Singapore Math:
Strategies That Work in Every
Classroom!
Valerie Hackett
January 23, 2012
Goals for teaching Math
• What are your goals for teaching math in your
classroom?
• Do they match your neighbor’s goals?
# 1: Attitude
#2: Vocabulary
inst∏re math
#3: Number Sense (fluency)
glasbergen.com
#4: Math is a vehicle in teaching
thinking
What is Singapore Math?
Curriculum Framework for Primary
Mathematics
•Appreciation
•Interest
•Confidence
•Perseverance
•Estimation &
Approximation
•Mental
Calculations
•Use of math tools
•Arithmetic
manipulation
•Algebraic
manipulation
•Handling data
•Monitoring one’s work
Mathematical
Problem-Solving
•Thinking Skills
Concepts
•Numerical
•Geometrical
•Algebraic
•Statistical
“What students already know about
the content is one of the strongest
indicators of how well they will
learn new information relative to
the content”
~Robert J. Marzano
CPA- Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract
• Sequence of instruction
• “Teach less, learn more” ~Singapore Math
What shall I
teach
tomorrow?
What shall
the students
learn
tomorrow?
Math Stories
• A few examples of guiding questions:
– Can you name what you see in this picture?
– Are there some things we can count one-by-one?
By 2’s?
– What is largest? Smallest?
– How many in all? What are “part” of them doing?
– Which one is first? Second, etc?
– Can you make a math story from this picture?
Math Stories
Math Stories
Math Stories
Number Bonds
Understand partwhole relationships
Compose and
decompose
numbers
See inverse
relationships
Master + & bonds (facts) thru
10*
Develop algebraic
thinking
Build relational
understanding,
which is
foundational for
building mental
math skills
Teaching Number Bonds
• How numbers go together
Teaching Number Bonds
• Create addition stories (what about those
pictures you used for math stories?)
• Create subtraction stories
Teaching Number Bonds
• Use sentence frames
• Ex:
There are a total of _____ lizards. ____ of the
lizards are _______ and ____ of the lizards are
_______.
______ and ______ make ______
Get Students involved!
#2: Concrete
Actors who
are creating
equal groups
#1: Narrators
Reading the
‘script’
#3: Pictorial
Illustrators
are drawing
pictures of
the group
Teaching Number Bonds
• Number Bond Stories- Learning Number Sentences
Journey of a Number Bond
• 8+5
38 + 7
292 + 119
Journey of a Number Bond
• 2,389 + 35
• 45 min + 35 min
14 oz + 7 oz
Understanding Place Value
• Place Value Cards or strips
• Place Value Discs
• Place Value Mats
Understanding Place Value
• Expanded form = Place Value Cards
Understanding Place Value
• Place Value Discs and Place Value Mats
Hundreds
Tens
Ones
Model Drawing Practice
• 1. There are 4 blocks on the floor and 2 blocks
on the table. How many blocks are there in
all?
4 + 2 + ______
There are ______ blocks in all.
Bar Modeling