A $50,000 grant from MasterCard Worldwide to the Wentzville R-IV School District has helped to fund additional training for teachers in the very successful Singapore Math program.

Since the introduction of Singapore Math into the Wentzville School District elementary curriculum in 2008 (also funded through a grant from MasterCard), improvements in student test scores have continued to outpace the state average.

Test data shows that since 2008 district students in third, fourth and fifth grades have scored approximately 10 points higher on MAP tests than the state average for those grade levels.

As elementary students trained in Singapore Math start to move into middle school, math teachers in sixth through eighth grades will be trained in the program so they can help these students effectively transition into traditional middle and high school math coursework.

“I think it’s wonderful that we have so many kids that are coming up that have had the Singapore training,” said Sara St. Clair, Wentzville Middle School seventh grade math teacher. “As middle school teachers we need to know how to best accommodate the needs of both our Singapore and traditional math students, and we need to provide multiple ways to look at math problems. 

This summer, 25 middle and high school teachers took part in a comprehensive Singapore Math Strategies course that incorporated fractions, decimals, ratios, equations, problem solving and methods for transitioning these skills through Algebra I.

Continuing Professional Development also was provided for 87 elementary teachers who observed experts in Singapore Math demonstrate lessons to students. In total, more than 350 teachers have been trained in the program, impacting more than 6,000 students since the district implemented the curriculum.

“MasterCard is honored to partner with the Wentzville School District to equip teachers with the training necessary to continue the extremely effective Singapore Math program,” says Amanda Gioia, MasterCard senior business leader, Worldwide Communications for MasterCard. “By improving the tools, techniques and training opportunities for math teachers, we support and enhance their ability to engage students in math and help prepare them for successful careers.”

MasterCard has supported the Singapore Math Program since 2007 and also recently donated 80 used laptop computers to the Wentzville School District that will enable mobile technology labs within the district.