heartofdakota.com

Hi, we are using a spiral math program right now for K, soon to be 1st, and it seems to be going well. However, every day I look at the fun math activities that Carrie writes in the LHFHG guide and I question if we should switch over or not. Maybe its just a grass is greener syndrome? I just got the BLHFHG guide and the activities look great in there also! My concern is that Singapore uses a mastery approach and we are used to spiral. I am nervous that my daughter would forget things she has learned if she doesn't have daily review. How does Singapore review previously taught concepts? How often? With the math we are doing now most concepts are reviewed daily. While the review helps my daughter retain the information, it also means a few pages of math each day, which she usually doesn't mind. So, I guess my question is about the amount of review in Singapore? How ofen are concepts reviewed? I really want to stay with the same math program for a while so we don't have any gaps, so I need to decide soon! Also, how are math facts taught? Would I need to add additional fact practice, like speed drills? My dd loves speed drills! Strange, I know! Thanks for your help!

We switched to Singapore Math in the middle of LHFHG. It's been great for my kids. Math facts/speed drills aren't stressed because the kids learn them over time - constantly doing the math problems various ways. If your dc is hooked on them, I'm sure you can get them on the internet somewhere for extra "fun" if you switch to Singapore.

Singapore really teaches the kids to know the why behind the problems and in return they are able to solve a lot in their heads! I don't have the Singapore workbooks in front of me, but I believe the review is every 12-14 lessons or so. Every concept is reviewed for a few days. Then another concept is introduced.

We're in 2B with my son and he is solving 2 and 3 digit addition/subtraction problems in his head. I'm not writing that to brag by any means, just that Singapore teaches the kids great mental math skills!!!! I often joke with my hubby that I wished I had learned math this way! I would have done better in school!

Creativemommy did a super job already of answering your questions, so I will just whole-heartedly second what she said. My dc just took their standardized math tests, and neither wanted scratch paper or a calculator (which were offered as part of the test). They did it all in their head and did extremely well. The hands-on math lessons HOD has written complement the concepts beautifully, and make it easier for dc to make the switch to doing problems in their heads. I always think that if math fact practice needs to be added, that is an easy thing to add (though we have not found it necessary with Singapore). On the other hand, adding in mental math methods to a program is t-o-u-g-h to do successfully.

I will say that Singapore is really part mastery part spiral, as specific concepts are taught over the course of several lessons and practice sessions as mastery would be, but then multiple concepts are taught in multi-step word problems all throughout the year, as well as review being added. In Singapore word problems, it is not safe to assume that just because the specific concept taught that day was, for example, triple addition with carrying numbers, that the word problems on that day will only require triple addition with carrying numbers. This requires dc to really think about how to solve word problems rather than (as I used to do in school) being able to assume if the day's lesson had been on addition with carrying that this would be how to solve all of the word problems.

I highly recommend Singapore math, especially as your dc are young and can fully learn all of the solid mental math taught in Singapore, from the roots up. Not to mention the time. It does not take long to teach Singapore math. Having 3 dc I am working with now, time is golden. I love Singapore for this too! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie