Singapore Maths: Mastery Curriculum Guide

The school is changing to the Singapore Maths approach called Maths-No Problem to better align with the new National Curriculum's emphasis on mastery of core skills and problem solving, with lessons following a structure of hands-on introduction, modeling, guided practice, independent practice, and challenges using a concrete-pictorial-abstract approach to thoroughly teach mathematical concepts before moving on. The goals are for all classes to receive a consistent, practical curriculum that fosters good links with numeracy experts through resources like textbooks, workbooks, and online tools.

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Singapore Maths: Mastery Curriculum Guide

Uploaded by

Jamila Mammadova

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Singapore Maths

Maths No Problem!
Points we will cover this
morning.
• Why we wanted a change
• Philosophy behind the scheme
• Day-to-day running
• Impact
• Resources
• Q&A
Why we are changing…
• New Curriculum and Ofsted framework were
introduced, and we wanted to provide the
children with a ‘Mastery’ curriculum.
• The new curriculum places a high importance
on mental maths skills and fluency of these.
• Next step to further maths teaching
• ‘Mastery’ means doing fewer things in greater
depth to ensure skills are learned. The new
National Curriculum is a Mastery curriculum.
Maths-No Problem!
• In line with the National Curriculum
2014
• Recommended by NCETM. The National
Centre for Excellent Teaching in Maths
and the national and local (West London
maths hub)
• Government (DfE) preferred way of
teaching maths. £40 million being made
available for schools to buy resources.
(We don’t qualify for this funding).
Maths-No Problem!
• Emphasis is on problem solving and
comprehension, allowing children to relate
what they learn and to connect knowledge.
• Careful scaffolding of core skills:
- visualisation
- mental strategies
- pattern recognition, to make links
between ideas.
• Emphasis is on the foundations for learning
and not on the content itself so children
learn to think mathematically as opposed
to merely reciting formulas or procedures.
Maths-No Problem!
• The focus of the scheme is on teaching
to mastery (complete understanding), by
allowing enough time on a topic for a
child to comprehend it thoroughly
before moving on.
• The programme emphasises problem-
solving and pupils using their core skills
to develop a relational understanding of
mathematical concepts. It uses 3 key
stages.
The CPA approach
Concrete representation
• The active stage - a child is first introduced to
an idea or a skill by acting it out with real
objects. ‘Hands on‘
Pictorial representation
• The iconic stage - a child can now relate the
‘hands on’ to representations, such as a diagram,
picture of the problem or a bar model.
Abstract representation
• The symbolic stage - a child is now capable of
representing problems by using mathematical
notation. E.g 6+4=10
The CPA approach
Concrete representation
The CPA approach
Pictorial representation
The CPA approach
Abstract representation
Lesson Structure
Each lesson will follow this structure:
In Focus task: hook, hands-on, practical task
to introduce concept.
Discussion: discussion of learning in In Focus
task and modelling of different methods.
Guided Practice: teacher modelling solving a
given problem step-by-step
Independent Practice: children answering
workbook questions independently.
Greater Depth Task: Involves reasoning,
applying skills in different contexts, non-
routine problems.
Lesson Structure
Differentiation
• Children are expected to fully master a con
cept before moving onto the next.
• Extension takes the form of greater depth
activities rather than acceleration.
• Ideas for both support and challenge are
provided.
• Deeper activities rather than acceleration;
like comparing a ladder to a climbing frame.
Aims

• All classes will receive a practical and

well-pitched curriculum
• Practice will be consistent across the
school
• We will continue to foster good links
with the NCETM through the local
maths hub
• Topmarks
• National Numeracy Parent Toolkit
• Maths Zone
• Woodlands Resources
• Nrich
• Jargon Buster

• Maths: No Problem Parent videos

http://www.mathsnoproblem.co.uk/parent-videos
• The Maths No Problem section of our website:
http://smi.hounslow.sch.uk/helping-at-home/maths-no-
problem.html
• Textbooks
• Workbooks