Learning Mathematics, especially for kids from 4 to 12, is like trying to understand how an experiment works. A volcano erupting because of vinegar and baking soda looks amazing but if you ask the kids why that happened, they have no idea that it’s because of the chemical composition of the ingredients. It is difficult to grasp without the knowledge of concepts.
If you are learning a complex subject, you do not learn by making it more complex or just memorizing the equations or formulas. Math is full of concepts so it should be learned through concepts.
There are varieties of teaching methods that try to teach Math on a conceptual level but the most effective is Singapore Math which is used by S.A.M. (Seriously Addictive Mathematics).
Singapore Math is a method produced by Singapore’s Ministry of Education in the 1980s. Now, it has been widely used in many countries around the world. This program has a unique approach as it focuses on mastery and concepts rather than rote memorization or a typical way of teaching math. For S.A.M Director Lau Chin Long, the technique makes children understand as well as love the subject. It brings out a different attitude and love for learning instead of just facts.
S.A.M is the largest Singapore Math enrichment program in the world, we know that their approach is the best. One of their key methods is the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approach (CPA Method), which is effectively used in Singapore Math and made the program rank high in rankings Mathematics. So let’s talk about this multi-awarding and different methods.
What is the CPA Method?
The CPA Method is developed by American psychologist Jerome Bruner which is an essential technique and more effective method. Its frameworks are concrete, figurative, and abstract while other approaches only use abstract. Perhaps, some of us or the older generations experience abstract teaching of math like instantly learning how to get the value of x without knowing why it should be valued.
CPA Approach is unique in that there are stages of concrete and showing pictures before going to the abstract part. Especially for younger kids, concretes are important for them to understand and enjoy what you are teaching. In the concrete stage, it uses physical matter like toys that the children can touch. The pictorial part uses shapes or digital symbols that the children can see. The abstract part is by having numbers and symbols; it is the actual way of visualizing and understanding mathematics.
Why is it important?
After knowing what CPA Method means and how it is taught, what about its importance? As said above, it is an effective way so many benefits come from utilizing this technique. The benefits for both teachers and students are as follows:
- Critical and logical thinking skills
- Getting awards from contests
- Produce more future professionals in industries with Math
- More students that are interested in Math
- Mastery
There are still more benefits that you can get if you teach or learn the CPA Method of Singapore Math. If you are wondering how you can teach it to your kids while we are in the pandemic, do not worry because you can really this approach to help your children. You can use toys to show them the concrete stage, flash pictures and shapes from your televisions or gadgets to represent the pictorial part, and make them answer equations in the abstract stage.
Learning or teaching math is really difficult but with the help of the CPA Method, we can be helpful to our kids even if we are teaching in our houses.
