Would switching math programs set us back?

[deut6family]

Hi!

We have been using Math U See since kindergarten. My daughter will be in 2nd grade this coming year.
Math u see is a mastery program. She is in the middle of Alpha which meAns
She has only completed addition facts and not yet started on subtraction. Looking at Singapore, she would have to go back
And start with 1A as a second grader. I am trying to decide what to do! Does
Anyone have experience with switching from Math u see to Singapore?
Would I be doing her a disservice to switch programs since she
Will technically be behind in Singapore?
Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

Sarah

[sted]

If I were you and you were happy with Math U See, I would just continue it. We have used HOD for a few years now and use Math U See right along with it which works just fine.

Shannon

[jahall2000]

If you are happy with what you are using, continue with it. If you think you'd like to switch, I wouldn't worry about being behind. Singapore is ahead in many aspects to other programs, so many 2nd graders start with 1A or 1B. This is not uncommon. We've only used Singapore for a year so far, but I'm really happy with how well my son is doing with it.

[mom23]

We've done some switching around of Math Programs the past few years... yes, it does usually put you "behind". I've only found it to be worth it if continuing with the same program is going to put us *more* behind (ie the kids just aren't getting it and we're rehashing the same thing over and over with lots of tears and frustration.) I don't think coming to Singapore 1A as a 2nd grader would be a big concern as far as being behind-Singapore's usually known as being about a year ahead. However, if Math-U-See is working for you, I also would recommend sticking with it.

[John'smom]

We've done some switching around of Math Programs the past few years... yes, it does usually put you "behind". I've only found it to be worth it if continuing with the same program is going to put us *more* behind (ie the kids just aren't getting it and we're rehashing the same thing over and over with lots of tears and frustration.) I don't think coming to Singapore 1A as a 2nd grader would be a big concern as far as being behind-Singapore's usually known as being about a year ahead. However, if Math-U-See is working for you, I also would recommend sticking with it.

Totally agree with this post. Not sure why you want to switch, but we did MUS and R&S and they did not work for dd. We however have used MUS for ds from the beginning and it works beautifully. He is going to do Zeta this year. So dd would have gotten more behind to stick with the other programs. My dd has just turned 9, starting 4th grade, and has completed 1B, 2A, and 2B of Singapore. Her standardized tests jumped 20% in Math. She will start 3A next week, so is technically working Singapore behind. HTH.

[StillJulie]

Because of how much I love Carrie's hands on activities, I would make the switch. I think Singapore 1 and 2 are great when paired with Carrie's activities. Most of my children are "behind" if you compare grade to Singapore number. However, if you consider that children who make it through 6B well could go straight into Foerster's Algebra 1, I have absolutely no problem with kids not finishing the Singapore 6B until the end of 7th grade.

[StillJulie]

Also, if you continue with Singapore 5 days/week even when the guides switch to four, you could make up some time down the road.

[deut6family]

Thank u everyone for your posts!!! It has been so
Helpful! My main reason for wanting to switch is
That I really feel like My daughter is missing out
On some other math elements like: measurement,
Time, money, graphing etc. in math u see. We have
Also been stuck trying to memorize addition facts since
March- she is bored and I am bored. I am also concerned,
Because if something were to happen and she needed
To go back to a school setting, that because math u see
Is not a spiral program that she would not be caught up
With her "grade". Does that seem valid? I think mus has some
Really great teaching tips- I love that! So I may still use
It when needed as another way to learn a difficult
Concept.

[deut6family]

Because of how much I love Carrie's hands on activities, I would make the switch. I think Singapore 1 and 2 are great when paired with Carrie's activities. Most of my children are "behind" if you compare grade to Singapore number. However, if you consider that children who make it through 6B well could go straight into Foerster's Algebra 1, I have absolutely no problem with kids not finishing the Singapore 6B until the end of 7th grade.

Love this! I agree, last year I kept looking at the fun activities
Carrie had in the book and was itching to try them out!!! Thanks
For letting me know that singpore's "levels" are maybe
Not totally true to the grade level. That helps in deciding!

[mom23]

Singapore is also a mastery program...you may still find the same issues if you had to switch to public school down the road?

[StephanieU]

Singapore is also a mastery program...you may still find the same issues if you had to switch to public school down the road?

It isn't the spiral vs mastery that makes the difference. Some schools use mastery and others use spiral. The big difference is MUS isn't grade level sequences. So, they don't teach things in the same order as most other curriculums. So, this is what can cause problems if you were to go to school.

[deut6family]

Singapore is also a mastery program...you may still find the same issues if you had to switch to public school down the road?

It isn't the spiral vs mastery that makes the difference. Some schools use mastery and others use spiral. The big difference is MUS isn't grade level sequences. So, they don't teach things in the same order as most other curriculums. So, this is what can cause problems if you were to go to school.

Yes! This is what I am referring to. MUS just doesn't cover
Enough different topics per grade level as I had hoped! I have
Decided to switch to Singapore and will keep MUS just in case
I decide to go back or use it to supplement. Sometimes you don't
Really know how good a program is or if it will work better
Until you give it a try!

[queenireneof3]

This is an interesting thread to me because I haven't been able to make up my mind between MUS and Singapore so we are doing both (half time) next year! We tried Rightstart last year for my son's 1st grade year. We stuck with it until April when I realized how stressful Math was and how he wasn't learning much of anything. I love the idea of Singapore with Carrie's math plans. Our Homeschool Assistant (for the Iowa Public School system), whom I really love and respect, is a HUGE fan of MUS but let us pick our own curriculum last year since I was so set on Right Start. After picking my own curriculum and failing...I feel I should respect her choice now since my son is basically an entire year behind in math. He is a perfect candidate for Singapore 1A even though he is "technically" a 2nd grader. My concern in doing only MUS was not having the "thinking" math in Singapore and being even farther behind in the Singapore program if we decided to switch later if MUS doesn't work for us. So I've decided to start with both--MUS as the core program and Singapore as a supplement. As the year progresses, that might switch depending on which program he does better with. I'm still not sure how to exactly work out the detail of this--it is probably too much. sigh. i'm just going to take it a day at a time and see how the Lord leads.

[Motherjoy]

We switched from Singapore to MUS when my oldest was 3rd grade. I wish we hadn't. MUS gets really bogged down in the fractions book. Maybe before that, but I don't remember. We couldn't finish fractions and just dropped it. I now wish we had stayed with Singapore all the way. It teaches all four functions right from the start. With the fractions book, it just became ridiculous. I loved fractions as a kid, they were so easy! But MUS made them awful. I have heard that many people dropped MUS during the fractions book.

I *personally* would highly suggest doing something else, and Singapore is a great option.

Plus, MUS, has made a big deal about advertising that it is Common Core compliant, which doesn't sit right with me (but that's another thread altogether.)

[2girls2boysnme]

We have switched a lot in the past two years, and I believe that has set us back. However, in your situation, I don't think you would be "behind" by starting 3rd grade with Singapore 2A. Most kids work a number behind their grade level.