Singapore-Math: Primary Mathematics Student Book 1A (Marshall Cavendish)

The colorful and engaging Student Books are consumable. The Grade 1 level has a winsome owl mascot. This owl critter shows up on all the products for that grade level, and the inside pages include this critter as well as others.

Although reminiscent of the semester-based textbooks of previous Primary Math editions, these are expanded in terms of instruction as well as included practice exercises. They are not designed, however, to stand alone but to be a tool in the hand of the teacher (parent). Comprehensive instruction is the result of the instructional sequences provided by the teacher coupled with directed questions.

The general appearance of these full-size (8.5”x 11”) books is uncluttered, providing room for student work with just enough color and appropriate light-hearted graphics. Pages are perforated. Chapters are initiated with full-page, full-color real-world illustrated story situations. Lessons are “opened” with half-page illustrated “stories.”

Instruction in the Student Book follows an Opener – Learn – Practice pattern through the daily lessons and a Recall – Instructional Sections – Performance Task – STEAM Project – Chapter Practice – Chapter Test organization through each chapter. Periodic Think! exercises focus on critical thinking skills and problem solving. The Singapore math basics are obvious throughout the course: start with the concrete, move to pictorial in the Student Book, and morph into abstract concepts.