Math in Focus®: Singapore Math® by Marshall Cavendish® Homeschool

The goal of a great math program is to provide world-class resources to ensure outstanding results. The Singapore Math^® curriculum has shown excellent results in the United States. With Math in Focus, you can confidently choose a program that delivers student results.

Research-based Pedagogy

Math in Focus offers you the same authentic Singapore Math^® curriculum that has propelled Singapore students to international success. It follows the pedagogical framework developed by the Singapore Ministry of Education.

Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract Learning Progression

Numbers and symbols can be confusing when you don't have a grasp of what they actually mean. Singapore Math^® teaches concepts using a concrete–pictorial–abstract learning progression to anchor learning in real-world, hands-on experiences.

Pedagogy Fit for RtI

Math in Focus adapts instruction to the needs of individual learners through scaffolding—the systematic sequencing of prompted content—and support to optimize learning. The ultimate goal of scaffolding is to gradually remove the supports as the learner masters the task.

Math in Focus® and Marshall Cavendish® are registered trademarks of Times Publishing Limited. Singapore Math® is a trademark owned by Singapore Math Inc. and Marshall Cavendish Education Pte. Ltd.

• Scope and Sequence

  Math in Focus teaches math concepts to mastery by emphasizing the various facets of each concept, and then limiting repetition from year to year. This means that a great deal of attention is paid to the order in which math concepts are taught at each grade, and the time spent on each. The Math in Focus Scope and Sequence is the best way to prioritize your instruction of critical math concepts and help your homeschool students attain, then retain, the best understanding possible.

  Grades K–5 (1.3 MB)

  Grades 6–8 (646 k)

  Math in Focus® and Marshall Cavendish® are registered trademarks of Times Publishing Limited. Singapore Math® is a trademark owned by Singapore Math Inc. and Marshall Cavendish Education Pte. Ltd.

• Authors

  Meet the Math in Focus^®: Singapore Math^® by Marshall Cavendish^® author team.

  Dr. Fong Ho Kheong - International Author

  Dr. Fong Ho Kheong is an associate professor and the head of the Math and Science Department of the Bahrain Teachers College of the University of Bahrain in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He was formerly associate professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was involved in training mathematics teachers in the National Institute of Education, Singapore, for 25 years. He also worked at the Education Testing Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia, dealing with assessment in primary mathematics. He is the founding president of the Association of the Mathematics Educators, Singapore.

  Dr. Fong obtained his Ph.D. from the University of London. He specializes in teaching high-ability children and children who have struggled with mathematics. His research work includes diagnosing children with mathematical difficulties, teaching thinking to solve mathematical problems, and applying psychological theories for the teaching and learning of mathematics. His experience in curriculum development has led him to innovate the use of the model-drawing approach to tackle challenging problems. He has published more than 100 journal articles and research reports, as well as primary and secondary mathematics books. He is the consultant and principal author of Marshall Cavendish's My Pals are Here! Maths series—which is currently being used by the majority of primary schools in Singapore—and Math in Focus.

  Dr. Pamela Sharpe - International Author

  Dr. Pamela Sharpe, author of the Grade K program, has been involved in training teachers in both Singapore and the United Kingdom for 38 years and has also played a major role in setting up early childhood programs in Singapore. She was formerly an associate professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

  She is currently a part-time lecturer there, as well as a consultant for the early childhood program and early childhood intervention programs. Dr. Sharpe specializes in teaching both high-ability children and children who have problems in mathematics at the preschool level. Her research includes studying the adjustment patterns of children in transition from preschool to primary school, as well as identifying and assessing preschool children with special needs. Dr. Sharpe has also been deeply involved in the development of the preschool mathematics curriculum in Singapore.

  Gan Kee Soon - International Author

  Gan Kee Soon has been an inspector of schools, a principal of a secondary school, and a lecturer at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where, for 22 years, he trained and supervised primary mathematics teachers. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with an M.A. in elementary education in 1986. He also has a BS in mathematics and a diploma in education from the University of Malaya (Singapore).

