What is Singapore Math?

It is a Math teaching method that uses images, manipulatives and storytelling to enable students to visualize abstract mathematical concepts.

Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) has included training on Singapore Math a part of its Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building training program to help improve Math proficiency of Filipino students.

The two-year-old program saw the training on the technique of another batch of elementary math teachers from SBFI’s beneficiary schools in Visayas and Mindanao. The training was conducted at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu on 15 to 19 July with Ng Swee Fong, a former associate professor of mathematics at the National Institute of Education in Singapore, as facilitator.

Training activities included the use of a balancing toy to understand balancing of equations, the use of number lines to illustrate odd and even numbers, and the use of stories of animals to teach the concepts of sorting, sequencing, addition, subtraction and problem solving.

Teachers were also trained to use the “prompt, probe and wonder why technique” to challenge students’ critical thinking skills.

The Year 2 in-person training was capped with a demo teaching where teachers presented a Math concept applying the strategies they have learned.

Throughout the training, Ng emphasized that “as a teacher, you may understand the Math concepts and know the answers, but if you cannot properly communicate your thoughts in precise terms that all children will understand, then you will never be effective as a teacher.”

Teachers received training certificates and teaching aids including a set of manipulatives, an equalizer (the balancing toy), cat puzzles, fraction tiles and a chart.

The session ended with a call from SBFI chairman Rafael Simpao Jr. to help improve students’ proficiencies in mathematics and English.