ds not getting math concept. . .HELP!

[davisfam7]

My 9yo ds is in Singapore 2b. I started him in 2a at the beginning of out school year since Singapore does a lot more with mental math than the curriculum we had used previously. My problem with him is having him see the numbers in tens or hundreds to make addition and subtraction easier. He does this very well for addition, but he can't seem to grasp the concept when you try it with subtraction. After many tears today he finaly just asked me if he could just borrow and regroup to get the problems done. I finally relented and it took him less than 10 min. to finish the lesson we had been struggling with for almost an hour. Is that okay if I let him do it that way since conceptually he seems to understand that better and obviously he demonstrated that he can do the problems very quickly this way. Also do any of you have another way of teaching this that might help him get it?? Thanks for reading my rambling! And any help would be greatly appreciative! My 11 yo son is whizzing through Singapore and never had these issues, and my older three have not used Singapore, so I am struggling with how to help my youngest.

[my3sons]

Singapore math teaches many methods for mental math, and they come around again and again. They don't all click right away, and they don't all click the same with dc. If your ds is not understanding one of the quick trick methods taught in Singapore, but he is able to use his own method with accuracy and decent speed on his own, I'd definitely let him use his method. I'd still make sure to teach the methods within the Singapore Textbook, and even try to partner with him to use the method that was taught for a few of the workbook problems, but then I'd let him work the problems his way if it's working, and sit nearby him to help as needed. Singapore is advanced, so I've found it best to be near to help as needed. All of the methods Singapore teaches are pure gold once they click. Whether they click in this year or the next, they're worth trying, and until they do click, if dc are relying on their methods, that's just fine. Typically, the Singapore methods are just faster and more mental, so they're worth a couple go-rounds. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[davisfam7]

Julie,
Thanks so much for the reply! I was thinking that was the case and that we would hit these concepts again. I got out my 3a and b texts and looked through them and felt a lot better about where we are at. I have been teaching it the way Singapore does and then if he is struggling I let him do it his way. This seems to be working. I personally love how Singapore teaches, I wish I would have learned math this way as a child. I would have been a much better math student!