Math in Focus™: The Singapore ApproachSingapore Math Authors

Dr. Fong Ho Kheong is an associate professor and the head of the Math and Science Department of the Bahrain Teachers College of the University of Bahrain in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He was formerly associate professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was involved in training mathematics teachers in the National Institute of Education, Singapore, for 25 years. He also worked in the Education Testing Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia, dealing with assessment in primary mathematics. He is the Founding President of the Association of the Mathematics Educators, Singapore. Dr. Fong obtained his Ph.D. from the University of London. He specializes in teaching high-ability children and children who have struggle with mathematics. His research work includes diagnosing children with mathematical difficulties, teaching thinking to solve mathematical problems, and applying psychological theories for the teaching and learning of mathematics. His experience in curriculum development has led him to innovate the use of the model drawing approach to tackle challenging problems. He has published more than 100 journal articles, research reports, as well as primary and secondary mathematics books. He is the consultant and principal author of Marshall Cavendish's My Pals are Here! Maths series, which is currently being used by 80% of the primary schools in Singapore, and Math in Focus.

Dr. Pamela Sharpe (Grade K program) has been involved in training teachers in both Singapore and the United Kingdom for 38 years and has also played a major role in setting up early childhood programs in Singapore. She was formerly an associate professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She is currently a part-time lecturer there, as well as a consultant for the early childhood program and early childhood intervention programs. Dr. Sharpe specializes in teaching both high-ability children and children who have problems in mathematics at the preschool level. Her research includes studying the adjustment patterns of children in transition from preschool to primary school, as well as identifying and assessing preschool children with special needs. Dr. Sharpe has also been deeply involved in the development of the preschool mathematics curriculum in Singapore.

Gan Kee Soon has been an inspector of schools, a principal of a secondary school, and a lecturer at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore where, for 22 years, he trained and supervised primary mathematics teachers. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a master's degree in elementary education in 1986. He also has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a diploma in education from the University of Malaya (Singapore).

Chelvi Ramakrishnan is currently the head of Department of Science in a primary school. She has been teaching for 30 years. She graduated with a B.S. in mathematics and has a Certificate of Education from NIE (National Institute of Education) and has a diploma in the teaching of English as a second language from the Royal Society of Arts, a diploma in English studies, and a diploma in department management. She has been writing primary mathematics books since 1997.

Bernice Lau Pui Wah is currently the head of Department of Mathematics in a primary school. She has been teaching for 36 years in primary and secondary schools. She graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in mathematics and has a further professional diploma in education (Singapore) as well as an advanced certificate in education (Singapore). She has been writing primary mathematics books since 1997.

Michelle Choo has been teaching for 20 years, including 5 years in the Gifted Education Program. She has a certificate in education, and has been writing primary mathematics books for the past 12 years. She also conducts school holiday math revision classes and workshops on the use of problem-solving skills and heuristics.

U. S. Authors

Dr. Richard Bisk is a professor in the Mathematics Department at Worcester State College in Massachusetts. For more than thirty years, he has taught a wide array of mathematics courses and has focused on improving the mathematical understanding of teachers. He has provided professional development using Singapore math materials since 2000.

Andy Clark is a former elementary and junior high school teacher. He is a Title I specialist and coordinator of professional development in mathematics in Portland, Oregon. He was also the math coordinator for Portland Public Schools in Portland, Oregon. The workshops Clark conducts around the country promote his belief that everyone can learn, enjoy, and use mathematics, and that dedicated teachers are the strength of American schools. Clark is coauthor of Every Day Counts®: Calendar Math, Algebra Readiness, and Partner Games, and Summer Success®: Math.

Patsy F. Kanter is an author, teacher, and math consultant. She balances her life between traveling, teaching, and writing. Until 1997, Kanter was the lower school math coordinator and assistant principal at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Louisiana for 13 years. There she developed and implemented a hands-on, activity-based math program. Kanter is the senior author of Afterschool Achievers: Math Club, K–5, Summer Success: Math, K–8, co-author of Every Day Counts: Calendar Math, K–6, Every Day Counts: Partner Games, K–6, Every Day Counts: Practice Counts, K–6, Math Every Day, K–2, and Math Central, K. She is also the author of Easy Math Centers, by published by Scholastic Professional Division, and the United States Department of Education's Helping Your Child Learn Math.