3A & B math in Bigger question....

[MistyP]

I am planning for next year (though at the moment I would love to send them all off to school!....I do have 7 week old twins here too )

We will be using Bigger for 2nd & 3rd grade. This last year I got the Bigger guide to use for DD #1's 2nd grade math; however, we didn't use it all the time. She is fairly independent in math and would have 2-3 pages done before I could even get the extra guide out. Does the 3rd grade textbooks really "teach" the stuff? I picked up some older used Singapore textbooks for 1B and 2A & 2B and I felt that it didn't explain it, it was just more problems. We used them when DD was "stuck" in math for a couple of weeks. Can I teach it effectively with the textbooks & workbooks when I am sort of learning it too? I'll be starting K with DD #3 too.....

Hope this makes sense to someone else! Right now I am second guessing myself on everything and feeling that I am not doing a good job with teaching my kids. Of course, things were very off schedule for several weeks when I in the hospital and then home on bedrest and for the first 4 weeks after the babies were born.... BUT we only have 5 weeks left in Beyond!!

[pjdobro]

Are you using Singapore math with her now? Was she just doing the workbooks with no explanation? If she was able to do the workbooks for 2A especially without hands on or the textbook, then I think you have nothing to worry about. It seems she just gets it! I feel like the textbooks do a good job of setting things out pictorially. It's important to go slowly enough through them and look at the pictures to see the steps that they are doing. Overall, I've really like 3A and 3B. There are always more options if you need them like the instructor's guides, but personally I didn't find the HIG that helpful. I know others do though so that is an option. Congratulations on your twins! I'm sure it has been a very interesting, stressful, and delightful year for you!

[amysconfections]

Yes, get the textbooks. They give you the pics to teach with. I had trouble with two lessons in the whole book and google helped. You will do fine. Congratulations on your twin blessings.

[water2wine]

My girls do really well with Singapore and almost literally do it on their own but at the level 3 I am finding the textbooks are very helpful. They really learn a lot that year. All the stuff my other kids tripped over using different math. I find the textbook is really a nice overview. We do not use it every day but I have found it very useful. Enjoy your sweet twins!

[MistyP]

Thanks! I'm not ordering for awhile but trying to get it planned out now.....

[8arrows]

One of mine is using 3A and 3B this year. We have used the textbooks regularly. I do not need the IG until 5th grade; then, I have found it useful.

[my3sons]

Great advice I'll just ditto- yes, the textbooks are very helpful, and they are necessary as the "teaching part" of the lesson. They become more and more important to do with Singapore math as dc move up through the levels. I look at that time in the textbook as a partnering time, where my ds and I quickly work through the problems together. It does not take long, and it ensures my ds does his workbook right the first time - thus I feel it eliminates poor habits from forming, especially in the older levels. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie