The 'Singapore Math' - a new method to tackle Mathematics

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.philstar.com/health-and-family/2013/02/05/904836/singapore-math-festival-set

Most students dread mathematics. But with the advent of the Singapore Math, teachers and parents now agree that kids are beginning to embrace the process of learning math more easily.

Because students from Singapore have consistently topped the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), many educators have concluded that the technique used in Singapore schools in teaching and learning mathematics is so effective that more and more schools worldwide are incorporating the Singapore Math method into their curriculum.

A fun way of teaching math to children, the program uses a three-step learning model: concrete-pictorial-abstract, or moving from the concrete (such as showing something using manipulatives), to the pictorial (creating a visual representation on paper), to the abstract (solving problems).

This method puts emphasis on visual thinking, encourages critical thinking, and provides opportunities for the students to develop abstract ideas.