The Secrets to Singapore's World-Class Math Curriculum

by Wenxi Lee

Why are Singaporean students always coming in 1st in math in international educational benchmark assessments? In The Secrets of Singapore's World-Class Math Curriculum, Wenxi Lee shares the secrets of the world-class math curriculum from a native Singaporean and an educator's perspective. This is a book that integrates research with personal anecdotes, making it information-packed, yet accessible to all readers. You will be guided through the development of Singapore's math curriculum, informed about the challenges and myths of the program, and gain expert advice and tips on how to implement the curriculum effectively. Wenxi's unique and refreshing perspectives will not only help you better understand Singapore's math curriculum, they will also inspire you to look at math education in a whole new light.

Genres: Education, Mathematics

108 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Wenxi Lee is currently a PhD student in math education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. With an undergraduate degree in math and art history from Washington University in St. Louis, Wenxi hopes to employ an interdisciplinary approach in curriculum research. She loves to be a part of her students' math education journey and help them succeed through her learning center - Numerica Math. In her free time, she is an avid reader and baker, and enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, Luna.

Reviews

[Irene Baron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of 85 industrialized nations, the students in Singapore rank the highest in the world in math tests. That made me want to learn more about the teaching process of that curriculum. Author Wenxi Lee, having grown up in Singapore, was able to provide intricacies about the curriculum that are not normally found in an analysis of math. I sincerely appreciated not only the facts she presented, but the suggestions to produce better prepared teachers and students. I also appreciated she emphasized the importance of elementary school being the base for success in all advanced math classes. This book emphasizes the importance of math teachers being prepared to teach math with a sufficient background and education in the subject.
This book is definitely a five star book.
Irenebaron.com

[Leonardo Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I had read before starting the Singapore Math curriculum. It clarifies common pitfalls and highlights the mindset shifts needed for both parents and students. One of its strengths is how it addresses myths and unrealistic expectations, explaining why the curriculum sometimes feels difficult to implement.

The recommendations at the end are practical and energizing. The book itself is clear, simple, and a strong starting point for anyone beginning with Singapore Math. My only critique is that it could have included more concrete guidance on which curricula or books to use next, especially for parents who are new to teaching math at home.

Overall, it’s a straightforward and very useful resource. If you want to understand the challenges and set yourself up with the right mindset for success, this book is an excellent first step.

[N.J. Danatangelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m totally fascinated by Singapore Math, it’s birth and continued refinement and dominance in terms of results. It shares so many similarities with how the Montessori Method teaches math and I love using their workbooks with my son who attends Kindergarten at a great local Montessori School. Unfortunately I did cringe when I saw Jo Boaler and Growth Mindset mentioned. However it was a very interesting book written by someone with firsthand knowledge of the pedagogy and curriculum. Someone obviously moved enough to right a book about their math education experience!

[Shanyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tutors and parents have to read this.

Some points to highlight:
- Model drawing is a necessity but it is not the only way to solve all math problems
- Students have to develop the habit of checking their answers (not only answers)
- There’re more than one way to solve problems, don’t just look at the answers, look at every step they made and analyse their errors

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives an overview of the philosophy of Singapore's math curriculum. It discusses some of the basic philosophies along with some of the myths that exist. This book is probably best read after having to try and use the actually curriculum so that you'll have a practical feel for what is discussed.