Singapore Math Placement Question

[jacynamommy]

My son finished Little Hearts a few weeks ago. We're getting ready to order Beyond, but I'm unsure which math book to order him. He's 7 (1st grade) and just finished the kindergarten Singapore books. Math comes very naturally for him and he pretty much already knew everything we did this past year. I went to Singapore's website and looked at their scope and sequence. It looks to me like he already has mastered everything that the 1A and 1B books have in them. I'm thinking maybe I should order the 2A and 2B books. Have any of you experienced this? I don't want to push him too hard or skip something important, but he also gets bored easy, and I don't want him to not be challenged in something he's naturally very good at. Please, any advice would be fabulous! Thank you!

[moedertje]

Sounds like he should just go with the next book in line. If he finished the Singapore K books, he should go to 1A and 1B which are advanced 1st grade math books. (I am talking about Primary Mathematics Books). If you look on the Singapore website you will notice that an average 1st grader will do book 1A in 1st grade and 1B and 2A in 2nd grade and so on. So for your advanced math 1 st grader he will fit right into 1A and 1B and you will not regret doing them. Sometimes looking at the Singapore books makes them appear simpler, but Singapore math has proven over and over to be very meaty and very advanced, because of their mental math approach.
I would recommend not to skip any books as he might find gaps later on in the higher books.
Carrie has written the guides to follow nicely after one another, so also the math that she recommends is to follow after each other...
Success!

[HollyS]

I also wouldn't skip any. Level 2a and 2b get pretty challenging. My DD is really struggling with level 2 and she's 8.5. My DS is doing well in 1a at age 6. I think there's a pretty big jump between the two levels.

If you really think he should be at level 2, Singapore has a placement test on their website you could try.

[HappyMama]

I agree, I would skip any books either. My 7 y.o. is doing 2A right now and it's quite challenging. There are concepts taught in 1A/1B that are necessary for 2A/2B. The books build on each other nicely.

[my3sons]

Singapore starts off easy with Earlybird math, but then it picks up speed in a big way. 2A especially gets the ball rolling. I'd really just move on to the next levels of 1A/1B. If you are really feeling that your ds should be moved ahead though, I'd give him the free Singapore placement test. If you do this, be sure not to help him with it at all - not even reading it to him. Otherwise, the results will be inflated. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[jacynamommy]

As always, thanks for the great advice!!