Make me like Singapore!!! :)

[tmcg]

How much of how addition and subtraction is learned is based on the teaching style and learning style of the teacher and student? Maybe things have changed since I was a student (not so long ago....yeah right!) but I do not recall doing double digits even to count up from there until after mastering the single digits. For example, in my original post I used 4+5 and 16+3. I do not recall seeing 16+3 until it was time to be able to add the two columns. Whether you use flash cards (w/ manipulatives), counting blocks, workbook pages doesn't it all come down to repetition that causes the children to remember their math facts? My oldest is good at memorization so this helps with her ability to learn new things, but just as anyone else it needs to be repeated. What does everyone think? For those with kids who have gone to public school, how do they teach it and do you think it was beneficial or not? HS Moms, what have you found that works, doesn't work etc?

[Carrie]

Tammy,

I'm sure more moms will be along to share their thoughts on math fact practice. There's also quite a few threads on the board from past discussions on fact practice, if you get a moment to search the board.

As far as Singapore goes, it does use a different sequence of exploring math concepts from most other programs. It will go further with exploring a concept than is traditional. So while a traditional scope and sequence for first grade math wouldn't teach 16 + 3 until the child has learned to do double digit addition, Singapore will teach it along with counting on from single digit numbers. It is taught as a natural extension of single digit addition, rather than bogging down the child in teaching the method or rules of double-digit addition first. Singapore will do this with all of its concepts. It will let the child think to figure out harder answers, as a natural extension of the lesson, rather than teaching the method first and then having kiddos follow that method to do the problems.

For those of us who learned math as a series of rules or steps you follow to get the answer, rather than as a thinking process you discover to learn "how" to find the answer, it can be interesting to do math the Singapore way. I learned math by the rules and steps, just like you did. I must admit that Singapore has shown me how to think about math in a whole new way. It has been interesting to watch my sons come up with the answers without me always having to tell them, "This is how you do it first".

In my 11 years as a public school teacher, we went through several math cycles. First, we started off with a straight-forward here's the rules approach. Kiddos were having trouble with retention and the U.S. was falling behind in mathematical thinking. So then, in later years we went to a discover for yourself approach with few to no rules taught. The U.S. continued to fall behind in math, and now the kiddos were lost. Last, we were slowly moving back to a combination of the two... and the math scores have yet to even out.

If you take a look at any good math program, especially those from long-ago, you'll notice a combination of procedure and thinking. My grandpa had an 8th grade education and lived to be 94. He was very adept at math and finances and never had any difficulty functioning in the world of today. Yet, kiddos are graduating every day who can not count money or make change, even though they have been drilled and drilled on how to add and subtract.

Singapore does a good job of combining exploration with the process of learning new concepts. It strives to help kiddos learn to think mathematically. There is definitely a place for computation and for memorization too, which I have heard that some people add to Singapore once and awhile. We've not found the need to add anything yet. I tend to err on the side of giving kiddos every opportunity to learn their facts on their own through the math program. Then there is usually only a few facts remaining to be drilled once they get to second or third grade. In this way, kiddos can see math as more than a memorization excercise. They can actually learn how to find the answer when they may not automatically know it.

There are many differing philosophies on math education and each one has its valid points. However, since we carry Singapore Math at HOD, I wanted to explain a bit more about it and provide a few answers about its philosophy.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Tansy]

I also want to revisit this posting.
I loved the way math was taught with singapore even tho it did look scattered and confusing at first. I found myself seeing math in a whole new way. I was taught math by drill, drill, drill. Singapore gave me a whole new way to look at Math!

My eldest child hated singapore, it was tears every day for weeks, months, years... It would teach one way to solve a problem then teach another way to find the same answer. Counting up for my eldest only confused her, I spent weeks trying to get her to not start at "1" again, when counting 4 + 3 =__ she woudl count 1.2.3.4. plus 1.2.3.. the answer is 3 Mom! She has a very rigid structured mindset. 2 ways to find the same answer boggled her mind. She could not accept 4 + 3 raisins =7 if we used peanuts the day before. "Mom its 7 raisins!!!"

Now memorizing.. My eldest is a dream at memorizing. Drilling math facts so she need not think about them and just knows the answer worked for her. I don't really recommend it tho. I spend much of my time breaking down each type of problem into bite size steps, she needs to follow,so she can get the answer, miss a step and you get it wrong. The conceptual approach to math in singapore is amazing but it was to broad for her to manage it. I really love Singapore, It broke my heart to move away from it. Sometimes it is in the best interest of the child to teach them out of another program.

Now My youngest is very different she loves the singapore approach, and we use the m-u-s blocks (very handy tools) to do the work. It is never hard enough for her, so we do it in chinese some days just to make her work at it more... and to tell the truth chinese numbering makes math easier to teach. No eleven's or thirteens to confuses thing's. I find my self making a work sheet for her to play with.. imagine she plays with math! She loves to find the answer herself. And wants to do more and more math, I'm more afraid of moving her though it to fast.

Our children are unique creations of our Lord. Wouldn't it be great if their was a one size fits all math program!!
For the record I LOVE Singapore!

[Kristen]

This discussion has been very helpful for me. Some of you may have read my earlier post about trying to decide on a math program and if I should ditch the Saxon. I have been encouraged after printing out the placement tests and looking at some sample pages as well as reading your posts. Singapore seems like it does things in bite-sized pieces with the activities in the HOD guides. That is what we're used to. Aaaah.... big sigh of relief. I feel like things are coming together. So, I just need to ask another question after reading the posts and looking at the Singapore site. I would need to get the student workbooks, right? Do I get the textbook and/or home guide? Or is that what the activities in HOD are for? Also, would I get the U.S. or Standard edition? I would be starting Bigger with my two boys next year. One would be in 2A and one would be 2B.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Kristen

[moedertje]

Bigger has the Math Explorations for 2A/2B, so you just have to get the workbooks for them and follow along with the schedule that Carrie has.
You would get the US editon workbooks.
I hope this helps!

[tmcg]

How much of how math is approached is teaching style and how much is the individual child? What do you ladies think? What methods have you used to help your children remember their addition facts and then be able to apply it in a different format? For example: 2+3=___ or 2+___=5 Do you have them use manipulatives to figure it out and then eventually they just remember it? What has worked for you and how have you done it differently depending on your child?