Toy blocks are easy for little kids to understand, and that's why they're being used in this first grade math class.

Luke Felker is teaching these Madison first graders Math, through something called the Singapore program.

It's the same thing high–achieving Singapore students have been using for years, and it teaches kids using simple things like blocks.

Then it introduces word problems and eventually moves students into complex math problems they can do in their heads.

"And that's what's so exciting about the program for the kids," said Luke Felker, Madison Country Day School, "is that through some solid work at the beginning, they begin to realize that they can do a lot of this in their heads."

Felker says the program also focuses more on depth, than it does covering a variety of math lessons, making it easier for the kids to retain what they learn.

Retired UW professor Richard Askey says the Singapore program is highly successful, but it isn't the only way to properly teach math.

"It's possible to do it in other ways," said Askey. "Japanese elementary schools are not exactly the same as the Singapore, and they're done carefully."

Askey says US schools haven't been teaching math 'carefully.'

He says too many mistakes have been made in the US system, because teachers don't often have a good grasp of the lessons themselves.

But he says programs like the Singapore system can make up for that, by re–teaching teachers, while they instruct their students.

"The Singapore books are good enough, so that when you've been in them a while, you can learn this," said Askey.

Not everyone is convinced the Singapore method is the best.

Some say the cultural differences in Asia make it more suited for schools there, but could make it more difficult to teach, in every American school.