Purpose of Singapore Textbook?

[Michelle]

Hi!

This might be a really dumb question, but I need to order Singapore level 3 for my ds and I see alot about the HIG and am wondering if I should have that or not. Is it either or? Do you pick either the Textbook or the HIG to use with the workbooks? Would you use both? What exactly is in the textbook? What is in the HIG and are they the same?

Thanks for your help!

God bless, Michelle

[Mom2Monkeys]

Hi!

This might be a really dumb question, but I need to order Singapore level 3 for my ds and I see alot about the HIG and am wondering if I should have that or not. Is it either or? Do you pick either the Textbook or the HIG to use with the workbooks? Would you use both? What exactly is in the textbook? What is in the HIG and are they the same?

Thanks for your help!

God bless, Michelle

It's not a dumb question at all!
The HIG is "Home Instructor's Guide". Then there are workbooks AND textbooks. There are others as well, but we won't go there. You don't have to have those. Anyway, many moms that use Singapore from the start, don't feel the need to have the HIG's once they are through with Carrie's plans in the guides for up to 2B. Others do, just not on a daily basis (although, some might use it daily!). If this is the first time you've used Singapore Math, you might enjoy having the HIG so you understand the concepts and methodology behind SM, although I don't think you'd need it on a daily basis in order to teach the lessons. The schedule provided by HOD matches almost perfectly to that in the HIG. The HIG's suggest hands-on lesson ideas, mental math drills, and the tells you if the lesson needs to be mastered, or if it's for exposure to the concept (meaning it will be revisited later and mastery is not necessary to move on). It contains other info as well. It is NOT a must have to teach SM with HOD. Its a matter of your needs and how you feel with teaching math. You may give it a try for a bit without the HIG, and if you feel the need after teaching for a bit, pick up the first one and see if it helps.

[Mom2Monkeys]

Forgot to answer the part about what exactly is the text book. The text book gives problem examples, and pictorial examples for you to use to teach the lesson. There are problems to work on together and some reviews. The child does not write in the text. After that, you move into the workbook for your dc to do the work. HTH!

[my3sons]

Tamara already did an awesome job of answering your questions, so I'll just agree with what she's said. Here's a past link discussing HIG's too:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4896&p=35879#p35879

You could start without the HIG, and see how it's going. You could add it after say, a month or so, if at that point you thought you'd like it. Personally, I try not to add more work to our day unless a need shows itself, as though we love school, we enjoy completing it in a timely fashion.

In Christ,
Julie