teach division Algorithm concretely with place value charts and disks Fractions Curriculum Sequence (Sample)

 KindergartenEarlybird A, Earlybird B  First Grade1A and 1B  Second Grade1B and 2A, extension to 2B  Third Grade2B and 3A, extension to 3B  Fourth Grade3A (with extension to 4A) 3B (with extension to 4B)  Fifth Grade4A (with extension to 5A) 4B (with extension to 5B)

 Program Architecture ◦ The Core Curriculum for each semester comprises one Textbook and one Workbook. ◦ Teacher Resources support the teacher to carry out effective lessons. ◦ Supporting Materials complement the Core Curriculum and provide opportunities for extra practice, review, assessment, and enrichment

Student Textbook (T.B.) Math Journal Non-consumable – students (textbook do not write in this book. exercises, Word problems, and misc.) Student Workbook (W.B.) Consumable – students must write in this book. Extra Practice**  **may be used for test preparation

Teacher Guide (T.G.) Model drawing guide with solutions

Extra Practice ** **may be used for test preparation

 Increased Teacher Collaboration ◦ On-Campus Instructors  Monthly planning meetings to discuss:  pacing,  pedagogical content  Lesson modeling  Coaching  Creating grade specific webpageswww.spiritmath.com Send a Teacher to Math Camp!Math Camp

Home-Teacher On-going Training conducted by Laurie Ruwe and Carol Lowry (Monthly, Thursday afternoons, 2-3 p.m. in fellowship hall)

 Mental Math5-10 min.  Teacher Directed Lesson20 min.  Activity 15 min.  Problem Solving (Models) 15 min.  Independent Practice 15 min.

What is Mental Math?  Simply put…it’s calculating in your head. It’s “playing with” or manipulating numbers in your head in order to solve a problem. Sounds simple, right?

 Using your head to calculate is practical  Solidifies understanding of place value  Can make written computation easier  Teaches manipulation of numbers and creative thinking skills  Can lead to improved estimation skills  Demonstrates how answers can be achieved in different ways  Develops understanding of mathematical operations  Helps students move from arithmetic to algebra  Develops mathematical thinkers

 Use as a daily warm up  Include mental math in problem solving *Mental math should only include concepts that have already been mastered

 All of the Mental Math Strategies for Addition and Subtraction and learned by the end of 2B.  Students in 3 rd – 5 th grade will learn these strategies and will also learn strategies for Multiplication and Division.

Compensation – make a hundred 456 – 98 becomes 458 – 100 = 358 (Uncle / Nephew) I can add the same number to the minuend and the subtrahend and the difference stays the same.

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 Concrete ◦ Story, manipulatives, discovery!  Pictorial ◦ Students show understanding by relating by constructing a picture or diagram  Abstract ◦ Students find meaning to their pictures and conceptualize or visualize the math behind the concrete and pictorial

Place Value Teacher Directed Lesson With Char Forsten

 Ones Ones  Tens (red) Tens  Hundreds (orange) Hundreds  Thousands (yellow) Thousands  Ten Thousands (green) Ten Thousands  Hundred Thousands (blue) Hundred Thousands  Millions (purple) Millions

 Ones (red) Ones  Tens (blue) Tens  Hundreds (green) Hundreds  Thousands (yellow) Thousands

Each Teacher Guide Lists Suggested Materials for your level. Many of these materials can also be accessed electronically.  Virtual manipulatives Virtual manipulatives  More More  Handmade manipulative instructions Handmade manipulative instructions Overview for each unit lists the suggested materials for each lesson.

 Making Math Manipulatives on a budget  How to use electronic “Manipulatives” or virtual manipulatives  Good websites for “hands on” practice

 Support Classroom Activities by preparing an activity (rules, materials, teacher aid during activity if necessary)  Using the internet to find math content appropriate activities  Extra-Curricular Activities - Math Olympiad, Math clubs, Field trips...

 Foundations for Model Drawing in K-2 nd grade  Formally introduced in 3 rd grade  Singapore Maths Teacher Singapore Maths Teacher (really helpful website for model drawing help and practice!)

 Model Drawing is one of the most powerful tools of Singapore Math.  Expect several opportunities to learn more at workshops and through personal discovery!

 Singapore Math Success! Singapore Math Success!  Mental Math site Mental Math  Branching Tutorial PDF Branching Tutorial  Char Forsten Place Value Lesson Char Forsten Place Value  Virtual manipulatives Virtual manipulatives  More manipulative More  Handmade manipulative instructions Handmade manipulative instructions  Place Value Charts (Printable)(Printable)  Hundreds Chart (Printable)(Printable)  Singapore Maths (Model Drawing) Singapore Maths