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“Over the years, Singapore has evolved from its traditional
British-based education system to one that endeavours to meet the
needs of individuals and seeks to nurture talents. The strength of
Singapore's Education system lies in its bilingual policy (English
with Malay/Chinese/Tamil) and a broad-based curriculum where
innovation and entrepreneurship command a premium. Individuals
acquire the relevant skills and abilities to survive in competitive
environments, equipped for a brighter future. Singapore's public
schools have a distinctive record of high standards in teaching and
learning, illustrated by international comparative studies such as
the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) that
showed the majority of students from Singapore schools outperforming
the international average in Mathematics and Science. Our students
have also excelled in competitions such as world debating
championships (English) and International Olympiads (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry and Biology), ousting counterparts from other
countries to clinch top prizes and distinctions.” View full report
at
http://www.singaporeedu.gov.sg/htm/abo/abo0201.htm
Use of
Singapore Mathematics TextBook in USA
Singapore Math was introduced
to the US in 2000, and would be used by California Teachers beginning 2008.
News released by Marketwire -
November 14, 2007:
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=792848&k
“California Teachers Get Approval From Board of Education for State Funds to Use
'Standards Edition' of Math Textbooks Originally Developed by Singapore's
Ministry of Education, Used by No. 1-Ranked Students and Distributed by SingaporeMath.com Inc.” News
released by The Wall Street Journal:
http://www.oaknorton.com/wsj-arithmeticproblem.cfm.
“Three years ago,
Garfield (Elementary School in Revere, Mass.) started using Singapore Math, a
curriculum modeled on that country's official program and now used in about 300
school systems in the U.S. Many school systems and parents regard Singapore Math
as an antidote for "reform math" programs that arose from the math council's
earlier recommendations. According to preliminary results, the percentage of
Garfield students failing the math portion of the fourth-grade state achievement
test last year fell to 7% from 23% in 2005. Those rated advanced or proficient
rose to 43% from 40%.”
More articles about
Singapore Mathematics:
|
Singapore Math is a plus for South River students
The Star-Ledger (Chandra M. Hayslett, January, 2007) |
Hoover Institution - Education Next
Miracle Math (Barry Garelick, 2006) |
|
Comments on the implementation of Singapore Mathematics
program in the North Middlesex Regional School District
and the resultant outcomes.
(Mary Waight to the National Mathematics Advisory Panel,
Cambridge, Massachusetts,
September 14,2006). |
New math system adding up
Sentinel & Enterprise (Kyle Alspac, April, 2006) |
|
What the US can learn from Singapore’s World-class
mathematics system?
US Department of Education, Policy and Program Studies
Service, 28 Jan 2005 |
Bethel to institute new math program
Shawnee News-Star, Oklahoma (Jamie Dukes May 26, 2004) |
|
US Teachers get lessons
The Straits Times, Singapore (Ho Ai Li, December 28, 2004) |
Talk of the Nation - Singapore Math Method
National Public Radio (NPR), (Ira Flatow, Dec 17, 2004) |
|
Solving math problems - New program shows success
The Arizona Republic, (Anne Ryman, Nov 21, 2004) |
Massachusetts Schools Implementation
The Boston Globe, (Susan Ware, June 10, 2004) |
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Primary Mathematics Series - U.S. Edition
The Straits Times, Singapore (Jane Lee 17, 2003) |
Now, Israel uses S'pore maths textbooks too
The Straits Times, Singapore (Tracy Quek, September 23,
2002) |
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State Tries New Techniques to Improve Math Education
The Boston Globe (Michele Kurtz, December 8, 2002) |
U.S., Singapore Agree to Cooperate on Math and Science
Education Week (David Hoff, September 18, 2002) |
|
Looking East for Math Techniques
Washington Post (Valerie Strauss, March 21, 2000) |
