Best Homeschool Math Method (2022)
The Singapore math method is a highly effective teaching approach initially developed by Singapore’s Ministry of Education in the 1980s for Singapore public schools. This method has been widely adopted in various forms worldwide over the past twenty years, including introducing the curriculum to the U.S. in 1998 as both a homeschool method and in traditional schools.
Experts agree that part of the reason Singapore students are so successful in math is that their curriculum teaches them a deep mastery of the subject through carefully calculated foundational learning; each grade level is a building block.
“While American math instruction often relies on drilling and memorization of many skills each year, Singapore math focuses on children not just learning but also truly mastering a limited number of concepts each school year. The goal is for children to perform well because they understand the material on a deeper level; they are not just learning it for the test,” says PBS.org.
This approach helps students surpass memorization to truly understand the material, making them less likely to forget critical concepts between grade-level learning. In this way, Singapore homeschool math is ideal as it has evidence-based success for all levels of learners.
Why the Singapore Math Curriculum is Ideal for Your Homeschool Method
Singapore’s Ministry of Education heavily believes in “research-proven pedagogical approaches that lead to lasting learning beyond the test,” says KQED News.
One of these pedagogical approaches is helping students obtain a growth mindset to help them persevere, especially when confronted with the challenging material associated with advanced math.
A growth mindset, as defined and popularized by Carol Dweck, is the idea that intelligence is not a set of fixed traits but something that can be developed and improved through hard work and education. This is an excellent message for all homeschool methods.
Experts say students are more likely to succeed, particularly in complex subjects like math, when they ditch the feeling that they’re “not good at it” and replace it with the sense that they can ultimately succeed if they keep trying.
The support of this mindset is one reason why students are continually able to succeed and why Singapore homeschool math lessons are becoming so popular.
Singapore consistently ranks at the top in international math testing. The intentional progression of concepts in the Singapore math approach instills a deep understanding of mathematics.
Two international tests, the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), assess math and science competency in countries worldwide. Singapore students consistently rank among the top on both tests.
What to Expect in the Singapore Homeschool Math Curriculum
The Singapore math method focuses on mastery, achieved through the intentional sequencing of concepts. Some of the key features of the approach include the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) progression, number bonds, bar modeling, and mental math.
Instead of pushing through rote memorization, this homeschooling method helps students learn to think mathematically and rely on the depth of knowledge gained in previous lessons. An attitude that math is important and approachable is also essential. Students perform at a higher level when their potential for understanding and success is assumed.
In typical U.S. math programs, students get a worked example, then solve problems that follow that example closely, repeating the same steps with different numbers. In Singapore math, students must think through concepts and apply them in new ways from the very start. Since they can’t rely on simple replication, students are pushed to greater engagement and broader thinking. In U.S. math programs, concepts and skills are more compartmentalized within and across grade levels than in the Singapore homeschool method, where strong connectivity to past learning is woven throughout.
Singapore math not only helps students become more successful problem solvers but also helps them gain confidence and resourcefulness because it insists on conceptual depth. This naturally prepares students to excel in more advanced math.
KEY FEATURES
CPA (Concrete Pictorial Abstract) Approach: Introduces concepts in a tangible way and progresses to increasing levels of abstraction.
Number Bonds: This shows the part-whole relationship between numbers.
Bar Modeling: Helps students visualize a range of math concepts, such as fractions, ratios, and percentages. Allows students to determine the knowns and unknowns in a given situation. Mental Math: Helps students develop number sense and flexibility in thinking about numbers.
If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing Singapore homeschool method for math, you’ve come to the right place. Find out more about our online Singapore math program, which includes classes of no more than five students, and contact us to start with two free trial sessions today.
