Academic articles

Math is math, and all math programs are really the same. 
Until it is proven that the above statement is silly. 

Imagine a sports team that spends all its time watching video and drawing plays, but never working on them, walking through them, and practicing execution with speed. Ludicrous, right? Then how should we learn math? 

HI, Human Intelligence, is needed in a world where AI, Artificial Intelligence, promises human atrophy of mental muscle.
The Singapore math approach is so simple that modern educators want to shortcut it to get to the solutions. Like a proper fitness approach, the Singapore method is simple, tangible, and effective. Follow the program, exercise continually, and wait for the results to come. And results will come.
Here is how the three-step training works. 

Step 1: See it. Touch it. Hold it. Move it around.
Show the students the math in a hands-on way, using "markers" and "manipulativesl" like colored blocks, chips, and other objects.  


Step 2: See it in image form
Once students understand the tangible, show them an "image" of the same items.  
Children know the blocks and their arrangement, so when they then "see" the same in the image, they can relate.  


Step 3: See it in the mind's eye
Once they have worked with the hands-on and then images of the hands-on, now the students can imagine (image-in) the concept in their minds. They can "see" the blocks and markers -- and can do so quickly. Everyone wants to jump here, which is premature. That is because adults can do this easily, and therefore they expect (or want) the children to do so.

Learning in a “crock pot”
Children who are caused to marinate in math will do better, and they will do so faster and with more understanding. This is the way Americans train their passions in sports, piano, dance, an drama, and gymnastics.

What makes it all work in the University Model?  
The patient, caring parents, working at home with the student, exercising him or her well -- that is the secret sauce. If other programs could have one-on-one break out exercise time with each student, they would love it. Thanks, parents. Families will reap the rewards.