Math for 5th grader?

[Mom2Monkeys]

We haven't really done Singapore with her. She isn't a mathy child and jumping into Singapore this late isn't going to work for her (though I know for others, it's a fabulous find even this late!). For older kids new to HOD/Singapore, what math is recommended? What has Carrie or Julie suggested? I want to be able to start her in the jr. high math choices in HOD in 7th grade...I think that's Discovering Mathematics OR VideoTExt?? What can we do for 5th and 6th to get her ready for VT?

[my3sons]

Hi Tamara! Have you had your dd take the free placement test for Singapore Math? That may be quite telling, as Discovering Mathematics was chosen by HOD because it parallels Singapore Mathematics method of teaching. I am also wondering if this thread may be helpful...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9912&p=74087#p74087

In Christ,
Julie

[Mom2Monkeys]

Hi Tamara! Have you had your dd take the free placement test for Singapore Math? That may be quite telling, as Discovering Mathematics was chosen by HOD because it parallels Singapore Mathematics method of teaching. I am also wondering if this thread may be helpful...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9912&p=74087#p74087

In Christ,
Julie

I did, and she places way too far behind...some of the topics are way too easy and some are too beyond her. She places at grade level for some, waaaaaayyyyy back for others. SM is just too different with it's S&S that she can't fit into one particular level and I don't have funds to go through several a year at a faster pace or pick and choose. I thought Carrie mentioned having two options for middle and high school math, since some may be coming from a non-singapore math background??

Thanks for that link! I think I like the looks of the Math Essentials books for our needs! We are using some supplemental Singapore books to get the problem solving and bar models and the mathematical thinking on her level of ability...and I think perhaps the Math Essentials book 1 (grade 4/5) will let her work on the basics on her level...so a great mixture to fit just what she needs, both with short lessons!

So, I think this is what we'll do:
5th grade: Math Essentials Book 1 with Singapore Supplements (Fun Maths Process Skills 3 and Visible Thinking 3A/B)
6th grade: Math Essentials Book 2 with next levels SM supps
7th grade: Math Essentials Pre-Alg with next levels SM supps
8th grade: Either VideoText Alg or Discovering Mathematics...we should have a good feel for the SM models and way of thinking by this point..enough so that either should be an option. And it catches her up without adding EXTRA work!!

[Carrie]

Tamara,

My3sons did a great job of disucssing some possible options with you! If you're thinking that Singapore is not going to be a good fit this late in the game, and if you have done much curriculum switching in math (which I did too with my own oldest son), then Math Essentials may be a good fit. I agree that the first Math Essentials course with DVD will be a great gap filler and teaching tool.

The only change I'd consider to your plan is a different sequence after the first Math Essentials book. This is because the second Math Essentials book is actually late middle school/high school level review, so it could possibly be too challenging after Book 1 of Math Essentials. With that in mind, after completing the first Math Essentials book, it would be good to head into any of the other Math Essentials books that specifically target any areas where your daughter has challenges. There are specific books for the following: decimals and percents, geometry, whole numbers and integers, problem-solving, and fractions. These books do not have accompanying DVD lessons, but they would give more specific help in any areas of difficulty.

After working through any books needed on areas of difficulty, then you could head into the Pre-Algebra book with DVD lessons. It will only take a portion of the year to complete the Pre-Algebra (likely around 9-12 weeks) depending on how quickly you move. It will review and teach needed concepts for pre-algebra. Then, your daughter could slowly begin VideoText Module A which is also Pre-Algebra, but done at a higher application level.

We are planning at this point on recommending VideoText as one of our high school math options through HOD. Our own oldest son is doing Algebra II now in VideoText, and we like it very much. Our second son, who has done Singapore all the way through his school years is poised to begin Discovering Mathematics when he finishes Singapore 6B. We believe offering these two math options for high school/middle school will give families two strong math paths from two different approaches. This should enable any family who desires to follow HOD's math path to do so, and also allows families to choose between two solid programs on the math path to find the one they feel fits each specific child in the family best (varying from child to child as needed for high school math as we have with our own two oldest sons so far). As always, families can choose instead any math program they wish without harming the flow of the HOD guide, but Videotext and Singapore's Discovering Mathematics will be the ones recommended and carried through HOD.

You will have a better idea after completing Math Essentials 1 whether your daughter could or should go into book 2. I'd likely lean toward the course of action I outlined above though when keeping your daughter's age in mind.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mom2Monkeys]

Tamara,

My3sons did a great job of disucssing some possible options with you! If you're thinking that Singapore is not going to be a good fit this late in the game, and if you have done much curriculum switching in math (which I did too with my own oldest son), then Math Essentials may be a good fit. I agree that the first Math Essentials course with DVD will be a great gap filler and teaching tool.

The only change I'd consider to your plan is a different sequence after the first Math Essentials book. This is because the second Math Essentials book is actually late middle school/high school level review, so it could possibly be too challenging after Book 1 of Math Essentials. With that in mind, after completing the first Math Essentials book, it would be good to head into any of the other Math Essentials books that specifically target any areas where your daughter has challenges. There are specific books for the following: decimals and percents, geometry, whole numbers and integers, problem-solving, and fractions. These books do not have accompanying DVD lessons, but they would give more specific help in any areas of difficulty.

After working through any books needed on areas of difficulty, then you could head into the Pre-Algebra book with DVD lessons. It will only take a portion of the year to complete the Pre-Algebra (likely around 9-12 weeks) depending on how quickly you move. It will review and teach needed concepts for pre-algebra. Then, your daughter could slowly begin VideoText Module A which is also Pre-Algebra, but done at a higher application level.

We are planning at this point on recommending VideoText as one of our high school math options through HOD. Our own oldest son is doing Algebra II now in VideoText, and we like it very much. Our second son, who has done Singapore all the way through his school years is poised to begin Discovering Mathematics when he finishes Singapore 6B. We believe offering these two math options for high school/middle school will give families two strong math paths from two different approaches. This should enable any family who desires to follow HOD's math path to do so, and also allows families to choose between two solid programs on the math path to find the one they feel fits each specific child in the family best (varying from child to child as needed for high school math as we have with our own two oldest sons so far). As always, families can choose instead any math program they wish without harming the flow of the HOD guide, but Videotext and Singapore's Discovering Mathematics will be the ones recommended and carried through HOD.

You will have a better idea after completing Math Essentials 1 whether your daughter could or should go into book 2. I'd likely lean toward the course of action I outlined above though when keeping your daughter's age in mind.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thank you Carrie! I was under the impression that those individual topic books were just portions of the 2nd book for kids that didn't need them all. Now I know! We will start with Math Essentials 4/5 as soon as I'm able to get it. Then we'll see about which topics to go into after that, and before starting book 2 for 6th. I really appreciate the help you and Julie offer so generously. I feel very confident with this choice using it alongside the singapore supplemental books. I love being able to move her on ahead in the basics at her grade level, but really take a focused approach to teaching her the critical thinking, mental math, problem solving, and those wonderful bar models on her level...which happens to be behind the level of basics she is ready for. This is a happy day!