Should I use flash cards with Singapore math 1A?

[Michelle]

Hi!
I just love the way they teach math in Singapore and my dd has been moving right along in 1A with help from the counters and a number line. However, I really struggled with Exercise 49 (like a word search but only with number sentences) because she hasn't memorized any of the number sentences. She wasn't able to find the number sentences by herself at all, so I ended up finding them for her. I'd point out the 3 numbers and she then figured out where to put the plus or minus sign and circle the numbers.

Should I begin doing flash cards with her so she can get them memorized or does that defeat the purpose of singapore? She's still only doing the problems with counters and use of a number line. She can do 10 + 6 = 16 because she understands the tens and ones spot well though. But 8 + 7 = 15 is not memorized for her at all, for example.

What do you all recommend????

God bless, Michelle

[erdrmom]

We just finished 1A and are starting on 1B. My dd is in BLHFHG, and we are following some of Carrie's activities for math. Those have helped her to understand what to do with the numbers. You might consider using some of those activities with the math workbook. I have found on the topics that are harder for my dd to understand, the activities have helped to give just that little bit extra to help with the understanding. (Oh, and my dd did have trouble with that same page. I ended up helping her by asking which numbers looked like they might work. I don't remember the exact numbers, but using your example, I said something like, "Does 8-7=15?" No. "Does 8+7=15?" "Ok, write that down.")

One thing that I have noticed about Singapore, is that they will touch on a harder subject, and then move on. For example, one of the word problems at the end of 1A could easily be set up using a pre-algebra skill (which is how my dd did it, but then couldn't figure out how to solve for the missing number). There was only 1 problem that way and then we are moving on to another topic. She doesn't have her facts memorized, which for me is just fine. I would much rather her understand the concepts than be able to spit out the answers.

We also use math throughout our day. When we are at the store, I will pick up an apple and say, "I have 1 apple. I need 6. How many more do I need to get?" Or something along those lines. There are times when she will say that she doesn't like math, and then my dh will chime in with "Oh, too bad. No more cookies (chips, candy, etc.). If you can't count what we say you can have, you can't have any more." Doing this has helped her with her addition facts under 10. Giving her a "real life" application has helped with her knowledge.

I didn't really answer your question directly, but I thought I would share what we are doing at the same level.

[sewpeaceful]

How old is your dc? I started 1A with my dd when she was 5 and tried flash cards and found myself beating my head against a wall for 3 years (no kidding). But then she suddenly got it around the time she turned 7. Sure, the kids will naturally memorize up to sums of 5 and 6 but past that, I found some effort needs to be made so this is what I found in lieu of flash cards and seems to support the CM hands on discovery:

http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/math ... index.html

For written practice, I printed a circle mat, the Partner Sheets for familes up to 18, and Tile Card sheets on cardstock and laminated them (http://www.theschoolbell.com/Links/math ... heets.html). I then hand my dc a number sheet, an appropriate number of counters, and a Vis-A-Vis pen to fill out and practice the number families. Dry erase markers will stain lamination so I don't recommend it.

The site has a lot of activities to practice those math fact families which supports discovery, drill, practice, and fact families. There are card games, tests, practice sheets, number finds, the works.

I promise you this beats flash cards any day of the week. Neurological Developmentalists will tell you to forget what you know about flash cards anyway because you are asking the child to output something they don't know yet - imagine taking a quiz you haven't been able to study for. *IF* you are going to use flashcards, can I plead with you to get the flashcards that show the problem AND the answer? Have the child read a SMALL stack of flash cards (maybe 5-10 facts tops) to you then start occassionally covering the answer to check for recall. If they don't know the answer immediately, say, "No big deal, nice try," show them the answer and move on. You want to start at 100% input (they read to you), slowly moveback to 75% input (you are "quizzing" every 4th card type of thing), and work your way back until they are able to give you 100% answer. The following week, have a review time of the previous week's facts and have time for this week's facts. They also sell trinagle shaped flash cards or you can print your own from www.donnayoung.org.

I hope this gives you some more enjoyable ideas than flash cards wthat will get you to the same goal. Good luck!!

Mother of 2: 5yo in 1B and a 7yo in 3A.

[Michelle]

Hi again!
In answer to the questions, my dd has recently turned 6 and we are doing LHFHG right now as 1st grade. I do like the "real world" applications. I have been using coins and charging her for things like, "Give me 12 cents for that cereal." I will try that even more, I think, like what was suggested.

I have been doing ALL of the hands on activities in the Beyond guide for SM 1A and that's the only way she's gotten anything at all! So big thanks to Carrie for that!

This math seems to "stretch" her everyday and I was beginning to get nervous that she's not taken much past the "counters" stage to the "mind" stage. I do sit with her and walk her through most problems and she does a few solo. Just don't want math to get away from us and then end up with tears.

Thanks, Michelle