Some Singapore Math Questions...

[marypoppins]

Hi Ladies,

We are definitely ditching Saxon after this year when we finish up Saxon 3 - at least until higher level Jr. High/High School math, and then we will revisit whether or not to return to Saxon....

For now I am leaning toward CLE, but Singapore is still in the back of my mind. I have a few questions hopefully you can help me with.

1) Does Singapore cover enough about U.S. units of measure and U.S. currency?

2) I have read that Singapore starts off gentle enough, but rapidly progresses to quite challenging topics by about 4th/5th grade. Do you find that your students are able to comprehend and keep up that pace?

3) Is there enough drill and review?

4) I have read that some moms add a special word problems book or extra workbooks (I believe published by Singapore). Do you add any of this "extra" stuff?

5) About how long do you spend on Math each day using Singapore?

6) And by chance, have any of you ever used both CLE and Singapore? Which one do you like better and why?

Thanks!

[Tansy]

1) Does Singapore cover enough about U.S. units of measure and U.S. currency?
3) Is there enough drill and review?

4) I have read that some moms add a special word problems book or extra workbooks (I believe published by Singapore). Do you add any of this "extra" stuff?

5) About how long do you spend on Math each day using Singapore?

1. For us, yes.
3. With Carries built in lesson plans I found it very easy to drill my dd. But we did need to add flash cards. My kid would "get it" in the lesson but forget it the next day.
4. WE did add extra addition math fact drills, but she liked subtraction so she "got it" no problem. I noticed Singapore does backwards word problems. They have the child make up math stories about the pictures. so the child makes up the word problems them selves.
5. We spent anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half (over the course of the day). But I know we are the exception that proves the rule. My dd was very stubborn and It took me a year to realize. She was just being obstinant and knew if she delayed and "played at being dumb" long enough I would give up, or give her the answer. (ooh why did i not recognize the passive rebellion earlier!)

So we ended up switching to MUS. I have found it helps her in her specific areas that she struggles with (mental math, concrete thinking). Altho I would have rather stuck with Singapore. I like the mental tricks it taught her, and its multi pronged approach to teaching a concept. It just went to fast for my DD.

I can't answer your other questions, but that is my story adn I'm sticking to it

[blessedmomof4]

1) Does Singapore cover enough about U.S. units of measure and U.S. currency?

2) I have read that Singapore starts off gentle enough, but rapidly progresses to quite challenging topics by about 4th/5th grade. Do you find that your students are able to comprehend and keep up that pace?

3) Is there enough drill and review?

4) I have read that some moms add a special word problems book or extra workbooks (I believe published by Singapore). Do you add any of this "extra" stuff?

5) About how long do you spend on Math each day using Singapore?

6) And by chance, have any of you ever used both CLE and Singapore? Which one do you like better and why?

Thanks!

1. Yes, the US Edition covers these topics.
2.My daughters are grade 3 using Singapore Primary 2A and 2B, and grade 4 using Primary 3A and 3B, and it has been a perfect fit. Absolutely administer the placement test

http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

to your child coming to Singapore from another program-if you go by the test results, your child should be able to keep the pace as long as they start in the right level.

3.My kids are learning most of their facts simply by doing the work, but you can add flashcards. I believe facts drill, like everything else, should be short and sweet.

4.I don't use any of the "extra" books. I love the hands-on lessons in Bigger Hearts for level 2A and 2B, and the 3A/3B schedule in the appendix keeps me from assigning too much at a time to my older girl. I think the regular books have enough word problem practice.

5.Each girl spends about half an hour with Singapore, including presentation. This was not so at first (it used to take them each about an hour), as we all were getting used to a new program, but we are a little more than halfway though now, and that is how it is now.