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My dd12 has worked though Singapore 1-5.Following advice I had received years ago, I started her in Saxon 8/7 this year as pre-algebra. It's been okay, but my dd actually misses Singapore. I was scared to teach upper levels of Singapore, but I can see why she misses it. Saxon is not a bad program, just after years of Singapore, Saxon seemed tedious and my dd did not appreciate some of their explanations - especially when it was a topic she a figured a much easier way to work than the way presented in Saxon. I am contemplating switching her back to Singapore. I am just wondering if I have to start her on Discovering Mathematics 7 or 8. She has definitely progressed in her skills and has learned much of what I see covered in DM 7. Did I just waste a year in math for her? Or can we start on 8? I was thinking of buying the textbooks from both 7 & 8, letting her start in 8 and refer back to 7 if needed. What do you think?

blessedmom,

After using Discovering Math 1A/1B (which has now been redesigned to become 7A/7B), I can clearly say that it is a very challenging course! It includes pre-algebra, some Algebra I (and I even saw some Algebra II concepts), and some geometry. I think labeling this particular program 7A/7B is very misleading, as it would take a very mathy 7th grader to excel in this program, although excelling in 6A/6B is good preparation. I would not recommend jumping into 8A/8B in your switch back to Singapore but would encourage you to go the 7A/7B route instead (especially since your daughter is young). My son, with whom we used Discovering Math, is very mathematically inclined, and even he had some moments where he wasn't sure what to do! He learned a lot and we enjoyed our trip through it, but the redesign to 7A/7B is quite a bit different in number of problems and formatting.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Carrie!