Singapore Math - Problem to switch?

[Busymomma1]

Hi ladies,
We just finished BIGGER today! Wow! And I just finished administering the Iowa Test to my 2nd grade son. I noticed that, even though he should've known how to do some of the math problems, he got "stuck" and couldn't think through how to do some of them. I think it is because they were presented in way that was a little different from what he is used to. We use Math U See, and he has gotten an A average on all of his tests. I've also done Daily Word Problems a little bit with him. But this makes me think that maybe we need to try something a little different. I'm wondering if I've made a mistake in programs with him. Maybe he needed the "hands on" in the guides that I've NOT been doing, because we are doing a different program. He's ready to go into mastering multiplication (finished the multiple digit addition and subtraction in MUS- Beta level). Of course, there is hands on in MUS, but... maybe he needed more. I've always been hesitant to be a "math curriculum switcher", fearing it might mess up the progression of learning.

Here's my worry/concern - How hard is it to switch gears and programs? Do any of you have experience switching from MUS to Singapore at about 3rd grade? I'm wondering if I should back-track and let him do level 2, because it may be easy, and it may help to pick up some skills that were missed. What I'm REALLY looking for is something to get my kids to REALLY PROBLEM SOLVE, and not just memorize how to do a problem. I went all the way through PreCalculus in high school, and I don't even know what it was all for! ha! And I got an A! ha! So... been there, done that. You know how it is. I want him to have flexibility in his mathematical thinking.

Anyway, I was reading another post, and I saw that Julie commented that her kids didn't even need to use the scratch paper on the math parts! Well, that's what I'd like to shoot for! So... any advice on switching is appreciated. I guess I'd need to do a placement test. Also, is it true that the levels are about 1 grade ahead? I know I shouldn't get hung up on levels, but be concerned about appropriate placement. And if we haven't done the hands on activities up through Bigger, will a switch make that big of a difference? In other words, I haven't built that early foundation in the same way, so will it be hard to start into Singapore now? Should I backtrack a bit through the math parts of the guides?

Thanks for any advice. On to Preparing next fall!

[Kathleen]

What I'm REALLY looking for is something to get my kids to REALLY PROBLEM SOLVE, and not just memorize how to do a problem.

Yep - Singapore will do that! That's what I'm loving about it! It makes the kids think.

My oldest switched to Singapore in 3rd grade. We had finished another 2nd grade program. Then I printed off the placement tests here. http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm I started with the 1A test. (You'll need the US Edition ones which are listed 1st.) I had him do one test per day. So, we did 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. He passed the 1st 3, which I think the site says getting more than 80% correct. Don't help him at all with the tests either, explaining anything more, as that will throw the results off. When I looked through the tests after he'd done them, I decided to get 2A just to hit a few high points that I was pretty sure we hadn't covered in our other curriculum. Well, as we moved on, it became obvious that just doing all of 2A was a good fit. Not for the computation part, but for the thinking part. The word problems in our other curriculum had been quite predictably worded so that he didn't have to think much to figure out what to do. Singapore's made him think! But as we've moved on I've seen his mental math ability improve and he can definitely solve problems SO much better. So, if that's what you're looking for, I think that Singapore will be an excellent fit! (And math in the "real world" will make so much more sense!)

I know what you mean about not wanting to be a curriculum hopper, but this switch has been a good one for us, and we're sticking with it! This post by Carrie helped me see that it was exactly what I was looking for, too. I wanted our math minutes to count during our day, making my kids really think...but keeping it in balance with the rest of what I really need to cover spiritually and academically with my kids! viewtopic.php?p=431#p431

Kathleen

[Busymomma1]

Kathleen,
I appreciate your insight soooo much! Thank you! Your post says what I was thinking in my "gut" - that if we backed up to 2A, we'd catch some of the "thinking skills" we need, even if some of the "computation skills" are review.

Thanks for taking the time to share!