  Chelvi Ramakrishnan - International Author

  Chelvi Ramakrishnan is currently head of the Department of Science in a primary school. She has been teaching for 30 years. She graduated with a BS in mathematics and has a Certificate of Education from NIE (National Institute of Education). Ramakrishnan also has a diploma in the teaching of English as a second language from the Royal Society of Arts, a diploma in English studies, and a diploma in department management. She has been writing primary mathematics books since 1997.

  Bernice Lau Pui Wah - International Author

  Bernice Lau Pui Wah is currently head of the Department of Mathematics in a primary school. She has been teaching for 36 years in primary and secondary schools. She graduated with a B.S. in mathematics and has a further professional diploma in education (Singapore) as well as an advanced certificate in education (Singapore). She has been writing primary mathematics books since 1997.

  Michelle Choo - International Author

  Michelle Choo has been teaching for 20 years, including five years in the Gifted Education Program. She has a certificate in education, and has been writing primary mathematics books for the past 12 years. She also conducts school holiday math revision classes and workshops on the use of problem-solving skills and heuristics.

  Dr. Richard Bisk - U.S. Author

  Dr. Richard Bisk is a professor in the Mathematics Department at Worcester State College in Massachusetts. For more than 30 years, he has taught a wide array of mathematics courses and has focused on improving teachers' mathematical understanding. He has provided professional development using Singapore math materials since 2000.

  Andy Clark - U.S. Author

  Andy Clark is a former elementary and junior high school teacher. He is a Title I specialist and coordinator of professional development in mathematics in Portland, Oregon. He was also the math coordinator for Portland Public Schools. The workshops Clark conducts around the country promote his belief that everyone can learn, enjoy, and use mathematics, and that dedicated teachers are the strength of American schools. Clark is coauthor of Every Day Counts^®: Calendar Math, Algebra Readiness, and Partner Games and Summer Success^®: Math.

  Patsy F. Kanter - U.S. Author

  Patsy F. Kanter is an author, teacher, and math consultant. She balances her life between traveling, teaching, and writing. Until 1997, Kanter was the lower school math coordinator and assistant principal at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Louisiana for 13 years. There she developed and implemented a hands-on, activity-based math program.

  Kanter is the senior author of Afterschool Achievers: Math Club, and Summer Success: Math, and is co-author of Every Day Counts: Calendar Math, Every Day Counts: Partner Games, Every Day Counts: Practice Counts, Math Every Day, and Math Central. She is also the author of Easy Math Centers, published by Scholastic Professional Division, and the U.S. Department of Education's Helping Your Child Learn Math.

  Math in Focus® and Marshall Cavendish® are registered trademarks of Times Publishing Limited. Singapore Math® is a trademark owned by Singapore Math Inc. and Marshall Cavendish Education Pte. Ltd. Every Day Counts® and Summer Success are registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

• Research and Efficacy

  The principles that underlay the Singapore Math^® approach are drawn from a solid base of foundational research that has identified effective approaches to mathematics teaching, and the results are undeniable. Peruse the documents, studies, and reports below for a closer look at the program behind the success.

  Research and Efficacy (3.8 MB)

  History of Singapore Math^®

  Singapore has been a top performer on the TIMSS international assessment for the past 15 years. That hasn't always been the case, however.

  History of Singapore Math^® (414 k)

  Problem Solving in Singapore Math^®

  A key factor to Singapore students' mathematics success is how they approach problem solving. Students learn to understand the "how" and the "why" so they can tackle both routine and non-routine problems.

  Problem Solving in Singapore Math^® (685 k)

  Model Drawing in Singapore Math^®

  A distinguishing characteristic of the math taught in Singapore is the use of "model drawing." Model drawing, often called "bar modeling" in the U.S., is a systematic method of representing word problems and number relationships.

  Model Drawing in Singapore Math^® (504 k)

  The Underpinning Concept in Math in Focus

  Math in Focus is adapted from Singapore's My Pals Are Here! Maths. The underpinning philosophy of both series is the same, and their goal is to ensure children's ability to achieve mastery of mathematics concepts, computational skills, problem-solving skills, and application of mathematics to daily life activities.

  The Underpinning Concept in Math in Focus (553 k)

  Math in Focus® and Marshall Cavendish® are registered trademarks of Times Publishing Limited. Singapore Math® is a trademark owned by Singapore Math Inc. and Marshall Cavendish Education Pte. Ltd.