Pssstt… I’ll let you in on a secret…Singapore Math rocks!

Oh alright, that’s not really a secret at all. Educators have known how effective this teaching method is since Singapore has consistently ranked first among all nations in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) from the mid 1990s until now. This is also the reason why in the past couple of years, schools all over the country and even across the globe have adopted Singapore Math into their curriculum. It seems as though the Singapore education system has been thriving in many areas, especially with international institutions such as the stamford american international school helping to contribute to this.

Lest one think that Singapore Math is an entirely new Math concept, it is actually a teaching method based on the national curriculum of Singapore. Textbooks and syllabus based on this curriculum focus on essential math skills and present simple explanations to Mathematical concepts that enable students to understand them more clearly. From concrete to pictorial to abstract, learning mathematical concepts become easier for students.

I’ve been hearing a lot about this method that I didn’t have second thoughts accepting the invitation to attend a seminar for bloggers, Unlocking the Secrets to Singapore Math, held October 15 at Fully Booked Boni High Street. During the event, I discovered how Math could be made more fun – and a lot easier to understand – using the Singapore Math method. My age is no secret as well, so yeah, I’m old school where we were made to stand in front of the class to recite the entire multiplication table and all problems were solved in x’s and y’s. Where we were taught through repetition and rote mastery, Singapore Math focuses on making students understand the concepts by presenting them in relatable situations. Model drawings are also employed to solve word problems which is actually a great way for visual learners to understand abstract concepts.

Ms. Beth Lamis of Galileo Enrichment Learning Program Inc showed us how Singapore Math works by presenting various Math problems. Let me show you how I would normally solve the problems and how I solved the problems using Singapore Math.

Here’s another problem involving ratio and proportion which a lot of students have difficulty with. I was surprised how easy it could be solved using box models. 😀

I really learned a lot during the event and am now more eager to learn more about Singapore Math. I’m sure the bloggers who were with me are all equally excited to attend the 2nd Singapore Learning Festival on February.

Thanks to Mommy Ruth Floresca for this group picture!

With more and more schools adopting Singapore Math into their curriculum, I’m quite certain that my kids will be taught Math using this method when they both go to big schools. if like me you are interested in learning more about Singapore Math, The Galileo Enrichment Program Inc holds quarterly workshops for school administrators, teachers, parents and students. You can visit their website, http://www.galileoenrichment.com/, or Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/galileoenrichment, for more details.

You may also want to attend the 2nd Singapore Math Learning Festival this February 2013. I’ll be attending the festival myself and do hope to see you there. 😀 For more inquiries on the conference, call 845-1234 or send an email to [email protected].