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fourth grade? Was your child(ren) able to adapt easily? Particularly if math is not their strength?

I'm still debating between Rod & Staff and Singapore for my will be fourth grader next year.

My daughter switched to Singapore this year (3rd grade) and has done very well. She is learning her multiplication tables just from doing the problems, we haven't had to do a lot of extra drill. She likes using the workbook format and is usually able to get her math done fairly quickly and accurately. We switched my ds also (in 5th grade, but just now working in level 4A) and he has also don well. He allso really likes the workbook format after doing Saxon last year and having to write out each problem (we had an old edition). I have not decided if we will stay with Singapore...due to some switching in maths coming up in later years with HOD, but it won't be because we haven't been happy with it. It would just be because we want to pick a publisher and stick with them long term. We've switched several times already, because we were given free books, etc. but I feel we need to be consistent. If we switch it will be for the long haul...hopefully no more switching!

My 4th grade daughter switched from a public school math program to Singapore when we brought her home this past Fall. She struggled a bit at first with the new format and way of doing things from her PS math, but has adapted well, and is moving right along. We did use the Singapore placement test, and I put her where it revealed she should be, which was at 3A. She didn't like that at all because it sounded to her as though she was doing 3rd grade math. But, once I explained it was not the same "level" as a "grade" in Singapore Math, and once she saw some of the problems, and realized there was, in fact, things she had not covered and could learn, she was fine. She seems to enjoy math now. Singapore is much stronger on the word problems than she was used to. And, some of the multiple step ones, she still needs a little "talking through" with...

Hope that helps!

Hi StillJulie,

I switched all by brood to Singapore this school year - a 6th grader, 4th grader and a 2nd grader. I exercised caution and placed them all at levels at which I thought they would do very, very well. They flew through the first level and have been doing nicely ever since. We like that the lessons are short, short, short. Overall I'm pleased with where they are and how they are doing. Although I really need to work with one of them on word problems. He needs a great deal more work in that area than the basic workbook provides.

deltagal wrote:Hi StillJulie,

I switched all by brood to Singapore this school year - a 6th grader, 4th grader and a 2nd grader. I exercised caution and placed them all at levels at which I thought they would do very, very well. They flew through the first level and have been doing nicely ever since. We like that the lessons are short, short, short. Overall I'm pleased with where they are and how they are doing. Although I really need to work with one of them on word problems. He needs a great deal more work in that area than the basic workbook provides.

So, are they all at levels below their grade (as far as 4th grader not doing 4A/4B)? When you say they flew through the first level are you saying you do more than one lesson/day? Is it your goal to get them at the same number level as grade?

[quote="StillJulie
So, are they all at levels below their grade (as far as 4th grader not doing 4A/4B)? When you say they flew through the first level are you saying you do more than one lesson/day? Is it your goal to get them at the same number level as grade?[/quote]


Yes, I began them all in levels significantly below their grade level. And yes, I did have them do more than one lesson a day - initially. IMHO if they are in the level below their grade level they are on track. My goal is to have them "on track" by this fall. My 6th grader and 4th grader still have quite a bit of work to do, to meet that goal. But I feel confident they will. My 2nd grader will be "on track" in another week! I was just looking through my 6th graders books, yesterday to determine the pace at which he needs to work and I've decided that we will just decide that as we enter each unit. If it is a unit he knows well, I'll have him move through it quickly and then take it slowly with the new information.

I switched to Singapore this year with my oldest who is a 3rd grader. We started with level 2A. It definitely covers several things that I've not seen in any other "2nd grade" program. We LOVE Singapore!! Now, math comes easily for my son. We are not spending near the time that we were in our previous curriculum, and he's learning much more in my opinion. Singapore is great for teaching them to think so they know why they're doing what they're doing. The problems lead them to think mathematically. We started math this summer (a little). We had some unexpected "bumps in the road" that came up and kept us from doing as much as I planned. I think we'll be part way through 3A before the end of the year. My son actually asked if we could keep doing math this summer because he really likes it.

I think if your child isn't too fond of math, the fact that the lessons are short would be appealing to her. The placement test will be your best friend in helping you switch, if you decide to. You'll want to do whatever it says. I didn't ever mention the "numbers" on the front of the book, and I don't think my son has looked at the "level" he's in. It seems more like levels in piano books to me. You move into the next book when you're ready for it, regardless of age.

Kathleen