Singapore Math Methods and Beliefs

At least for me, Math is one of the most difficultthe way Singapore Math teaches my children how
subjects to teach a child. This is especially true ifto think about math. Sure, they learn to
you are homeschooling and you need to be thememorize things like any other math curriculum,
math teacher. When I started teaching mybut with Singapore Math, children learn to think
children, I was worried I would never be able toabout problems in several different ways.
teach them how to be really good at mathFor example, with the very small children, this
considering it isn't exactly my strong point.curriculum will show them a sequence of numbers
I was very blessed to come across a programlike 3, 4, 5, and 6. With these numbers, they will
called Singapore Math. I was amazed at howhave to memorize them and decide if the
differently they taught math compared to all ofsequence goes forward or backward. Other
the other math programs I have come across. Insequences will have numbers missing, and the child
fact, Singapore Math has been teaching me rightwill decide which numbers are missing, where they
along with my children. The concepts arego, and if the sequence goes forward or
presented in such a way that everyone can learn.backward.
Singapore is known for having the highest mathThis requires the student to focus on thinking
scoring students in the world. Singaporeabout the numbers rather than taking the easy
Mathematics teaches your child the exact sameway out by just memorizing them. While other
way and gives them the head start they need toprograms teach you how to do math, this
become math geniuses. I became a believer ofprogram teaches you how to understand math.
the Singapore Math curriculum when I saw theThe colorful pictures and entertaining characters
results in my own children.really add a nice element to the material as well.
They caught on very quickly with Singapore MathOne of the Singapore Math methods I truly enjoy
compared to the other math we had tried. Theyis the way they present math problems to my
understood the material better, and still know howchildren. Most math curriculums give children a
to effortlessly apply what they learned last year.problem to learn how to solve. In order to help
That is proof of a great math curriculum.them solve it, they will show children how to place
I have found that there is a huge difference inthe problem within a formula.