Learn to teach Singapore math at home
Parent training in the Singapore math method. Learn number bonds, bar modeling, and the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach
from a Singapore-raised PhD in math education.
Wenxi Lee
Wenxi Lee is the founder of singapore math circle. She grew up learning math the Singapore way, long before it became a curriculum trend. She went through 12 years of the curriculum that helped Singapore rank #1 in math in the world. She is a trained mathematician from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a PhD in math education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Three concepts. One method.
Each course builds on the last, the same sequence a child moves through, so you're always teaching the right thing at the right time.
Multiplication & Division
True multiplicative reasoning, not rote memorization.
Tools to teach with confidence
Resources designed to work alongside the courses, for the table as much as the screen.
The Secrets to Singapore's World-Class Math Curriculum
The five-part framework (SMCF), the real spiral curriculum, and the research behind Singapore's mastery approach, from a Singapore-raised PhD in math education.
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Singapore math bar model ruler
The exact ruler Wenxi used as a student in Singapore, for drawing accurate bar models by hand, faster and neater than freehand.
Shop the rulerHow the Singapore math method works
What is Singapore math?
Singapore math is the teaching approach Singapore uses to teach math. This approach became known internationally after Singapore's students began topping global math rankings. It is not a single textbook or a brand, it is a system built to develop problem-solvers. It uses key ideas like the spiral curriculum, the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, and bar modeling to get there. But from an insider's perspective, Singapore math is really just built on how children actually learn math. It's a research-backed, scientific approach to math education, not a curriculum trend. Read the full breakdown: What is Singapore math? A complete guide for parents
What is the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach?
The Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach teaches new concepts through three stages. Children work with manipulatives first (concrete), then with drawings that represent those objects (pictorial), then with numbers and symbols alone (abstract). Read the full breakdown: How Singapore math uses the CPA (Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract) approach
What are number bonds?
A number bond is a simple diagram showing how a number splits into parts. For example, 10 is made up of 7 and 3. Number bonds make part-whole relationships visible, which builds the conceptual foundation children later use for addition, subtraction, and even fractions. They are often the first pictorial tool introduced in Singapore math.
What is bar modeling?
Bar modeling is the signature Singapore math technique for solving word problems and representing part-whole relationships. Children draw rectangular bars to represent quantities and how they relate, turning an abstract word problem into a picture they can reason through. It's the tool that carries students from arithmetic into pre-algebra without jumping to symbols cold. Read the full breakdown: What is Singapore math bar modeling
How is Singapore math different from traditional U.S. math?
Traditional U.S. instruction is heavy on arithmetic. It often introduces symbols and procedures first and covers many topics briefly each year. Singapore's approach is more comprehensive: built on the School Mathematics Curriculum Framework (SMCF), it develops problem-solvers through five interdependent components, concepts, skills, processes, metacognition, and attitudes, not calculation alone. Read the full breakdown: What is the School Mathematics Curriculum Framework (SMCF)?
Before you get started
What is Singapore math?
Singapore math is an American name for how Singapore teaches math nationwide. It isn't a single textbook or a brand used in Singapore itself. The goal is to develop problem-solvers through a spiral curriculum, the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, and bar modeling.
Is singapore math circle only for homeschoolers?
Our courses are built for two groups: homeschool parents teaching Singapore math as their core curriculum, and parents who want to supplement their child's school math with the Singapore method, whether their child is in a traditional classroom or homeschooling with a different curriculum.
Who designs and teaches the singapore math circle courses?
Our founder, Wenxi Lee, designs and teaches all of our courses. She grew up learning math the Singapore way, long before it became a curriculum trend. She went through 12 years of the curriculum that helped Singapore rank #1 in math in the world. She is a trained mathematician from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a PhD in math education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Why is the Singapore math method effective?
Singapore has ranked #1 or at the top of international math assessments like TIMSS and PISA for almost 30 years. The secret isn't a specific textbook, it's a comprehensive teaching framework built around conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and problem-solving.
What age should a child start Singapore math?
Singapore math is a research-backed, scientific way to teach math, so the thinking behind it can start early, well before formal school. Formal Singapore math begins at first grade, around age 7. Older children switching from another curriculum may need to start at a lower grade level to build a solid foundation and close any knowledge gaps.
Do I need to be good at math to teach it at home?
No. Our courses are built specifically for parents who don't consider themselves math people. We walk you through the method step by step, so you learn the concepts and how to teach them at the same time, one stage ahead of your child.
How is Singapore math different from Common Core?
Common Core defines what students should learn at each grade; Singapore math is a method for how to teach it, based on how children actually learn. They aren't in conflict: the authors of Common Core drew on high-performing systems, including Singapore's. You can use the Singapore math method to teach the skills Common Core requires, it simply goes deeper on fewer topics and delays abstract notation until understanding is built.
Is Singapore math good for a child who struggles?
Yes. Children struggling with math benefit especially from Singapore's approach. Every concept begins with physical objects and pictures before any abstract symbols appear, so a child who was lost in abstract worksheets can rebuild understanding from the ground up. Manipulatives and bar models give them a concrete, visual way to reason through problems instead of guessing at procedures.
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