1. Singapore Math: Math with Meaning Singapore’s Primary Math Curriculum (Grades 1 – 6) started in 1981 Students ranked highest in the world in TIMSS reports: 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 (reported every 4 years) Goal is for all students to receive the level of math instruction necessary to be proficient

2. Singapore Math… in Georgia? Hall County School District (Gainesville, GA) has utilized it for past 3 years with excellent results. Etowah Zone elementary schools have begun using it with SPED, EIP, and ESOL students Oak Grove ES will pilot it for the 2010-2011 school year for grades K-2

3. Why Singapore Math? Builds mathematical understanding through concrete, pictorial, and abstract progression Promotes visualization Reinforces understanding by providing practice through math stories and word problems Students communicate mathematically and become empowered and like math

4. How does Singapore Math accomplish student success? Detailed teacher editions User friendly student texts Manipulatives and hands-on activities Unique strategies Math communication

5. Manipulatives and hands-on activties Making 10s cards, activities Place value: Number disks and place value charts, mats, strips, and dice Number bond cards, part-whole cards Number dice and games Spill the beans cards (differentiation)

6. Communicating mathematically “Look and Talk” approach Guided math discussions Choral reading of word problems Helps build number sense Practice and utilize math vocabulary

7. Strategies Number bonds help students understand number relationships and develop mental math strategies Part-whole approach launches progression to pre-algebra problems Model drawing is used to “picture” and solve word problems Numerous mental math strategies, i.e.; branching, rearranging, compensation

8. Singapore Math Core Understandings Number facts Number sense Patterns Visualization Communication Problem solving

9. We cannot build the future for our students, but we can build our students for their future. Singapore Minister of Education Compiled by Penny Valle TSA – Administration Oak Grove Elementary School Cherokee County School District