Singapore Math Strategies
Covering vs. Conceptualizing
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Recognition
Modeling
Independent
Richard Skemp was a mathematician who
many years ago published an important
discussion paper regarding math. The gist of
it was that it was that for deep
understanding, both rules and reasons are
important; but reasons should come before
rules. The relational understanding must be
before the instrumental understanding.
Developing Early Number Sense
Rote counting
 Rational counting
 Cardinal numbers
 Subitizing
 Ordinal numbers
 Measurement
 Nominal numbers
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Developing Early Number Sense
Rote counting Includes: NWA, NWB, skip counting
 Rational counting Leads to 1:1 correspondence
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with and without touch
Cardinal numbers
 Subitizing
group to tell how many without counting
 Ordinal numbers
 Measurement
 Nominal numbers
address, phone number, etc.
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Look and Talks
What is a look and talk?
 Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car
 Big Books- Kindergarten Math in Focus
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◦ Use the questions from Math in Focus teacher
resource book
“Math Talk” resource
 Singaporemath.com
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◦ Search: Big books- teach math through
nursery rhymes
Number Bonds (Part-Part Whole)
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For a deep understanding…
◦ Multiple models
◦ Varied purposeful practice
“The Story of 4” example
 Triangle fact families
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◦ http://donnayoung.org/math/tricards.htm
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Hanger example
Center ideas:
◦ Number bond bracelets
◦ Cards w/paper clips
The Journey of a Number Bond
Look and Talks
Beyond 10
Using Bonds
More Complex
Addition
w/Bonds
Number Bonds
Beyond 10
w/10- Frames
Arrow Cards
10 Frames
Manipulatives
(i.e. straws or
10’s & 1’s chips)
Numbers w/
Lines
Addition and Subtraction
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Practice addition with 10’s and 1’s chips
◦ Without regrouping
◦ With regrouping
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Practice subtraction with 10’s and 1’s
chips
◦ Without regrouping
◦ With regrouping
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Next steps
Model Drawing Practice
K-1: #1, 2, 3
 2-3: #2, 4, 5, 7, 8
 4-5: #2, 4-24
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How Model Drawing fits with
Math Open Response
Make a Statement
Answer the question
Show your work
How did you get your answer?
The Frugal Teacher’s Tips
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Put 2’s, 5’s, 8’s, 10’s, 20’s, etc. around the room.
Colored tape on the floor.
Construction paper laminated with magnetic
strip on the back for white board bar model
practice.
Zipper: number line, thermometer, elapsed time
Clear ruler: fractions
Hundreds grids, add/mult. charts w/ colored
strips
Cut notebooks in ½
Things to Remember
Clock Partner
 Have you seen any good math lately?
 Lesson: Actors, Narrators, Illustrators
 Warm ups:
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◦ Star (like “Zap Count Around”)
◦ Happy Hands
Math facts are to math as sight words are
to reading
 Stop the cycle
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Resources:
Math in Focus: Great Source
 Step-by-Step Model Drawing by: Char
Forsten
 Math Talk: Char Forsten & Torri Richards
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