Singapore Math Doesn't Add Up with Backing
Washington Post (Karin Chenoweth, February 17, 2000) |
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East Meets West In Math Classes
Washington Post (Annie Gowen, October 18, 2000) |
Why Tiny Singapore is at Top of the Class
Los Angeles Times (Richard Lee Colvin, February 1997) |
Math Achievement By
Singapore
International report on Achievement in the Mathematics Cognitive
Domains by IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS) in 2003 reported the following:
|
Average mathematics
scale scores of fourth-grade students, by country: 2003 |
|
Country |
Average score |
|
International average |
495 |
|
Singapore |
594 |
|
Hong Kong |
575 |
|
Japan |
565 |
|
Chinese Taipei |
564 |
|
Belgium-Flemish |
551 |
|
Netherlands |
540 |
|
Latvia |
536 |
|
Lithuania |
534 |
|
Russian Federation |
532 |
|
England |
531 |
|
Hungary |
529 |
|
United States |
518 |
|
Cyprus |
510 |
|
Moldova, Republic of |
504 |
|
Italy |
503 |
|
Australia |
499 |
|
New Zealand |
493 |
|
Scotland |
490 |
|
Slovenia |
479 |
|
Amernia |
456 |
|
Norway |
451 |
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of |
389 |
|
Philippines |
358 |
|
Morocco |
347 |
|
Tunisia |
339 |
|
Table 2, page 4, Highlights
from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS) 2003 by US Department of Education,
Institute of Education Sciences; view full report at
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005005.pdf or
http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/commissioner/remarks2004/12_14_2004.asp
“At the fourth grade, Singapore was the
highest-performing country in overall mathematics followed by Hong Kong
SAR, and then by Japan and Chinese Taipei who performed similarly.”
Page 37, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Lynch School of
Education, Boston College. Read the full report at
http://timss.bc.edu/PDF/t03_download/t03cdrpt_chapter2.pdf. |
|
|
Average mathematics
scale scores of eighth-grade students, by country: 2003 |
|
Country |
Average Score |
|
International average |
466 |
|
Singapore |
605 |
|
Korea, Republic of |
589 |
|
Hong Kong SAR²³ |
586 |
|
Chinese Taipei |
585 |
|
Japan |
570 |
|
Belgium-Flemish |
537 |
|
Netherlands² |
536 |
|
Estonia |
531 |
|
Hungary |
529 |
|
Malaysia |
508 |
|
Latvia |
508 |
|
Russian Federation |
508 |
|
Australia |
508 |
|
(United States) |
504 |
|
Lithuania |
502 |
|
Sweden |
499 |
|
Scotland |
498 |
|
(Israel) |
496 |
|
New Zealand |
494 |
|
Slovenia |
493 |
|
Italy |
484 |
|
Armenia |
478 |
|
Serbia |
477 |
|
Bulgaria |
476 |
|
Romania |
475 |
|
Norway |
461 |
|
Moldova, Republic of |
460 |
|
Cyprus |
459 |
|
(Macedonia, Republic of) |
435 |
|
Lebanon |
433 |
|
Jordan |
424 |
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of |
411 |
|
Indonesia |
411 |
|
Tunisa |
410 |
|
Egypt |
406 |
|
Bahrain |
401 |
|
Palestinian National Authority |
390 |
|
Chile |
387 |
|
(Morocco) |
387 |
|
Philippines |
378 |
|
Botswana |
366 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
332 |
|
Ghana |
276 |
|
South Africa |
264 |
|
TIMSS, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, is
designed to help countries all over the world improve student learning
in mathematics and science. It collects educational achievement data at
the fourth and eighth grades to provide information about trends in
performance over time together with extensive background information to
address concerns about the quantity, quality, and content of
instruction. See
http://timss.bc.edu/index.html for more information of TIMSS.
There is another New York Times article reporting on the findings by the
TIMSS.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/education/14students.html?ref=education.
“At the eighth grade, the four countries with the highest overall
mathematics achievement were Singapore followed by the Republic of
Korea, Hong Kong SAR, and Chinese Taipei (only outperformed by
Singapore).” Page 36, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Lynch
School of Education, Boston College.
Read the full report at
http://timss.bc.edu/PDF/t03_download/t03cdrpt_chapter2.pdf |
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