Singapore Maths The Emphasis on Visuals Multi-Step Problems on Fractions

H a r r i s F e d e r a t i o n , L o n d o n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

Yeap Ban Har

Marshall Cavendish Institute Singapore

yeapbanhar@gmail.com

Slides are available at

www.banhar.blogspot.com

Jerome Bruner

• Enactive Representation (Concrete)

• Iconic Representation (Pictorial)

• Symbolic Representation (Abstract)

Reference

http://www.theoryfundamentals.com/bruner.htm

Howard Gardner

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

• Spatial

• Linguistic

• Logical-mathematical

• Bodily-kinesthetic

• Musical

• Interpersonal

• Intrapersonal

• Naturalistic Gardner, 1983

See Ho, S. Y. & Yeap, B. H. (2011). Development of Visualization Skills in Singapore Primary

School Mathematics Textbooks. Paper presented at PME-35 Angkara, Turkey.

See also Yeap, B. H. (2011). The Emphasis of Primary-Level Textbooks in Singapore on

Higher-Order Thinking Skills. Paper presented at International Conference on School

Mathematics Textbooks Shanghai, China.

Primary Mathematics (Third Edition)

Visuals are used to teach

concepts – distributive

property of multiplication

– without using formal

terms.

Primary Mathematics (Third Edition)

emphasis visualization

3 units = 18

1 units = 18 3 = 6

6 x 8 = 48

There were 48 coins at first.

Example 1 Primary 5 Year 6

Mr Chen had some durians for

sale. He sold 24 durians in the

morning. In the afternoon, he sold

7

2of the remainder.

Then, he had of the total number of durians left.

2

1

My Pals Are Here! Maths Primary 5

Example 2 Primary 5 Year 6

24 3 units = 24

1 units = 24 3 = 8

How many durians did Mr Chen had at first?

10 units = 8 x 10 = 80

At first, Mr Chen had 80 durians for sale.