I am using McRuffy Color Math K this year and we really love it. However, I am worried that there just aren't enough problems to master things (also it jumps around a lot). I am supplementing with Miquon and plan to continue. I am thinking of switching for next year. I would really like to stick with a program throughout elementary so that we don't have large holes in my son's education. I am thinking about Singapore, but have a few reservations. I am looking at the Standards edition since I have heard the Home Instructor's Guide is much improved over the US edition. Which books do you use? Is it hard to schedule using several books (Textbook, Workbook, Intensive Practice, Challenging Word Problems, etc)? Do you find that it is hard to teach since it is different from what I am used to (DH and I are definitely mathy people)? Overall, do you like it or not? Thanks so much! I have been discussing this on another forum, but people there are so pro-Singapore and I would love to get a second opinion! :roll:
ETA: We use either US edition or 3rd edition. I prefer 3rd because we're in Canada and I don't find the imperial measurement sections relevant at all but if I buy texts used they're usually US so it's a bit of a mix. I don't use Standards at all. For my daughter I started with 3 and used the text, wb, Challenging Word Problems and Intensive Practice. For my son who's doing 2 right now I use the Text, WB and Extra Practice. I can't remember why I got the EP instead of IP for my son (it may even have been a mistake on the shippers part?) but I skipped the CWP simply becuase he was well behind with his reading. We've since finally found a reading program that works for him and next year he'll probably go to IP and CWP. EP offers more practice while IP offers that and also more challenge. I don't find it difficult. We just work through the text and WB until the end of a concept and then go back and do the work in the other books for that concept. It's not how I learned and I'm not "mathy" or thought I wasn't until Singapore math. But I think that actually worked in my favour. My math foundation was so shaky I just approached the Singapore materials as if I were the student and went on to help my kids with it. I never used the HIGs or TGs at all and have since learned a TON of wonderful stuff from even the lower elementary books. If you're unsure you can pick up the HIGs. For a must read on how to teach math that works well with Singapore buy Liping Ma's book Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics. It's an absolutely wonderful book that will probably give you new insight into even the most basic arithmetic. LOVE it. The only other program I've liked as much was Math Mammoth which is very similar concept-wise. It's easy for me to implement because it's pretty much open and go. It's also nice to have a program my kids can follow right through to the end of high school.
I have been using the HIG, TB, and WB this year. But I just added in CWP and IP. I find the Intensive Practice useful for extra help and extra challenge if necessary. For instance this week I used Intensive Practice to give my son extra practice on an area that is more difficult for him. I also used the challenging questions as a follow-up to a section we skipped (he had covered it already in a previous math program). It worked well both times. I don't think I could do Singapore without the HIG (I use the Standard edition). It gives mental math practice, assignments, answers to the textbook and workbook, explanations of what you are to teach, additional activities to practice concepts too. We do the textbook orally and then go to the workbook. The IP and CWP best fit when used after you complete a section. So once your child has completed a section on measurements, for example, you can use the IP and CWP books. The cost adds up, but I only have my kids write in the regular workbook. All other books they do orally or on separate paper. So that means I can reuse it for another child for about $15 a year. I love Singapore. It teaches differently. I wish I had been taught this way. My mental math skills have improved greatly Math was one of my best subjects in school, but I never liked it.
I think it may be just about the only homeschooling program I use that I have an actual emotional attachment to.
