More and more parents want to enroll their kids in schools that include Singapore math in their curriculum. In various countries, parents would transfer their kids to a school, usually an international school that uses the Singaporean method in teaching math. But it's just math. Others would raise their eyebrows. What's so special about it? They could not understand. But we do.
Singapore math has been in the limelight for some time now. It's gotten highly popular nowadays. It all started when the TIMSS results were released. Since 1995, Singapore has consistently ranked within the top three countries that garnered the top scores in math both for the fourth and eighth grade.
But first, what is TIMSS?
TIMSS, which stands for Trends in Mathematics and Science Study, is an international assessment aimed to improve the learning program of students. They study the latest trends in the educational system. They take particular interest in the quantity and quality of the instructions the students receive. With their findings, they seek to address the gaps in the learning system, identify areas for improvement and monitor the progress or decline in their performances.
With participants from all over the world, they would hold their studies every four years. This allows the educational institutions to improve their curriculums and systems during the period.
The Best in Math
Singapore shows a consistent overall performance in math. In fact, it has ranked first consecutively in 1995, 1999 and 2003 for the eighth grade level. For the fourth grade level, Singapore ranked first during the 2003 and 2011 survey. For the other periods, they have always ranked within the top three out of all the 50 countries that participated.
When the results were released, it got people thinking. What's the difference? Why is theirs so special? Parents started questioning their local educational systems. Their kids have to have the access to the best education. There is pressure on the educational institutions to do better. Revamp their curriculums if necessary.
Singapore's placing shows that they are doing something right. And other countries wanted to know. In fact, around 25 countries have already adopted the Singapore method of learning math. Other countries have started to include Singapore mat textbooks to their curriculums. United States is one of them. They have now included the Primary Mathematics textbook series in their curriculums. It's now part of their Mathematics Instructional Material List. Even parents who are homeschooling their kids have followed suit. Similar cases are happening in the countries of France, Chile, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Panama and the Philippines.
The Difference in Singapore Math
Gone were the days when kids have to memorize the multiplication tables and focus on getting the right answers mentally. Singapore maths allows them to understand what they are doing. For the kids, it's not just numbers. It's a number that is part of a whole. They have to analyze why it goes that way. Two plus two is not just equal to four. There's a story to it. Singapore math allows them to think and ask questions. And there is no better way for kids to absorb the lessons than this. It can truly work wonders to the curious mind of a student.
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