HELP! Second guessing Singapore Math.....

[faith0428]

(Sorry, sometimes I'm too detailed. Skip down if you just want to know my question. ) I'm the kind of person who always worries about making the right choices and I am always wondering if there was something better I should have gone with. We started homeschooling in the fall with my two daughters, one in kindergarten the other in first grade. After much debate and prayer I finally felt at peace with Heart of Dakota.

Homeschooling has been going very well and I have been pleased with everything so far. Well, now that our first school year will be coming to an end before I know it, I have been looking into what I will need for next year. This has got me questioning some things. The subjects that I have always been most concerned with my children learning well are math and reading. My girls have become excellent readers, so I am no longer worried about that. Now I'm stressing over math. Before my girls started kindergarten they were eager to learn, so I began teaching them reading and math to make sure they got a good start. We used BJU math and overall I was pleased with it. Once we began "officially" homeschooling I decided to take the big plunge and just go with everything Carrie recommended, so we switched to Singapore Math. They have been doing well with it so far, although I have been a little concerned with if they are getting enough repetition and if they are learning math facts well enough.

....FINALLY....My question, For those who have used other math programs or have been with Singapore a while, do you find that Singapore math does a good job of really teaching math and teaching all they need to learn? Also, I came across this review of Singapore math (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/J01singapore.html) and it said that Singapore Math doesn't teach American measurements, weights, or money. Is that true, and if so how would I go about making sure that gets taught? Any guidance is much appreciated. Thanks.

[Mom2Monkeys]

Singapore DOES teach them all they need to know and is even rather advanced! It is a top-notch curriculum! My DD7 has had trouble with memorizing her +/- facts when using another curriculum. Now that we are getting into mult/div. with Singapore, she is actually remembering these facts! I'm amazed!

Also, US measurements ARE taught in Singapore Math IF you get the US version which has changed the money and measurements to US terms. If you get the regular, it's in Singapores terms So not to worry there!

I've used Alpha Omega LifePacs, Horizons, Online Math, a couple others, and now to Singapore and I couldn't be happier! My dd is learning to think mathematically instead of just memorizing things. Carrie has told me in another post to not worry about them memorizing facts right now, just to get the concepts into their heads. Facts will come more naturally for many kids as they learn in the way SM teaches. I did get the internet-portal version of QuarterMile Math for my dd who seems to enjoy and need the repetition and review in math...she also just plain loves anything on the computer.

[dolphingirl]

I've been very pleased with Singapore math and so has my son who is currently in 3B. We used a different curriculum for first grade (aimed more towards public schools, bright, colorful, etc.) It was okay, but actually my son found the pages sort of distracting. He really likes the simple, black/white format of Singapore, and I like that it includes lots of higher-level thinking. It has really taught him to have to think through what he's doing. The word problems are great! For what it's worth , my husband is a public school teacher in well-respected district. He has been extremely pleased with our son's math instruction using Singapore Math. In fact, we found out that the $10,000 tuition per year private school in the same community he teaches in uses Singapore Math! Another one of these elite private schools in another city nearby also uses Singapore! My husband said that his public school district actually looked at Singapore and really liked it but couldn't use it because it doesn't entirely match up with all the national standards. That doesn't concern us at all though. We both feel like he's getting a very solid math education with it, and it's working well for my 6 year old. So don't be concerned about the reviews, etc. and what other people say about it. Give it a good chance with your child and see how well it works. That is the true test!

[dolphingirl]

I should have read through my reply better. After reading it, it sounds like my 6 year old is using 3B. Well, he's smart, but not that smart! My 8 year old is in 3B and my 6 year old is in 1A. What I meant to convey but didn't because I rushed through the end is that it's working well for both boys despite the fact that they learn a bit differently. (My 8 year old is very much "Give me the book and let me figure it out myself" sort of guy while my 6 year old wants explicit directions on everything and we do more hands-on things with math manipulatives.)
I should add that my 8 year old has learned his facts pretty well just from doing the work but we spend time just reviewing facts through flash cards, games, etc. and I am also about to get Quarter Mile Math for the computer. That is true for just about every math program though--plan on spending time memorizing facts through a variety of methods (or whatever method works best for your child) unless you have a child who naturally just seems to get them. When I taught in the public schools, we did fact practice separately as well, not as part of what the curriculum provided. So I don't see that as a weakness of Singapore math in any way. A fun way to practice is to divide a beach ball into sections with a permanent marker and write numbers in the sections. Play catch, and whatever two numbers your thumbs land on you have to add, subtract, multiply, etc. (whatever type of facts you're working on.)

[my3sons]

We've used Singapore math and Ray's Math, but before that I taught numerous math curriculums over 7 years on ps. Singapore is hands-down the best math I've ever used. It is deceptively difficult. Because the dc are not doing endless problems, and the mom is not required to do a ton of prep./teaching, it seems much easier than it is. It is the only math program I have found that teaches the "why" behind the "what" that is being done in math problems. Mental math is strong as well - which is what is most useful in the real world. I agree with what's been said already. I'd give the math facts some time. We added flashcards in the summer only - otherwise we've stuck with just what's in the HOD guides for activities and the Singapore workbooks. We often don't even do all of the textbook problems (we're in 3A now). My ds scored extremely high on his standardized tests in math, and I think it is due to the combination of hands-on and Singapore. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[faith0428]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my question. I'm feeling a lot better now. I just want to make sure I'm giving my kids the best education I can. And I am so pleased with all the Biblical aspects contained in Heart of Dakota as my children's relationship with the Lord is my first and primary concern. Thanks so much.