Lee, Ngan Hoe

This abstract presentation summarises the work to review the key pedagogical approach advocated in Singapore Primary Mathematics Curriculum – the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approach or C-P-A Approach in view of the changes brought about by technological advances. In particular, the Concrete-Virtual-Pictorial-Abstract Approach or C-V-P-A Approach is proposed to take into account the role that virtual manipulatives play in enriching the representations of mathematical concepts in the mathematics classrooms.

In order to prepare students for the 21st century, it is important to foster critical thinking in students. This paper explores the teaching of critical thinking during mathematics lessons at the primary level in Singapore. It suggests lesson features of primary mathematics lessons that could further encourage students to think critically, which include the kind of tasks used, the use of Socratic questioning by the teacher, supportive behavior of teachers as well as communicating assessment criteria to students. The identified lesson features have been enacted in a Primary 4 mathematics classroom. In this paper, students' work showing elements of critical thinking in a lesson on the topic of decimals are presented and discussed.