Professional Development
Kar Hwee Koh, Ed. M., has been teaching math in premier schools in Singapore before relocating to Lexington, MA. She has extensive experience as a math coach to new teachers, and is well versed in areas of problem solving heuristics, early algebraic thinking and lesson study.
In 2015, Kar Hwee started the Lexington Singapore School, to teach math using an integrated Singapore Math curriculum, based on the Main in Focus series. Using her skills and experience teaching the same curriculum in Singapore, Kar Hwee helps students from grades 1-8, in the greater Boston area. Keeping classes size small (6-8 students), the school also serves as center for teaching method validation and teacher training observation.
How Can We Help?
In the United States, many school districts and private schools are switching to Singapore based math textbooks as their core math curriculum. Teachers may feel overwhelmed with the new teaching methodologies and structure of the program. Schools may also encounter a lack of support from parents who do not understand how to support their kids with this “new” math.
Here are several ways we’re working with teachers and schools today.
1. Teacher Workshops
PD Workshop by Kar Hwee at Columbia University Teachers CollegeWorkshops to introduce Singapore Math to teachers to get them started using the new teaching method. Using examples and case studies, we also highlight differences between traditional math and Singapore Math, the common pitfalls teaching key topics and how to teach them effectively so that students have a strong foundation in both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.
2. Lesson Planning
Depending on the textbook series the school adopts, we review and develop detailed lesson plans, to serve as guides for teachers to plan and deliver lessons using the new Singapore Math curriculum. The lesson plans will include topics, standards, textbook reference pages, suggested pedagogy, classroom activities and homework, as well as a curriculum map for the complete integrated set of lesson plans.
3. Lesson Observation
Singapore Math Parent WorkshopWe also conduct individual lesson observation and feedback for specific grade level and topics, based on the needs of the school. Some topics we’re currently conducting are:
- Grades 1-2: Number Sense, Addition and Subtraction Strategies including making ten, decomposing to ten and derived facts.
- Grades 3-4: Multiplication and Division using distributive property, Addition and Subtraction of Fractions and its connection to visual
representation, Bar Modeling. - Grades 5-6: Multiplication and Division of Fractions and its visual representation, Ratios, Bar Modeling for word problems.
4. Parent Workshop
Singapore Math Parent-child WorkshopParent buy-in is a key component of successful curriculum implementation in schools. We conduct workshops to share the benefits of the Singapore Math curriculum with parents, the resources available and how they can best support their kids at home, especially when they have just switched from a more traditional math curriculum.
Current and Recent Events
Summer 2018 – Singapore Math In-Depth Summit, Phoenix AZ
July 11-13, 2018 – Present at Singapore Math In-Depth Summit 2018.
Spring 2018 – Standards Institute, Los Angeles CA
Jan 29 to Feb 2, 2018 – Facilitator for UnboundEd’s The Standards Institute.
Winter 2017 – Malik Academy, Roxbury MA
Jan 10th, 2018 – Singapore Math workshop for Malik Academy.
Summer 2017 – Singapore Math In-Depth Summit, Scottsdale AZ
July 14, 2017 – Present at Singapore Math In-Depth Summit 2017.
Summer 2017 – SDE National Conference 2017, Las Vegas NV
July 12, 2017 – Present at SDE National Conference – Singapore Math
Summer 2017 -Workshop at Columbia University, New York NY
June 21, 2017 – Singapore Math Workshop at Columbia University, NY
Spring 2016 – Cambridge Science Festival Science Carnival and Robot Zoo, Cambridge MA
April 16th 2016- Singapore Math as part of the 2016 Cambridge Science Festival. It is a free event, please join us!
Spring 2016 – Cambridge Science Festival Singapore Math workshop in Lexington, MA
April 23rd 2016- Singapore Math Parent workshop as part of the 2016 Cambridge Science Festival. To register, please visit our link here.
Spring 2016 – Singapore Math Professional Development program at St Brendan School, Boston, MA
Semester long PD program to conduct teacher workshops, lesson observation and complete integrated lesson plans for grades 1-6.
Spring 2016 – Singapore Math workshop for resident teacher trainees at Teachers College Columbia University, New York City
March 9th 2016- We’re excited to return to Columbia University Teachers College to conduct another teaching training workshop for the TR@TC (Teaching Residents at Teachers College) program after the successful session last year!
Fall 2015 – Singapore Math parent workshop in Lexington, MA
August 28th 2015, August 29th 2015, September 21st 2015, September 24th 2015 – Come for any one session! 1-hour workshop for parents on Singapore Math.
Summer 2015 – Cambridge Science Festival parent-child Singapore Math workshop in Cambridge, MA
April 25th 2015- Parent and their kids had fun learning fractions using Singapore Math, in one of the two sessions of parent-child workshops held at the Cambridge Community Center as part of the 2015 Cambridge Science Festival.
Spring 2015 – Cambridge Science Festival Science Carnival and Robot Zoo, Cambridge MA
April 18th 2016- Singapore Math as part of the 2016 Cambridge Science Festival. Join us for some STEM fun at the Cambridge Public Library! It is a free event!
Singapore Math Workshop by Kar Hwee at Columbia University Teachers College 2015We would love to hear from you!
Please let us know if there’s anything we can help!.