Teaching Singapore Math

Welcome!

This course is a crucial course for any teacher preparing to teach Singapore Math. Master teacher and grammar school principal Dawn Swartz blends her familiarity with classical education, her extensive experience and her passion for Singapore Math into this practical course on how to implement and teach Singapore math in a school or homeschool setting.

Dawn has overseen the transition to and implementation of Singapore Math in her own school (Covenant Christian Academy, PA) and also serves as a consultant to other schools seeking to do the same. In 16 hands-on presentations, Dawn explains and demonstrates the Singapore approach to teaching mathematics with its emphasis on helping students “see” mathematics in action and thus acquire math sense or numeracy that brings delight to students. Using clear print-outs and a whiteboard, Dawn demonstrates the key teaching methods employed by Singapore, including the use of the bar graph, word problems and other pedagogies.

Dawn reports that since implementing Singapore Math, the vast majority of students at her school report a love for math that the school has never seen before. Instead of bringing a math consultant to your school or homeschool, enjoy having Dawn come to you by means of these training videos.

This course will be particularly helpful for newly-hired teachers who will be teaching using Singapore Math and for those educators wanting to research the possibility of adopting Singapore Math in either a school or homeschool setting.

This course is divided into 12 lessons, each featuring a presentation by Lori Jill Keeler. The end of the course also features three conversations between Lori Jill and Christopher Perrin, in which they discuss Lori Jill’s own journey into classical education, and ways of cultivating great teachers and a great school. Within the lessons below, you will find video lectures, session outlines, recommended readings, questions for discussion and reflection, and additional recommended resources.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Singapore Math: Singapore Math Framework
Lesson 2: Strategies for Teaching Singapore Math: What is Number Sense and Math Talk?
Lesson 3: Number Sense: Number Bonds
Lesson 4: Number Sense: Place Value
Lesson 5: Number Sense: Place Value with Multiplication and Division
Lesson 6: The Value of Math Games, Sample Games
Lesson 7: Singapore Model Method and Model Drawing (Addition and Subtraction)
Lesson 8: Part-Whole Bar Model for Multiplication and Division
Lesson 9: Comparison Bar Modelling for Addition and Subtraction
Lesson 10: Comparison Bar Modeling for Multiplication and Division
Lesson 11: Comparison Bar Modeling for Fractions
Lesson 12: Comparison Bar Modeling for Ratio Word Problems
Lesson 13: Reminder and Tips; Rubrics for Assessing Bar Models
Lesson 14: Lesson Planning and Assessments
Lesson 15: Singapore Math and Homework
Lesson 16: Math Facts and Mental Math
Discussion: Interview of Dawn Swartz

Dawn Swartz. Although teaching students has always been her first love, Dawn has found joy in serving as the grammar school dean at Covenant Christian Academy in Harrisburg, PA. Dawn is a graduate of Messiah College and has served as a classical educator since 2004. She is a lover of mathematics and led her school’s adoption of Singapore Math and provides ongoing training and support for math teachers using Singapore Math at her school and frequently consults with others seeking to implement Singapore Math. Outside of school, Dawn enjoys spending time on the Chincoteague Island with her family, reading mysteries, pursuing dark chocolate, and playing the cello.

Dawn Swartz mentions and recommends the following helpful books at various times throughout this course.

The Singapore Model Method, by Kho Tek Hong, Yeo Shu Mei, James Lim
Math Talk, by Char Forsten and Torri Richards
Building Number Sense by Catherine Jones Kuhns
Bar Modeling: A Problem-Solving Tool by Yeap Ban Har
Why Before How by Jana Hazekamp
Step-by-Step Model Drawing by Char Forsten
Model Drawing for Challenging Word Problems by Lauraine Walker
A Handbook for Mathematics Teachers in Primary Schools, by Juliana Ng Chye Huat and Lim Kian Huat
Math Matters by Suzanne H. Chapin and Art Johnson
Elementary Mathematics for Teachers by Thomas H. Parker and Scott J. Baldridge
Poems for Math Practice by Laureen Reynolds
Number Facts and Jumping Jacks by Bob Sornson and Laureen Reynolds
Math Art-O-Facts by Catherine Jones Kuhns
Number Wonders by Catherine Jones Kuhns

Please Note: ClassicalU is currently developing a certification to accompany our course offerings. This course may be taken for elective credit. The certification credit component of this course is now active but also undergoing refinement and testing.

To obtain a certification credit for this course, simply complete the quiz that follows each presentation by Dawn Swartz, and then also take the certification test at the end of the course. The quizzes are designed to ensure that you have understood the essential content of each presentation, and they can be taken more than once if necessary. The cumulative certification test at the end of the course is given as a pass/fail test and requires that you upload one essay (of 600-750 words) demonstrating your understanding of Singapore Math. When you have completed the course, a certificate that you can print or email will magically appear under the “My Courses” section of this website.

Here is the essay question to answer at the end of the course:

In 600-750 words, describe the function and benefits of the Singapore bar model for teaching mathematics.

Please allow approximately 2 weeks for essay submissions to be reviewed.

By taking the course for certification credit, you also will be on your way to obtaining a Level 3 certification.

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