Math Change?

[Busymomma1]

Hi,
Math question... have any of you switched your child's math program in 4th grade? We've been doing Math U See with my dd since K, and she's midway through the Delta level (single and multiple digit division focus). Here's my dilemma... she is doing well in the program. Get's consistent A's on tests and understands what she is doing. When she did the Iowa Test last year, she scored quite well. But, one... she really doesn't like math at this point, and two, I feel she isn't as "flexible" in her problem solving and mental math as she could be. So I've been looking over Singapore and taking her through some of the mental math this summer. It think it's a good exercise for her.

But... if we switch to Singapore, the scope and sequence is so different that she is way ahead on some skills and hasn't covered some other skills. So I'm heading through the workbooks trying to find what she may not know how to do and doing it, etc. But anyway, my real question is... anyone switch to Singapore far down the road? Or might it be better to just stay where we are? I know of one lady here who said she switched in 3d grade. I'm doing that with my son. But with dd heading into 4th.... wrestling with it. I guess I'm really struggling with the idea that we'd be "backing up" in some ways.

I'm planning to switch my oldest son to Singapore (going into 3rd and not as far down the road in MUS) and probably go with Singapore overall for the one entering K this fall.

Thanks for any word on thoughts and experiences.

[cirons]

Hi there,

we made the same transition you are thinking about, from MUS to Singapore. My dd 9 was at the very beginning of 4th grade and as you said, she was ahead in some skills and behind in others re Singapore. I placed my dd back in 2B to cover the skills she had missed. We move through some lessons quicker than others but I am glad we made the change as Singapore has really challenged her thinking. In MUS she use to get 100% in everything, but in Singapore she is really having to think about which skills to use in a question, especially in level 3 she is now working through. Most women here seem to agree Singapore is advanced by approx a year anyway so my thinking is that she is now working through the appropriate age level for Singapore Maths as a Yr 4 student. Follow your gut. Singapore does take a bit more your teacher time as there is no dvd and I need to work through the text book with my dd first to learn the new concept before she does the lesson. MUS does have the dvd where he does a brilliant job of teaching the new concepts. But Singapore is an excellent program for practical mental math. All the best with your decision.
Blessings,
Corrie

[Busymomma1]

Thanks Corrie! Sounds like we are in a similar place. It encourages me that I shouldn't be concerned if she is working in a level 2 or 3 book heading into 4th grade. After all... I have to remind myself that it is important that she learn the concepts and to not be concerned about what "grade" it is.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I do appreciate it!

[Mom2Monkeys]

I'm switching my daughter in 5th and son in 2nd. She is starting in 3A even though some will be quite easy. I wouldn't start much higher than that when first switching with an older child. There's so much foundational learning in 3a and 3b. My 2nd grader is going to start in 1b though I think he is really ready for 2a bc he is really quite mathy, but I wanted to give him some early success and adjustment time to more formal learning at home. I've only informally don't school with him and he had one semester in public school 1st grade. He's devouring the 1A intensive practice as we prepare for 1B. We are going to love Singapore!

[Busymomma1]

Tamara,
Thanks for your post. I feel like it is giving me "freedom" to be OK with starting at a lower guide than grade level. Not only do I want dd to learn to be a better problem solver, starting at a lower level will give early success, be easy, and perhaps give her a love of math. Part of what made her tired of math is that she was doing lengthy problems ...and lots of them ... on her MUS pages (like 385 times 298). She could do them, but it tired her out. I did cut back at times, but... I didn't want to cut out too much. MUS takes a skill from basics to the nth degree in one book, so... it can go from very easy to pretty complex in one year. In some ways, I really like that approach, as you really do master the skill. However, I think it can take it to a level that tires kids out. I may use some MUS techniques if we get "stuck" on an explanation. But anyway, I'm hoping Singapore will be a breath of fresh air for my kids!
Next dilemma... do I sell all my MUS stuff? ha!
Thanks for your input!

[Mom2Monkeys]

Tamara,
Thanks for your post. I feel like it is giving me "freedom" to be OK with starting at a lower guide than grade level. Not only do I want dd to learn to be a better problem solver, starting at a lower level will give early success, be easy, and perhaps give her a love of math. Part of what made her tired of math is that she was doing lengthy problems ...and lots of them ... on her MUS pages (like 385 times 298). She could do them, but it tired her out. I did cut back at times, but... I didn't want to cut out too much. MUS takes a skill from basics to the nth degree in one book, so... it can go from very easy to pretty complex in one year. In some ways, I really like that approach, as you really do master the skill. However, I think it can take it to a level that tires kids out. I may use some MUS techniques if we get "stuck" on an explanation. But anyway, I'm hoping Singapore will be a breath of fresh air for my kids!
Next dilemma... do I sell all my MUS stuff? ha!
Thanks for your input!

Sell it! LOL Glad I was of some help. And remember to come back to the board if you get stuck with Singapore at all too!

[my3sons]

Great advice here already! You can always give the free placement test at http://www.singaporemath.com to see where best to start dd as well! Just be sure not to help her with any of it, as that inflates scores and makes them be off. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Busymomma1]

Thanks, Julie. I had started to give my dd the 2B test (I think), and she couldn't do the mental math parts! And floundered on some other parts I thought she'd know how to do. Somewhat to be expected since I never had her do math that way before. So, it was quickly apparent that we do need to back up to catch some of those skills. I didn't even have her complete the test. At that point, and after pouring over all the levels (yes, I bought 2A through 4A - because I really needed to SEE the books to get a handle on it), I'm reviewing selected pages in 2A, B and 3A with her. I'd like to start 4th grade at 3B. But, if we don't finish the 3A review by end of summer, so be it. I may be a little ambitious here.

Today we did the mental math at the beginning of 2B. She's picking it up quite quickly, which is great! I think it's a matter of "training her brain" to approach math in a different way, because otherwise she is pretty good with all of her math facts (add, sub, mult and div). That'll help us zip through some sections. And again... maybe she will like math again!

I appreciate the advice, ladies! Thanks!

[my3sons]

[quote="Busymomma1"...Today we did the mental math at the beginning of 2B. She's picking it up quite quickly, which is great! I think it's a matter of "training her brain" to approach math in a different way, because otherwise she is pretty good with all of her math facts (add, sub, mult and div). That'll help us zip through some sections. And again... maybe she will like math again! ...[/quote]

I do think she'll begin to pick it up well and be able to clip along, and then she'll be learning to be a strong mental math student too. Our sons enjoy Singapore very much, and I hope your dd grows to enjoy it too!

In Christ,
Julie

[Mommamo]

We switched from RightStart to Singapore which are both pretty similar, in my opinion, but we have absolutely LOVED Singapore, and I'm sure you will too. It does such a fabulous job teaching children how to really *think* math. Math is my oldest child's favorite subject, and I know that it is in part due to what a wonderful curriculum Singapore is.