Singapore Math: Teaching Students to Think

This year Springhurst Elementary School introduced a new math curriculum, "Singapore Math," which emphasizes problem solving and conceptual reasoning.

Singapore Math expert Dr. Yeap Ban Har visited the school Tuesday evening to present the basic tenets of the curriculum to parents in the district.

"Singapore Math is an excellent vehicle to develop and improve a person's intellectual competence," Ban Har said. A professor of mathematics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Ban Har has authored a series of textbooks on Singapore Primary Mathematics and is considered a preeminent expert on he subject.

"Teaching students to think is the main goal," Ban Har said during the presentation.  "It's not just about mathematics; we're trying to teach them a whole range of thinking skills. We put a lot of emphasis on mental strategies to provide alternate pathways. "

Springhurst Elementary School math specialist Josh Rosen, who was available to answer the all parents' questions after the presentation, said: "I feel like it's going really well; the program teaches kids to think well and solve problems, so it's had a very successful start."

Springhurst Principal Doug Berry agreed. "We introduced Singapore Math this year, for grades three, four, and five and I feel like we've been successful in achieving that goal," he said

Many parents of Springhurst students were also enthusiastic about the program.

"I'm super excited about this program," Miriam Singleton, a district parent, said. I'm a physician; my son is in fourth grade, and his ability is greater in math than in English. This program is introducing critical thinking much earlier--I think it's fantastic." 

One aspect of the program Ban Har emphasized is an issue often cited as a shortcoming of high-performing Westchester schools.

"Average students have the opportunity to experience clarifying complexity," Ban Har said, allaying parents' concerns that the program catered only to the mathematically gifted.  

"I'm feeling very positive about the program," Jacqueline El-Hamouch, a Springhurst parent, said. "I'm a teacher myself; I think some parents are worried because they don't understand--they were taught in a different way. But I think it's much better than the old way I was teaching it, and I'm very thankful it's being implemented in this school."