New to Singapore Math, need some advice...

[AmandaNicole]

Well this is our first year with HOD, and also with Singapore Math. Last year we did CLE math, and in the middle of the year, my son was so bored out of his mind, and to be honest I was too. It just was not a good fit for him, and I pretty much only got through the middle of the year in Math. I felt there was just a lot of repeating, which I understand what spiral approach is now, When deciding on a guide for him, I chose Bigger, because he was ready in all areas, and felt that he could 'catch up' in math or even go slower if needed. So, we are into only the 5th week in the guide, and he is doing well with the math, the first couple weeks were hard for him in that area. I feel he is understanding the problems and works through them with little mistakes, but I am noticing that he is taking a while to do the figuring. He is still using manipulatives to figure simple problems, like 5+2. I don't feel he needs to go back a grade, but should I be working on flash cards to help with the memorization of these facts? I am not sure of the way Singapore is set up, KWIM?

[blessedmomof4]

Are you doing the hands-on activities in the Bigger Guide (assuming you are using Singapore Math 2)? They do a great job in getting the concepts accross, and Carrie often writes in edible manipulatives At this age it is fine, even desirable that your child use manipulatives to help solve the problems-being able to reason abstractly without objects comes later.

[AmandaNicole]

Lourdes'
Yes we are doing the hands on work, but there's not an activity everyday. I guess I just wanted to make sure he was 'normal' for his age. I don't have a problem with him using the manipulatives, but at the same time it didn't want him to be struggling through it, and me not be aware that this might be an issue for him. THanks for your resonse!
Mandy

[mom23]

I agree-sounds like you're right on track. I was worried about this, too, but my dd moved just fine from finger counting/manipulatives to knowing her math facts without that need. Just seemed like something clicked all at once and she realized she knew that without counting.

[my3sons]

He sounds right on track to me too. One thing I have done is redo the hands-on activity once or talked through the Singapore tips for mentally figuring out problems. So, if he is looking at 5 + 2 and needing objects yet, I'd probably redo the objects lesson, or explain the tip of "Start with the big number and count up". Using fingers and manipulatives is just fine at this stage of math. We personally find the beginning of each of the Singapore "A" levels to be pretty hard. They jump right in, that's for sure! It has seemed to us that the "B" levels are easier then. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie