Most Filipinos tend to hate math, even claiming it's not one of their favorite subjects in school. And who can blame them; after all, schools teach math through drills and memorization, methods which are neither effective nor enjoyable for young learners.
Perhaps the Philippines can take some cues from Singapore, as its gradeschoolers are among the best in the world in terms of competitiveness in math literacy. Their secret? Singapore math, of course.
Singapore math, simply put, is a learning framework which aims to teach children math concepts and processes through visual and interactive tools such as toy blocks, colorful worksheets, and even customized apps on digital devices.
This visual and interactive approach of Singapore math allows children to not only understand the underlying logic behind math problems, but to also develop a more positive attitude towards learning math. No wonder Singaporean students become math wizards at such an early age.
Seriously Addictive Mathematics (S.A.M.), an education franchise from Singapore, built on this already effective program and took it a step further with its well-crafted worksheets, engaging classroom environment, and dedicated teachers. Now, S.A.M. is sharing its unique take on Singapore math to Filipino students through its learning centers in the country.
Getting kids seriously addicted to Singapore math
S.A.M, which was founded in 2010 and now has more than 200 centers worldwide, has its own distinct way of getting students seriously addicted to Singapore math.
First, students get a hands-on learning experience as they use concrete objects such as toy blocks, dice, plastic chips, and even paper clips to understand different math concepts and processes in a tangible manner. Then, students learn different math concepts and processes through pictures and illustrations before ultimately learning how to solve math problems through numbers and symbols. It is this step-by-step process which enables students to learn how equations really work, thereby promoting mastery rather than memorization of math concepts and processes.
To further motivate students to learn Singapore math, S.A.M. created an engaging classroom environment where there's also a low student-to-teacher ratio to ensure that each student can be properly attended to. Students only need to attend classes once a week; this way, they will not be overwhelmed by the volume and difficulty of what they're learning.
S.A.M. also crafted more than 30,000 pages of worksheets, which turned otherwise complex math concepts and processes into bite-sized pieces that students can easily understand. A student can even complete an assigned worksheet within 30 minutes, without interruption. At S.A.M., teachers believe that, given the right tools and the proper learning environment, any student can be good in math.
Investing in children's education
Thanks to franchising, the world-class Singapore math program of S.A.M is now within reach of Filipino students. Contrary to what some parents fear, Singapore math is not just a fad; the program even complements the math lessons taught in private and public schools, especially under the K-12 basic education curriculum.
Indeed, more Filipino students are now embracing Singapore math and reaping the fruits of the program. This year, the Philippines finally topped the 12th International Mathematics Contest held in Singapore last July. In total, Filipino students won 208 medals and 120 merit awards, edging out contestants from 12 different countries and territories.
Currently, S.A.M. has one learning center located in San Juan. Its second branch will open in Marikina Heights Center, Marikina City on October 22, 2016, and the first few sign-ups for this grand opening will get a free trial class and some awesome S.A.M. freebies. More S.A.M learning centers are scheduled to open in Cebu, Zamboanga, and Davao within the year. To register, please visit http://seriouslyaddictivemaths.com.ph/enrolment.
Originally published on www.entrepreneur.com.ph
To understand more about the S.A.M. Franchise opportunity or explore other franchise opportunities in children's education, contact U-Franchise Sales and Management at www.ufranchiseasia.com, (02) 634-0586, or franchising@ufranchiseasia.com or click HERE to see it's basic franchise details.
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Sam Christopher Lim is the senior vice president for marketing and strategy at franchise consultancy Francorp Philippines; president of U-Franchise Sales & Management; and chairperson and director for special projects for Asean integration at the Philippine Franchise Association.
Photos courtesy of Seriously Addictive Mathematics (S.A.M.)