Primary math 1a with non-reader

[Seashell517]

Has anyone used math 1a with a non-reader. My son will be turning 6 in September and is very math oriented. Counts to 100. Knows how to add and subtract but... he is not reading or writing at all. Should I put him in the kinder math until he's writing or just do 1a orally? Just wondering if anyone has experience with this. I just don't want him to be bored. Thanks!

[StephanieU]

We haven't used Singapore, but my son is a non-reader and also math oriented. He has started writing some of his numbers, but he definitely still needs work. We are using a different math curriculum, but at 4, he is doing the K level mostly orally. I definitely wouldn't completely hold him back due to writing, but I also wouldn't push TOO far ahead without some writing. I think the reading isn't an issue at all. Maybe buy a cheap workbook that will work on writing the numbers before starting 1A? You will want him to be able to recognize and attempt to write most of the numbers I think before really starting 1A.

[MelInKansas]

If you are up for it, you can definitely do it orally. You are supposed to sit with them and do it anyway, usually even though my DD can now read the workbooks, she needs help understanding what she is supposed to do. If he can write his numbers then he can do the answers, or you can even write for him if you need to, that is no problem.

You may want to try to have him start writing numbers but if he is totally unwilling and you want to just do it orally with him, fine.

The Beyond guide has hands-on activities which are super fun, so if you are going to do Singapore 1A I highly recommend having the Beyond guide to go with them.

[hs.mama07]

Hi! We started 1A last Oct--my son then turned 6 in Nov. I had to read and write everything for him when we started. I found that practicing numbers during math tended to mess him up so we started doing our number-handwriting-practice at other times. He kind of gets on a roll with math and stopping to write, erase, rewrite, etc was very frustrating for him.

We are now in 1b and I'm slowly having him read and write more, depending on how much reading/writing he's already done that day. He's very advanced in many areas--but not handwriting (or sitting still, lol). I hate to hold him back just b/c his hands can't keep up, if that makes sense.

Oh, and I totally second the idea of getting Beyond to go with 1A. We were still in LHFHG when we started 1A but I got Beyond anyway and I'm so glad we did!

[Seashell517]

Thank you so much ladies. You just gave me the confirmation I needed. I hate to hold him back just because of his hands as well. I don't mind doing math orally at all. I did it that way a lot in the early years with my others anyway. It seemed to help them understand a little better. He knows all of his numbers by sight and tries to write them when he feels like it but gets very frustrated that they don't look right. I think we start with 1a. The writing will come in time. I'll be getting that beyond guide, too:).
Happy Easter!