FAQ's
Q: Is We Didn't Learn Math This Way! written for teachers or parents?
A: Both!
Most parents did not learn math using the strategies and models their children are using today. In We Didn't Learn Math This Way!, we included the topics we thought would be the most confounding to parents.
Most teachers did not learn math the way they are asked to teach it today. Teachers have learned many of the new strategies and models taught at the grade levels they teach. However, this book helps teachers see how these strategies are taught in other grades. Knowing the progression helps understand its importance.
Q: What does the book look like?
A: Check out our publisher's website to get a tour! SHOW ME THE BOOK.
Q: How do we buy the book?
A: CLICK RIGHT HERE! Or, you can click on any of the "Get Yours!" buttons sprinkled throughout our website. It looks like this:
Q: How do we contact you?
A: CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US or click on the "Contact" link at the bottom of every page on this site. It will take you to a form where you can ask us your burning questions, make suggestions for future book topics or submit any other math related queries.
Q: How much does the book cost?
Q: Why has math changed?
A: Short answer: Math hasn't changed. How we teach it has changed! We wrote We Didn't Learn Math This Way to help parents, teachers and anyone involved in K-5 math today understand what's what. You can read more about this by CLICKING HERE.
Q: Can We Didn't Learn Math This Way be purchased using a purchase order?
A: Yes! CLICK HERE to go to Singapore Math's website for more information.
You can also simply navigate to singaporemath.com, click "Schools" in the top menu, then "Information", then "How to Order". Scroll down to the topic heading "Purchase Order"
Q: Is there a digital copy of We Didn't Learn Math This Way?
A: Not yet. Although we love eBooks, we think you will enjoy a hard copy of this book. The hard copy is laid out in a way that allows you to see progressions. We encourage you to make notes in the book as you make connections from one topic to another.
Q: Is We Didn't Learn Math This Way available in Spanish?
A: Not yet, but we are excited about this possibility if there is enough interest. Please contact us if you are interested in a Spanish version. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.
Q: Are Peggy, Tricia, and/or Emma available to meet with our teachers or parents?
A: Yes! We would love to be invited to your school or PTO /PTA meeting - virtually or in-person.
Q: Does it cost money to have Peggy, Tricia or Emma visit our school?
A: A 30-minute, virtual faculty meeting or PTA / PTO meeting is free. For longer or in-person workshops, trainings, and presentations contact us to figure out what options will serve you and your community best. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.
Q: What is Singapore Math?
A: Singapore Math is a math program developed in the country of Singapore. Many American math book series are using some of the strategies found in the Singapore Math curriculum.
Teachers and parents often refer to these strategies as "Singapore Math." Technically, the phrase is not used correctly. When most Americans uses the phrase "Singapore Math" they mean any of the math strategies developed in the country of Singapore. To use the phrase correctly, it means the math book series developed and used in Singapore.
CLICK HERE to read more in our blog post "Singapore Math in a Nutshell".
Q: Why are Singapore strategies used in the USA?
A: The students of Singapore have had high international test scores for decades. Singapore used research compiled by this country to develop their math series. (America is great at research but needed help putting the research into practice.) Many American math textbooks include some Singapore strategies. If you want to explore a math series that is very similar to what teachers are using in Singapore, go to singaporemath.com (our publisher).
Q: What is Common Core Math?
A: When people say, "Common Core Math," we think they are referring to "Common Core
Standards for Mathematics" (CCSM). The CCSM is a list of math concepts separated by grade level. These lists tell grade-level teachers what they need to teach. The word common was included because the standards were agreed to by many states. The agreement was arranged by governors who thought that having the same list of standards would benefit children who relocate from one state to another (i.e., military kids). Adopting CCMS was always voluntary. No federal money was in jeopardy is a state decided not to adopt the CCMS.
Q: Why did Common Core Math get such a bad rap?
A: Some people confused the Common Core Standards for Math (CCSM) with the strategies from Singapore. The CCSM were published less than a year before New York produced a free curriculum matching the CCSM to Singapore strategies. Singapore strategies were not how most of us learned math. They were not well received at first. As teachers have become familiar with these strategies, they have come to see their benefits. Many, many teachers have told us that they wish they would have learned math this way! That's the title of our next book!
Q: What's with the cute dog I see everywhere?
A: That's Digit, our mascot! As we were creating We Didn't Learn Math This Way it became clear that we needed a friendly face to guide our readers through all of the important information we were sharing. Digit appears often in our book, helping you understand key concepts about how math is being taught today. You might catch her nibbling a bit of math homework along the way!
