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My 7 y/o dd (8 in Sept.) is finishing her 3rd week of Bigger. We did Beyond last year & had many challenges with Singapore 1A/1B, but were able to finish it. Now that we've come to addition/subtraction in 2A, the challenges are back. She just doesn't seem to "get it" or even know where to start (or if I start her, what to do next). I am wondering if anyone has found the textbook helpful for improving understanding at this level?...or if there is any other advice for helping to increase her confidence while improving her understanding of the concepts.

Pam

We had to switch math programs this year for the same reason. When we finished 1B last year my daughter was so frustrated. She didn't do well with the more abstract thinking process even with the activities. I'm not sure about 2A and B, but now that we have started working on just basic math facts she is finding great success. Perhaps adding that in will help round things out.

Are you doing all the scheduled hands-on lessons in Bigger, and repeating them several times, as many times as your child needs/wishes? Are you allowing her to use whatever manipulatives are used for the lessons to help her solve the workbook problems? Just trying to troubleshoot. It may not be any of those things, but I recall when I had trouble using Singapore, I wasn't doing everything as recommended.

I use the textbooks and Home Instructor's Guides. I find them very helpful.

Thanks for the replies...yes, we do all the scheduled hands-on activities in the Bigger guide & she seems to get it during the activity, but still struggles with the workbook. Last year when she was struggling I wrote about it on here and learned that I needed to use manipulatives more, so since then I give her manipulatives each time.

I wonder if she just doesn't get the Singapore way of thinking. This afternoon I gave her a problem similar to what she struggled with this morning & she did great with hardly any hesitation & no manipulatives when it was aligned vertically, but when I changed the number only slightly & aligned it horizontally like Singapore does, she just stared at it & said she didn't know how to figure it out! Keeping it aligned horizontally, I gave her manipulatives, got her started & let her finish, but she came up with a totally wrong answer!

Math was always one of my favorite subjects, so it's hard to see her struggle & 'hate it'...I really want to make it enjoyable & understandable for her. Has anybody else's kids struggled like this & if so, what helped them???

Pam

Just a thought...I remember one of the exercises in one the TM (can't remember which level or which one! Sorry!) you write a problem vertically or horizontally on an index card or piece of paper. Say 3 + 5. So write that vertically since she is able to grasp that easily. Then have her take clothespins and clip three next to the three and five next to the five. Then rotate the card so the problem is now horizontal. Maybe that would help her to see that it really is the same. Just an idea...It sounds like she understands the concepts but is getting tripped up when they aren't arranged a certain way. I personally don't like horizontal problems either! Hope I am remembering the exercise correctly!