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I've been reading on these boards about how wonderful Singapore is. DD (almost 11, 5th grade), is in MUS Delta, and doesn't seem to be retaining much of anything. She certainly doesn't know her math facts cold, and sometimes doesn't seem to know them at all, so we are stalled out, trying to lay that foundation again.

DS, 9 (4th grade) is in Horizons, and every day is a nightmare. He's overwhelmed by the amt. of work on one worksheet, and I pretty much have to sit by him through everything (he's on level 3A). Then there's math facts on top of it to learn. Today Math took us at least 1.5 hours, if not more.

I'll say right from the start that I'm reluctant to switch. I have switched with both of them a few times, and feel that that's part of the reason they are behind on math. And my husband is just getting upset in general with me switching so much - he feels it makes my life, as well as theirs, hard, and wastes money. HOWEVER, I'm just curious about why someone might recommend that I switch at this late stage (rather than starting out with Singapore), and my bigger question is whether it's really FEASIBLE to switch at such a late point, or should I just stick with what I have and make it work?

Also, I have a dd (6, 1st grade) in LHFHG - and I'm starting her on MUS. Should I perhaps switch to Singapore now while I have the chance? if so, Why?

Thanks, as always. Tracey

My recommendation for your dc that is just starting out is to start with Singapore. I tried MUS and switched and my son is understanding math now. We got to alpha and I switched half way into it to Primary math 1A and it took him a while to get used to the mental math Singapore style.
I must say that with the hands-on activities Carrie has written, you will be amazed at how well the kiddo's do!
Here is a link on why Carrie choose Singapore.
viewtopic.php?p=431#p431
For the older two I will have someone else comment.
Success!

I just looked at the Singapore placement tests, and my 6 6 yo daughter would be on the K level. Once again, i fear getting my kids behind in Math - i'd be starting out behind with her! Any thoughts? Is this a concern/problem? Would I need to try to catch her up this year?

When you look at Singapore and realize that your kids are behind, take it as an opportunity to see where they truly are. Switching them to Singapore won't put them behind...it is just that they already ARE behind and may place lower in Singapore. My older son used CLE math 4 and 5 and tested into Singapore 4A. My younger son used CLE Math 1 and tested into Singapore 1A. Singapore is advanced level math and what level they are in doesn't really matter so long as they are learning. Singapore teaches a child to think mathematically...and it does not utilize the "drill and kill" method that so many other math programs use. We recently made the switch with my younger and are awaiting the books to arrive so we can bring my older back to Singapore. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision. My younger son LOVES math now...as opposed to hating math before.

My older son is a mathy kid who had his love for math squashed by the drill and kill curricula. He did Singapore 3A and 3B in 4th grade when I first brought him home, but I continued to make it a drill and kill program by literally assigning him PAGES and PAGES of math each day. I had intensive practice, extra practice, flash cards, challenging word problems...you name it. Doing it the way Carrie schedules it is so precious and wonderful. It is not overkill, not drilling the same stuff over and over and over...it is the Charlotte Mason approach to math and it works. I would not hesitate to switch your older two to Singapore and use it as written in the manual they are using.

If you older two are not doing Heart of Dakota, I am not so sure. I have tried the HIGs and I do not like them near as much as Carrie's schedule.

My older two are using Preparing - I changed my signature.

What if I don't have the guide that schedules the level of Singapore they test into?

After doing horizon's, saxon, MUS, BJU, buying MM, trying saxon and MUS again we're switching to Singapore. My 4th grade DD tests into 1B, but I bought 1A. I didn't even test DS. I'm starting him in 1A as well. Typically, she places early grade 2 and h places late grade 2. I just want to bring them to the foundation on Singapore and work up. We'll be setting a 20 min. timer and as much as they get through in a day, we get through. All the regular math wasn't helping. So, I'm committed to doing Singapore from here on out.

So, I am switching an older child. I hope it goes well. We have Beyond and Preparing, so we have the guides for 1A-2B. What do your children test into? If it's low, like mine, I'd buy those guides. You can use them with your Ker in the future. Other than that, maybe some one with the schedule you need can help tell you how much and how often you need to do it.

Tracey,

The ladies have already given you good advice. I'll just mention that Preparing Hearts includes schedules for 2A/2B, 3A/3B, and 4A/4B in the Appendix. It is very important to give your kiddos the placement test (U.S. Version) and not to help them with the test (in order to truly get an accurate read of where they should enter the program). Remember that in Singapore children are 7 before beginning 1A so that is a year later than we would consider to be first grade here in the U.S. There is no need to hustle through Singapore math, because its advanced scope and sequence makes up for the difference in between grade levels in Singapore and the U.S.

My own son is finishing 5A moving into 5B (with the possibility of getting to 6A) before the end of his 6th grade year. Yet, he tested in the 99th percentile in math this past year on the Iowa Basics and always has. Singapore teaches kiddos to think mathematically. It does not drill the facts, so you can add a bit of drill if desired. We tend to wait for our kiddos to "get" as many of the facts memorized as possible simply through the Singapore lessons. Other than that, we've found no need to add anything though.

Blessings,
Carrie