The elements which make our program unique are:
At the pre-primary and primary level, mathematics curriculum is similar in all countries across the globe. At S.A.M, we follow a very similar curriculum to what is taught in most of the schools in India, be it ICSE, CBSE, IB, IGCSE or State Boards.
The difference is only in the way the curriculum is introduced to children. Most countries globally, including India, still follow a very rote method of teaching maths to children. At S.A.M, we follow the Singapore Math Pedagogy where new concepts are introduced to children using visual learning approach (The CPA Approach). This makes it easier for children to understand concepts and is more fun and engaging for them.
At S.A.M, we focus on explanation of concepts and concepts are universally applicable. Conceptual clarity helps children to comprehend problems better and apply the acquired knowledge at school. Our program does not focus on teaching methods, tricks, techniques or procedures which may confuse them at school.
At S.A.M, we do not focus on providing specific training and preparation for math competitions. However, the curriculum and workbooks are designed to challenge students at every stage. The conceptual clarity along with exposure to solve challenging problems in a logical and structured way make them naturally prepared for international math competitions. Since we started operating in India, several of our students have done well in international math competitions and made us proud by winning medals and prizes.
The S.A.M program caters to children between 3+ to 12 years. The program has been structured into 7 levels. Each level approximately takes one year for a child to complete except the pre-primary level which takes close to 2 years. However some children may complete the level before or after a year depending upon their ability.
You will receive a quarterly update of your child’s performance through our well-structured report card. Our teacher will personally give you analysis of your child’s performance at regular intervals and also suggest way forward.
There are children as young as 3 years old, who look forward to the homework simply because they enjoy thinking, and of course, there are also some who do not. However, through positive encouragement, most children are able to adapt to the program quickly.
It helps greatly if the parents are equally involved in encouraging & inculcating the homework habit. Children benefit immensely by devoting some time daily to thinking & self learning. It shapes their learning behavior positively for the future.
Most children can count before they can write. Some begin counting as early as 2 years old, but most begin by approximately 3 years of age and some even later. The ability to count can be nurtured and developed through able guidance. The sooner they learn to comprehend the world of numbers, the better they make sense of a lot of other things around them. This is why many people associate this ability with intelligence.
It is important that children get their foundations right from the beginning. Counting by memorizing, for example, can only lead to problems laterwards as numbers get more complex.
Our qualified S.A.M Trainers do their best to place your child at an appropriate level according to his/her ability. This is not a precise science and children display varying levels of aptitude and ability with different topics. As a consequence, your child may now and then experience difficulties when doing his/her homework. In such situations, it is best to reveal these difficulties to our qualified Trainer when they attend classes, rather than ‘do the work’ for them. When homework difficulties are highlighted, we revise the topic with your child and if necessary, repeat the topic in question. In any case, The S.A.M Approach to Mathematics always incorporates the occasional challenging question to test the boundaries of children. With a healthy attitude towards learning, children view this as a challenge rather than problem.
The classroom experience starts with your child carrying out correction of mistakes (if any) done in previous week’s homework. The S.A.M Trainer would guide your child with the corrections and ensure that he/she understoods the solution to the problem in a suitable way.
After completion of corrections, the S.A.M. Trainer would introduce new concept to your child using the visual learning CPA Approach. After the introduction of concept, The S.A.M Trainer would hand out a new set of worksheets, and explain the objective of the homework and the new concepts that your child would be learning during the week. This is the time when the Trainer would bond with and motivate your child to learn effectively.
The S.A.M Approach inculcates discipline, responsibility and independent learning in your child. These are life skills and the same are likely to benefit your child in other school subjects as well.
The once a week guidance provided by our Trainers gently steers your child in the right learning direction and provides encouragement and motivation, as they journey into the world of Mathematics.
Moreover, whatever your child learns at S.A.M, you can be assured of its relevance in your child’s school maths curriculum and even to his future years as an aspiring adult. One is never too young to attain life skills and relevant knowledge, especially so when one is having fun doing it.