Mathemagis: Introducing Singapore Math in the Philippines

Many of us have already heard about Singapore Math. In fact, there are now many schools in the country which have adapted Singapore Math into their curriculum. To learn more about this concept, we spoke to Ms. Joanne Sison, a co-owner of Mathemagis, a pioneer of the Singapore Math Enrichment Program in the Philippines.

Simply put, Singapore Math is a term used to distinguish this novel method against the traditional way of teaching Math. Singapore’s Ministry of Education is in charge of developing the Math curriculum, framework and methods of teaching, which in turn is applied in their schools. The consistent top ranking results of Singapore students in various examinations was attributed by their government to their Math curriculum, and this is how many foreign countries took notice, including the Philippines.

To further understand Singapore Math, Joanne enumerated the reasons why it is an effective approach:

• Topic presentation follows the concrete->visual-> abstract progression. This is developmentally appropriate especially for young children who learn best through concrete and visual ways. A lot of students get turned off with math because of its very abstract nature and this concrete and visual presentation makes it more accessible to a majority of students.

• Whys are taught before the hows. The concepts need to be learned first before the procedures/algorithm. For example, a student needs to understand the concept of multiplication as putting together equal groups before knowing that 2x2=4. Moreover, knowledge of formulas and shortcuts take a backseat over understanding the concept, such that, after a student understands the concept - for example, finding an area of an enclosed figure - they are able to derive or come up with the formula on their own through the series of exercises presented.  

 

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• Mastery is achieved through an understanding of math principles and number insights instead of rote memorization of tables and procedures.

• The main goal is to develop a child's visualization skills and make use of the bar-model for answering word problems. The bar-model is a visual representation of  word problems which provides students the structure to break-down and analyze simple (1-2 steps) to complex (3-7 steps) word problems. 

This bar-model approach also eliminates the need for algebra in answering complex word problems, allowing students from the 4th grade to solve word problems involving algebra which are usually given to high school students.

There are many who say that the concept of Singapore Math is not a new one at all but rather just hype, since it uses the same medium of teaching like books and blocks as traditional methods. Joanne disagrees, “A lot of students find math very difficult due to its abstract nature. This is usually the challenge for students using the traditional curriculum. The only way for a student to pass the math subject is to know the procedures, memorize the multiplication tables and other formula. However, this disconnected method of learning math is broken down when solving word problems. Singapore math helps students understand basic math principles so the procedures will make more sense to them. Bar-models appeal to visual students who can grasp word problems better if they are given visual tools. We have students struggling in traditional math and find Singapore math way more understandable and easier for them.”

Below is a summary table from Mathemagis which shows the comparison between Singapore Math and traditional Math approaches on learning and teaching.

 

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There are also numerous Math enrichment programs available in the country, the more popular ones being Kumon and Enopi. We asked Joanne what differentiates Singapore Math from these, and she explained that Kumon, which is Japanese in origin, and Enopi, which has Korean roots, both employ the traditional approach to learning Math. She further elaborated that both methods aim to develop fast and accurate calculating skills, and both approach Math in a very procedural or algorithmic manner. 

Mathemagis, on the other hand, gives more emphasis on analytical and problem-solving skills.

Joanne is also proud to say that Mathemagis is the only company that offers a complete Singapore Math enrichment program from preschool to grade school in the country today. Although some companies offer Singapore Math, these are usually tutorials based on the student’s lessons, books and quizzes in school, while some only offer a fraction of what Singapore Math really is.

The assessment test is free of charge for students between the ages 4 and 12 who are interested to reap the benefits of Singapore Math. Although there is no specific age requirement in order to avail of the lessons, Joanne says it’s never too early to start. She also believes that the earlier you get your children to understand and enjoy math, the sturdier their foundations will be for more complex math concepts they will encounter later on. 

For the meantime, however, Mathemagis only caters to students in the preschool to grade school levels. They are, however, working on developing a program suited for students aged 12 and above. While the course is aimed as a long term program which will supplement the child’s lessons in school, the length it would take to finish it is dependent upon the pace of the child. 

Students attend a 50-minute session at the center twice a week, with 8 sessions / 1 month costing Php3,200. They also conduct free Singapore Math seminars for the parents of their students to help the parents understand the approach and the role they play in helping develop their children's math skills.

Lastly, Joanne states, “Mathemagis helps students achieve excellent math skills by overhauling the traditional paradigm and shifting from rote calculation to problem solving, from memorization of tables to developing insight into number systems, from fixed methods to flexible and multiple approaches to analysis, and from abstract concepts to practical number skills in an inspiring environment that nurtures students' understanding, appreciation and joy of math. This is the goal of Mathemagis' Singapore math, to develop logical thinkers through math, not just calculators.”

MatheMagis is located at Unit 529, Elizabeth Hall, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. For inquiries, you may call them at 387-6602 or 0932-8435552, or visit their website at www.mathemagis.com.

 

Photo by adwriter via flickr creative commons