Please help me with math

[lovetobehome]

Saxon is not working for us....going from level 3 to 5/4 is just loking like a nightmare. I want to use MUS Math U See, but am concerned about long term preparation. We used in for 3 years, then tried saxon. Does MUS teach them well enough to prepare them for ecerything later on? And now, since Carrie has proved to be successful at choosing everything I like, I am wondering if I should try SIngapore. Please, HELP guide me someone!

[inHistiming]

I don't know anything about Math U See, so I can't help there. I can say that my son used Saxon 5/4 last year (the old textbook) and, though he learned well, he did not like having to copy all the problems. This year we have made the switch to Singapore..because it is cheaper, and really because I thought it would be a good idea to use all of Carrie's recommended resources. When my son took the placement test, he placed into level 3b, so that's where we started. Singapore is a bit more advanced than other maths, so I would definitely say test your child here: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.

So far, we are happy with it. I plan to just move quickly through any parts my son already knows so we can keep progressing and get him to the 'proper' grade level...although since it's advanced it really shouldn't matter. Anyway, these are my 2 cents. I hope that's been somewhat helpful.

[Kathleen]

No experience with MUS here either...but I did switch from Saxon to Singapore this year with my oldest. For us it was the amount of time we want to spend on math per day that caused the switch. Saxon was eating up too much of our school day. My son had finished Saxon 2 last year, and placed in Singapore 2B when I gave him the placement test. Definitely give that to your son if you want to switch to Singapore! I started my son with the 1B test, then the 2A test, etc., doing one per day until I could see where he was at. Now math comes easy for my son...and I think you've said the same of yours, but I can't remember for sure. I actually decided to start with Singapore 2A even though he "passed" that test because I could see some things that we hadn't spent much time on that I didn't want to leave as "holes" in his learning. We started it over the summer and didn't finish it yet as I had intended, but it has worked great to transition us into Singapore! Every math curriculum words the questions a little differently, and it took a little time for my son to figure out what the problem was aking him to do. He was used to the Saxon questions, not the Singapore ones. I think it's been really good for him though. We're both enjoying everything we get to do in Bigger, and I feel that our school day has a much better balance by not spending so much time on math.

I've heard great things about MUS. One of the things I've heard is that they do things in a different order than most curriculums...so it may be harder to jump in in the middle. I'm sure someone from MUS could help you with that though...if no one here can.

Hope our experience helps a little!
Kathleen

[lovetobehome]

You all are wonderful and I am sooo thankful for your support! I am away for the weekend, but will write more later....thank you for the encouragement!!! I REALLY needed it!!!

[1handful]

used singapore 1A-4B plus challenging word problems books
starting 3A again and 5A now

Love Singapore's approach to mathematical thinking/ problem solving...completely different from the way I was taught... and the way I was trained to teach!

Strength is definitely in mental math and complex word problems.
Resist the thought that the books are too small or look too easy...it is ALL about what is going on in the head NOT the number of problems you see on the page.

Use the Placement test (but remember that a Singapore taught child would probably do many of the items very quickly...without paper )

The textbook at each level gives (very visual) worked examples. You may want to consider the HOME INSTRUCTOR guide for additional help/ instructional ideas. Some of my friends say it is a big help...requires a little prep (reading) time. My girls and I usually just do the textbook examples together.

Remember that you will have to adjust your own thinking about math...but it is SO worth it. The strategies really make sense once you get past the "that's not the way I learned it" point.

MY best advice: Purchase some textbooks from lower levels (only $8 new) so you and your children can understand the basic approaches and practice on easier samples before doing the placement level. When you read some of the level 3 / 4 word problems you will want to know the singapore way to do them!

Now that I've overwhelmed you, let me add this. My husband and I are amazed by what our girls do in Singapore math. He always says "How'd you do that?" when they read a problem and spout out the answer. (and his high school math teacher wanted him to become a math teacher!) I use the strategies all the time when I tutor public school kids and they "get it". It really is a great program.

[lovetobehome]

THANK YOU!
I am once again going to completely trust Carrie (she is always right on, she suggests things I am not sure of but then I try them and LOVE them!).....and you ladies....and will get the Singapore math books! I am going to get 2b, 3a and 3b. Not sure where he falls, I think prob 3a but will get 2b to be safe. So, do i get the textbooks AND workbooks? And instructor guide? Anyone know?
YAY! I feel soo excited to have a better option than what we were doing! I also have Math U See, so I may do some of both. THANK YOU!!!

[Kathleen]

Meg,

inHistiming gave the placement test link. You go print out the test FREE and have your child take it. If you give him the 2A test and he gets more than 80% of it right. You don't need 2A. Then give him 2B...same thing. I know they said that even if they get more than 80%, but miss most of a certain kind of problem you should use that level. The problems on the test tell what unit they're from. So if they miss almost everything from unit 2...you'd probably want to use that level. Does that make sense?

If you go with 2B, you need only the student workbook and then you'd use the hands-on activities in your Bigger manual. For level 3A on, you need the workbook and the textbook and use the schedule in the appendix.

Kathleen