We switched to Singapore math (2A) from Saxon Math this spring. I only bought the workbooks, cuz I was pretty sure I could teach 2nd grade math without a teacher's guide. I'm still fine with that... Joy is doing just fine! - but I just read a little blurb that made it clear that you're not supposed to do that, so now I'm wondering... What is in the "coursebooks" that the workbooks don't cover? Do I really need them? Or am I just second guessing myself cuz it's that time of the month and I need to just chill? :lol:
I got both and found that we used both, but you can do either one or the other. There were a couple of lessons that I was nice to have the text though. I found on the reviews we did either the text or the workbook, not both it was just to much for her.
I have just used the workbooks. Now I have both the textbook(still soft cover) and workbook for 3A/B. I have quickly glanced thru them and don't see any real difference. I am not using right this moment but plan to this fall. Though I thought textbook was going to be hardcover. I was told it was resuable but it looks consumable to me. I am currently using 2A/B with my 8 year old. I just recieved Earlybird 1 A/B and Earlybird 2 A/B workbooks for my little ones.
From what I have seen looking for used stuff, most people just sell the textbook and workbook, not the teacher's guide, so I guess that is what most people end up doing. I am still waiting for mine (3B wrkbook and txtbook). They are somewhere over the Atlantic right now, I guess.
Have you seen them in person? Do you know what the difference between them is? I might consider one of them for 4A and B and onwards if there seems to be a need. I do know that you really need the extra practice books in order to get enough math practice (or so several of the reviews say...).
I used the workbooks and the textbook but not a teacher's guide. Sometimes it is helpful to have a teacher's guide and a textbook. It can give you some tools to make teaching the concept easier. However, I don't think for the younger grades it is necessary if you can explain the math in a way that your kids understand. My dd and I are very different in how we learn...so sometimes I refer to other sources to help me out.
