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Okay, so I know there was a post on here about Singapore math just a few days ago, and I did read through that, but I still have questions. I LOVE the looks a Singapore math. In fact, even before I had decided to go with HOD for this fall, I had decided that I would use Singapore math. That being said, however, I was also thinking of supplementing with another math curriculum that is more "drill and kill" so to speak. I have heard and read in several other places that it is extremely important for children to have their math facts down well before proceeding to higher levels of math. I'm not really concerned so much about kindergarten or first grade, but around second and third grade does Singapore Math give kids a chance to really internalize the math facts? Are some of you supplementing with other things? Is it neccessary to supplement? I REALLY want to just be able to trust what is in the HOD guide for math, but I am still unsettled in this area. To be honest, the way math is set up (at least for little hearts, and Beyond) looks like it would make math so much fun. I really believe that in these early years that math should just be kept light and fun, but does this also set a good "base" for higher level learning in math?

Laurie

Here's the other side of the coin. I'm using CLE. Part of me wishes I had just stuck to Singapore Math for my son. He loved Singapore Earlybird. Now I think I might be drilling and killing the love of math right out of him. I don't want to keep switching math programs and I'm not sure if he is just going through a phase or what.

If the math facts can be drilled with games such as Math swamp, computer games, I'd go that route as a suppliment before I'd add an additional math program. Just my 2 cents.

while singapore does not drill the facts, the math activities that Carrie has planned into the guides does give the kids more practice. I wouldn't say my son can spout off his facts (he's doing 3A now). But he does know them. He has no trouble doing 4 digit addition and subtraction with regrouping which does require knowlege of the math facts. We never drilled them, but over time they learn them by doing their work.

After completing 1B, my son had difficulty moving on to 2A, so we just got a 2nd grade math workbook (Total Math) at Walmart and went through that before jumping into 2A.

Except for adding Total Math for extra practice between 1B and 2A, we have only done Singapore Math. I am very happy with their math skills.

I've been in the same boat as you and now I'm am ALL singapore and loving it! My dd7 can't seem to get all her facts down and I have decided to not let that hold her back from progressing in math. That would bore her to death if she couldn't go on without knowing her facts! Instead I am letting her progress and pick up on facts in Singapore as is...she is actually learning her multiplication facts quite well without any drill at all...only using Singapore as written in Bigger. We used a different program before and she never got her +/- facts down even with drill. Somehow, it's just all coming together with Singapore without that pressure to drill and really memorize the facts. Now, I'm only supplementing with QuarterMile Math so she can work on her add/subt. facts...and if I had started with Singapore and stayed with it, I don't think she'd be needing that right now!

Anything I supplement for it seems its always something that we went over in Horizons or LifePac...never need review or supplement for anything we've learned in Singapore. So, I'm hooked!

If you want more drill, I think there are ways of doing that without adding a whole other math program. A simple set of flashcards works great. Do a "math warm-up" before every lesson. Jot down ten or so random math facts on a half sheet of paper each day and have a "math minute." The child can try to beat his/her previous time or have a set time and attempt to get as many correct facts in the allotted time. You can also play simple math games. Use a dice or a spinner to add up numbers. See who can get the highest or lowest answer. Those are just a few ideas that come to mind. If you purchase Singapore's home teacher manual, you'll find lots of game and activity ideas as well as additional drills to photocopy at the end of the book and also game boards.
hth,
Laura

Thanks everyone who replied! Okay, I will proceed with Singapore. I'm sure there are many different little fun games we can come up with to learn the facts later on if need be.