Upper Level Singapore Math

[Rice]

My DS just finished TT6 and I'm debating whether or not we continue with that. I'm trying to find from the HOD site where we'd go next if we switched to the HOD recommended math for him but don't see Singapore 7 anywhere. I assume that means there isn't one? Does Singapore go to Algebra after 6A/B? If so, I'm thinking a switch from TT wouldn't work well now, as TT7 comes before Algebra in that program. . .

Any insight? Suggestions? Cross-over experience?

Blessings,

[Motherjoy]

There's a thread where she explains it all. I can't find it now. But, yes, she says that most kids are ready to go into algebra 1 after Singapore 6b. She gave some ideas for pre-algebra if that was needed, but I cannot remember what they are. Maybe we can find that thread.

[StephanieU]

I am assuming that by TT you are referring to Teaching Textbooks. TT tends to be about 1 grade level behind programs like Singapore that are advanced. I would definitely look at the placement test on the Singapore website before making a decision.

[Rice]

Perfect. Thanks ladies!

[MomtoJGJE]

A younger or less "mathy" child will go into No-nonsense Algebra after 6B. Otherwise they go straight to Foersters or Video Text.

[Nealewill]

We are not allowed to post links but I also suggest looking at the placement chart for Singapore.

Couple of things I notice about Singapore that may or may not be helpful in knowing his level:
Singapore 3 assumes your child understand multiplication and division and teaches long multiplication and long division
Singapore 4 does a lot more with fractions - adding and subtracting different denominators. It also does a lot with decimals - up to multiplying and dividing with decimals
Singapore 5 does multiplication and division of fractions and a lot more geometry
Singapore 6 is pre-algebra.

These are very brief descriptions but the major leaps in themes I could think of for Singapore. I find that my kids are a 1 level below their grade. So my oldest is doing CTC and she would be considered 5th grade. She is completing 4A and 4B this year. My other two kids are going to be coming to Singapore soon (my son starts next year) and he will be doing Preparing next year and beginning Singapore in 3A. One thing I do know is that the math program I use now is actually similar to Singapore. But not all math programs run the same sequence. So you would need to check placement to figure out where your child fits the best.

[Nealewill]

? If so, I'm thinking a switch from TT wouldn't work well now, as TT7 comes before Algebra in that program. . .

Also - switching around with math might not be the best idea. If Pre-algebra comes after TT7, then doing TT7 and then Singapore 6 might best if you want to switch to Singapore. Or you could do TT7, TT Pre-algebra and then move into either No-Nonse Algebra or Foeresters after that.

[Carrie]

Rice,

The ladies are doing a wonderful job of helping! I'll just pop in quickly, because I believe I can shed a little light on your particular situation. My oldest son (who graduated high school last May) did a variety of math programs on his math path. He did not ever do Singapore math, as at the time he was coming up through school, there was no U.S. Edition of the Singapore math for his level. He was always ahead of the Singapore releases for that edition here in the U.S. As part of my search for the perfect math for him, I did way too much switching. We did use TT 6 and TT 7 in their entirety though, followed by No-Nonsense Algebra and then VideoText Algebra. So, I can help with that part. My next kiddos have all done Singapore all the way through as scheduled in the HOD guides, and my second oldest son (who is a sophomore) is following the HOD high school math path, using Forester's Algebra I as a freshman and Geometry: A Guided Inquiry as a sophomore this year.

Our HOD guides used to recommend the option of going into Discovering Math 7 (which was a Singapore-based product that followed Primary Mathematics). However that particular series "Discovering Math" has been discontinued, due to a copyright issue with its name. So, it is no longer sold. Prior to the copyright issue, the Discovering Math series was a good one until it was rewritten with the Common Core in mind and lost much of its Singapore-like feel in its redesign. So, we had phased out our recommendation of it with the redesign, prior to it being discontinued.

With all of that background in mind, as far as your situation goes, it is good to note that TT 7 and TT Pre-Algebra are two very similar courses. If you compare their Table of Contents, you will note this. So, it is recommended that you do one or the other, but not necessary to do both, unless you have a very young student with whom you do not wish to get to Algebra too soon.

It would be harder to make the switch to Singapore math at this juncture without going quite a ways back. It would be typical for an older student who is new to Singapore math to start around 3B or 4A and then move forward. Usually, placement testing will end up placing kiddos in one of those levels. So, if you are willing to devote time to teaching the Singapore way of thinking to your son and are willing to backtrack quite a ways to do it that is an option. You could set a goal of completing Singapore 6B with him by the time he finishes grade 8, essentially completing 3 levels in 2 years. That is very doable, but it will take your help as it will be a different way of thinking. It will be important to follow the word bubbles which show the Singapore way of thinking in the textbook, and to do the mental math mentally rather than writing everything out, and you'd have to pay attention to learning the bar method they teach for working story problems (which is a wonderful tool by the way). In essence, you'd have to take care not to constantly default to doing math the way your son learned to do it previously. Be encouraged though that this is what all of us have to gaurd against as we help our kiddos with Singapore math, as we have to hold back just teaching them to do things they way we learned them!

A second option would be to do TT7 (or if your son found TT 6 very easy, instead do TT Pre-Algebra). After that you could head into No-Nonsense Algebra as an 8th grader followed by Foerster's Algebra I as a freshman. Or, you could begin VideoText Algebra as an 8th grader, going slowly and continuing on into his freshman year.

We would just visit again after he completed your choice of the TT7, TT Pre-Algebra, or Singapore 6A/6B and see how he did with that in order to know what would be the best next step at that juncture! If you do choose the Singapore route be sure to give the placement test Primary Math U.S. edition linked above the math section of this page: http://www.heartofdakota.com/hearts-for ... ckages.php

I'd begin placement testing at 3A being sure to give no help or guidance to truly see where your son places. He'll need to be able to figure out what is being asked in each problem on his own, as this is part of the daily correct placement in Singapore. If you interpret the wording on the test for him, you'll be doing it daily in the math too. Accurate placement is huge in Singapore!

Blessings,
Carrie

[Rice]

Thanks, Carrie,
I think I'd already decided not to put him in Singapore, but your response has decided it for sure. He's already about a year behind (after starting a year early!) in math (as he seems to be in most things ) and switching to something drastically different I can not see as being an advantage to him in any way.

I may consider it for my next son (the 9yo in CTC) even if it means going back a bit as he is bored with math and so behind, but picking it up quickly when I'm diligent in helping him skip anything that is repetitive. I think a different curriculum may be helpful in his case.

I have about 3 weeks to make some decisions for next year before our local conference (do I pick up the next year of MUS for him or not???) and then will place my order for next year's HOD in April, likely, but have some thinking, planning, praying, and maybe some testing to do before then!

I hadn't realized TT7 and TTPre-A were so similar, but that might be just what my oldest needs. I have to assess if we should continue with TT, and if we do, if we continue with it through Algebra or sometime switch to HOD's course of study. . . so many decisions! And then there's science for him, too! (but that's another thread )

Thanks, Carrie!
Blessings,

[Jennymommy]

Carrie, the link for Singapore math placement doesn't seem to be working

[Rice]

It's a very easy Google search away. Found it before the link was posted: www dot singaporemath dot com/Placement_test_s/86.htm Just replace the [space "dot" space] in my link with an actual dot.