Over the past few days, I have learned about the history of Singapore schools, both on a broad scale and on a more micro level with respect to mathematics education.

On Tuesday, Andi and I met with a curriculum specialist in mathematics who relayed to us broadly how the math curriculum plays out across the schools in Singapore. We learned about streaming (tracking), the levels of math classes that students can take, the exams they have to pass in order to move on (like PSLE and the O-levels and A-levels). It was quite a lot to take in. Thankfully, we reviewed some of that material today when we met with master teachers and got a tour of the MOE’s Heritage Center. I am certainly more knowledgeable about the Singapore school system and I will feel more confident on my school visits with that knowledge giving me a context of the schools.

On Tuesday afternoon, we all went to NIE to complete our matriculation. Our transcripts were reviewed and we submitted additional paperwork. Then, last night I attended my first class as an NIE student. It was an interesting class with a good discussion among the students. Now that I have taught for three years in Northwestern’s teacher prep program, it was interesting for me to be a student again. I appreciated Professor Sim’s expertise and the way she allowed the students to think deeply about the questions she posed. I joined a group of students for a group project on Madeline Arnot. We will be collaborating on a poster about this ‘critical theorist.’

While we didn’t get to go to ICA to complete the formalities for our student passes yesterday, I took the open schedule opportunity to purchase school uniforms for my girls and to get a tour of the Canadian International School. What a campus! I am confident that our girls are going to love it there. They get to take swimming for a unit in PE. The classrooms for each grade are clustered together with a common, comfy space in the middle of them. All the classrooms have one wall that faces the common space and that wall is one large window into the classroom. I found this to be very interesting. The classes are open to any viewers without them having to go in. I was in the auditorium on Tuesday night and yesterday. I saw the presentation of the roll-out of the new brand for CIS – the new logo, new uniforms, new school color scheme. It was a thoughtful, thorough presentation by the head of school.

I took my first swim in the pool this evening. I know my girls are looking forward to that too. When I first got in, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow. I’m swimming in an outdoor pool on January 12.”

Thinking Schools, Learning Nation. Swimming pools, but not vacation.