Understanding your students’ learning styles may benefit you in a variety of ways. And it’s particularly helpful when teaching Singapore Math. 

Students are often instructed to understand mathematics in a predetermined manner. Most of the time with little consideration given to their individual learning styles. Let’s define learning styles and how to use them in teaching Singapore Math.

Singapore Math Teaching Styles and Their Importance

The notion of teaching strategies has a long history. It dates back to the early 1900s and contemporary psychologist Carl Jung. He observed that certain personality types affect how individuals receive and review information. 

Many years later, two women—Isabel Myers and Kathleen Briggs—elaborated on his ideas. (This then led to the creation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.) Their assessment gives people a better understanding of their own strengths and shortcomings as learners, employees, and individuals.

It’s important to note that no student fits into a single learning style group. Not to mention that we cannot disregard their preferred learning style. Thus, John R. Brunsting and Terry Walsh proposed four mathematical teaching methods. Teachers use these methods to supplement students’ learning styles.

The Four Different Mathematical Learning Styles

First Style: Understanding

Students in this group want to know how Singapore Math works for them. They favor math tasks in which they must prove, analyze, or take a stand. These kids seek patterns, uncover hidden ideas, and solve challenges. This allows them to express their analytical and mathematical thinking. 

However, it is difficult for them to learn when required to interact or work in a large classroom setting with other pupils.

Second Style: Mastery

In this style, kids learning math often like practical knowledge and processes. They like solving Singapore Math problems according to the methods they have studied. They also use a step-by-step approach to issue resolution. 

These children flourish when they:

• Learn new mathematical techniques
• Get enough practice time
• Provided feedback

Third Style: Self-Expression

As the name suggests, these pupils apply their individualism to investigate mathematical principles.  They grow best when they can use their creative thinking to solve math problems.  They enjoy nonroutine, project-like math tasks that let them think “outside the box.”

However, rote problem-solving makes these students reluctant to learn the arithmetic foundations behind many math curriculums such as Singapore Math but makes them eager for the Singapore Math multi-step word problems and reasoning questions.

Fourth Style: Interpersonal

Students in this class study Singapore Math via discussion, cooperation, and cooperative learning. They like to concentrate on practical uses and how math can assist people. 

These students thrive when teachers (or parents) praise them for their mathematical accomplishments. Also, they view learning as an open conversation in a group of problem solvers.

Ways to Teach Singapore Math Using Different Learning Styles

You’ll see a lot of parallels to the four styles above with the more generally discussed VARK model:

• Visual learners
• Auditory learners
• Reading/writing learners
• Kinesthetic learners

Your young learner may also exhibit some of these learning-type features.

With this in mind, we enlisted a few strategies you can use to teach for distinct learning types. Do note that not all will fit certain learning types. But you can use them in rotation until you find ones that work best for each of your students.

• Use comparisons, analogies, metaphors, and categorization procedures to identify similarities and contrasts.
• Teach students note-taking skills to help them summarize information.
• Reinforce effort and give praise to encourage their learning.
• Give homework and exercises to help them retain information on their own.
• Use non-linguistic representation to express learning via imagery, iconography, symbols, and graphic organizers.
• Assist in the development of frameworks through cooperative learning. This enables them to collaborate, study, and make goods and demonstrations as part of a group.
• Set targets and give feedback. This assists your student in identifying goals, tracking progress, and developing improvement strategies.
• Use clues and questions to assimilate past information with new learnings. 
• Assist them in seeing the “structure” of what they are going to learn.
• Incorporate vocabulary education, focusing on the most important academic words.
• Writing increases students’ performance throughout all academic subjects and deepens their comprehension.

Conclusion

When considering your student’s learning styles, never neglect any of the others. There’s a possibility that they may alter learning methods as they grow and mature. 

Look for strategies to assist your kids to succeed in math using the examples above. Be patient in exploring and choosing the appropriate tools, resources, and support. Doing so allows you the ability to best guide the kids in understanding Singapore Math.

Learn Singapore Math With Us

At Monster Education, we believe in personalized enrichment for curious minds. That’s why we offer online courses to students interested in Singapore Math education. Our teachers employ multiple tools and techniques to reach different learners. Contact us to learn how we can further support and develop your child’s education.