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Has anyone used Singapore w/ child with LDs?

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:35 pm
by AboveRubiesMama
I'm waiting to hear back from my son's therapists but I'd like to get some more ideas from those of you who have actually used it.

I got my catalog in the mail today and it definitely helped put all the pieces together for me. Wow! I didn't realize how "complete" HOD is.

Has anyone used Singapore with a child who has great difficulty understanding instructions? My son is very, very visual and hands-on. My first impression after seeing some samples is that it's going to be too much for him to get. But, for those of you who have used it with a child who has Learning Disabilities, what did you think?

Re: Has anyone used Singapore w/ child with LDs?

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:36 pm
by Mommamo
I haven't actually used it, and my dd doesn't have learning disabilities, but I do know that there are a lot of great hands on activities built in to the guide. So it's not just the workbook. You could always slow down and spend more time on each activity too if you needed to. Hopefully someone who's been more in your situation will answer too! :D

Re: Has anyone used Singapore w/ child with LDs?

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:37 pm
by Carrie
There are actually quite a few moms using Singapore math with kiddos with LD's. The mental math and higher-level problem-solving can be difficult for kiddos with LD's, but you will run into that no matter which curriculum you use. :wink:

Some parts of Singapore that help kiddos with LD's are the uncluttered black and white pages, the workbook that continues past grade 3 (so kiddos don't have to write the problems out on paper), the short lessons, the fewer number of problems, the visual presentation in the textbook, and the hands-on activities we've written to go along with the lessons in our guides. :D

Other programs that work well with LD kiddos seem to be BJU, Math-U-See, and Right Start (both of which will take more of your time to prepare and present as opposed to Singapore). I would give Singapore a try for sure in the younger years to see how your little sweetie does. If it isn't a fit, you can easily go into another program. But, it is harder to switch from something else to Singapore later, as kiddos often have to back up quite a ways in the Singapore levels.

Any math program is going to take some tweaking for an LD kiddo to find the right fit. I'm sure some other moms of kiddos with LD's will chime in on the math question too.

Blessings,
Carrie

Re: Has anyone used Singapore w/ child with LDs?

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:34 pm
by AboveRubiesMama
Thanks, Carrie! You are just the info queen! :)

The only guidance I've received from his therapists for math is to check into Developmental Math. I've heard that Math-U-See is good, but when I saw the kit, it honestly intimidated me. LOL SO many pieces!

I had a chance to chat with his SLP today and she loves the look of HOD and thinks it's going to help reinforce some much needed skills. :)

Re: Has anyone used Singapore w/ child with LDs?

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:07 pm
by Carrie
I'm so glad your therapist is thinking that HOD looks like a good fit for your little guy. :D I had forgotten about Developmental Math, and do agree that would be a good one to look into. It is more of a mastery curriculum, and so may result in the kiddos not covering items in the same sequence as they are tested on standaradized tests. For example, it will do a large segment on addition, then on subtraction, then on multiplication, etc. So, your kiddo may be further in addition than is tested but not have any multiplication by the time its tested. This is a small concern for kiddos who are going to have a tough time with testing anyway. I also don't believe it covers some skills such as time and measurement either, which you would then have to add on. But, I do think it has steady repitition and carefully sequenced learning, which is good for kiddos with LD's. I'm so glad that your therapy is working well and that your little guy is making steady gains. :D :D Your therapist's advice is a wonderful thing to have. 8)

Blessings,
Carrie

Re: Has anyone used Singapore w/ child with LDs?

Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:17 pm
by water2wine
I have tried Singapore with my dd that has cerebral palsy. It was too tough for her. She did great with R&S and is now doing great with TT. I think it might work if you start from the beginning with it but it is a really hard one to switch them into. That thinking math that they do is really a learned skill over time and I am thinking a child with special needs would really do well with having had it from the beginning. However TT has some of that in it too and I am finding my daughter is doing great with it because of the visual explanation aspect of it and being able to see why you missed things. Hope there is something in there that helps. :D