Singapore Placement?

[abrightmom]

Ladies,

I'm considering starting my 6 (almost 7) year old with Singapore in lieu of our current math choice. He's only done a tiny bit of first grade math and it's a slow go for him. I LOVE the hands on math in the Beyond Guide and I think he might fare very well with HOD's math plans. I'm really wanting to use HOD as written. I just LOVE how it's all laid out . All that to say, where can I find a placement test for Singapore? I've run across links for it in reading in the message board but I can't find it now that I want it . Any help here would be appreciated!!!

Oh, does my guy even need to take a placement test or should I just go with the first grade option in Beyond? I suppose since he's doing first grade work now he might be fine just starting there. I just don't want him to be in over his head though I think the K math would be too easy . . .

[pjdobro]

Here is the link for the placement test: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm It might be a little difficult for you to actually give him the placement test since it starts with 1A and that might be right where he is now and if he were able to do all of the 1A test with at least 70% accuracy, he would be ready for 1B. It's worth looking at them though and having him take it just to see where he falls. It sounds like if he is at the beginning of Beyond using the hands on activities, he will easily be ready for 1A. If you are already part way through Beyond though, he might be ready for 1B. HTH!

ETA: I was just reading on the Singapore website and they recommend doing 1A before 1B. http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Guide_s/85.htm So unless he seems way beyond 1A in his learning, you might want to start there.

[Tracee]

I would just put him in 1A. In Singapore, kids start first grade the year that they turn 7. If I understand correctly, their school year starts in January. My ds is 6 1/2 and will be 7 in June. In January, I started Singapore 1A, and it was a perfect fit. Honestly, I think it would be better to start off in 1A rather than 1B, because he will get the Singapore "way" from the very beginning. The hands on activities are so awesome! My ds is getting his math facts almost effortlessly.....no flashcards needed


I hope that helps,
Tracy

[my3sons]

I too think I'd just start 1A with him along with Beyond's hands-on activities. There isn't a test for Earlybird anyway, and I think he'd be fine beginning with 1A in first grade. Just keep in mind you can always slow it down if needed, repeating a hands-on activity over 2 days and either spreading out the workbook page or doing similar problems on the markerboard the second day. We did this in 2B for a few weeks, and then my ds was back to smooth sailing. Enjoy those fun activities - they are a blast and are the key reason my dc thought math was fun right from the beginning (and still do blessedly)!

In Christ,
Julie

[abrightmom]

Thanks ladies!! This is exactly what I needed to hear. With DH's blessing I'm going to move forward with Singapore for my younger guy! We haven't started Beyond yet . . . I'm still figuring out these placement "issues". But, as I was thumbing through the guide and paying close attention to the math I realized how PERFECT it is for him. I absolutely love the hands on plans.