Maths
Singapore Maths (Maths No Problem)
Background
Singapore Maths is grounded in research based on Vgotsky & Piaget concepts. Click here for more details.
Each lesson is matched to the Maths Curriculum and the very important steps needed for each concept are carefully considered and taught.
Each lesson has been carefully crafted with numbers specifically chosen to develop concept being taught:
- Exploration: Teacher leads class into a problem, research gone into that specific problem
- Structure: Whole class discussion to bring and gather thoughts from children
- Follows a George Polya model of one problem in depth, than many in a shallow depth
- Document journaling: Children record their methods
- Variation theory: Work book
- Reflection
Singapore Maths covers all aspects of the Maths Curriculum and is built on principles:
Communication; Number sense; Generalisation; Metacognition; Visualisation:
- Key difference is Document Journaling, blank book where children record their methods and the text books.
- Enables children to reflect their reasoning
- Enables teachers to see the misconceptions and the progress is visible
- Fits alongside Growth mindset Carol Dweck
- Variation theory joins up the teaching which is to ‘see learning as the ability to discern different features or aspects of what is being learned’.
- ‘Regrouping and renaming’ key feature used by children in their journal
- Text books are carefully written – takes two days for each lesson.
Maths leadership evaluation:
- Subject leadership changed in previous academic year to Jordana Woodward. Jordana will be going on maternity Oct’17
- Audit of teaching indicates training needs in:
- subject knowledge
- raising outcomes; outcomes notably at end of KS2 were well below national alongside progress which was below coasting and floor (except for writing)
- leadership of maths in absence of Maths lead on maternity from October 2017
- appropriate quantities of manipulatives and resources for class and interventions
Classroom practice:
- Classes are taught in mixed ability – children are ideally grouped onto mixed ability tables of 6;
- All children face the board at all times and every lesson starts with a problem.
- Children use concrete manipulatives to attempt to solve problem.
- Productive talk for learning and collaboration is encouraged.
- More Able children encouraged to find alternative solutions to solve the problem
We have now begun two cohorts on the Mastery in Mathematics using Singaporean Principles. The first cohort started in June 2016 the second in June 2017. Ten schools are now engaged in the project in Coventry.
The differences between Shanghai and Singapore Maths is most notably the use of text materials and the structure of the lesson. We selected to work with Maths No Problem resources. This is the only DfE approved Maths Text Book (more information available here).
Social Media and links
Dr Yeap blog http://banhar.blogspot.co.uk/
Maths No problem http://www.mathsnoproblem.co.uk/singapore-maths
Deep Sea Learning TSA https://www.facebook.com/deeplearningtsa?sk=app_116943498446376
Our Lady of Pity http://www.olopschool.co.uk/
Central Maths Hub http://www.mathshubs.org.uk/find-your-hub/central-maths-hub/ (Bishop Challoner)
Bidstone Primary School www.bidstonavenue.wirral.sch.uk/maths
St Bridgit Primary School www.stbridgets.wirral.sch.uk/website/maths
Additional reading
NCETM https://www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/45776
https://www.ncetm.org.uk/public/files/19990433/Developing_mastery_in_mathematics_october_2014.pdf
http://www.mathsnoproblem.co.uk/media/images/Ofsted_Good_practice_in_primary%20mathematics.pdf
Twitter
@DeepLearningTSA
@ban_har
@MathsNoProblem