We switched to singapore math from saxon

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by JenniferErix, Apr 6, 2008.

  1. JenniferErix

    JenniferErix New Member

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    I honestly thought we had found what works for us, when we found Saxon math.

    But nope....
    Sigh.....

    My kids are math freaks, they love it and get it easy. There is no reason we need to hold "Class" for math everyday for like an hour on a subject they are so good at....

    Saxon is great for us if our kids needed help in math, what with the scripts and all...

    But we found Singapore and it is sooo visual and self leading that the kids just love it...

    They can get their math done in 15 minutes and we can spend the time we need on the subject they are not good at; Engish.... Writing and composition...

    Right now we are using BJU Press 2nd grade grammar.... They can tell you all the grammar rules, but to put it to paper is a whole other story...
    Whew!


    Anyway, if you are interested in singapore math, it is great if math is your kids "Thing".
     
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  3. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    That's great! I'm glad they're enjoying it!

    It's funny you mention this. I've been interested in doing Singapore with my dd to help bolster her abilities and make sure she has the bbasics well enough to move on.

    I know they have placement tests, but where do you begin? There are so many? And there seem to be so many different maths on the Singapore site.

    The math for 7th and above seems to be different, and I didn't find any placement tests for more than 6A and 6B.

    Is it a program that would be good for what I mentioned above? I have heard about it for a long time, but I really know nothing about it.

    ETA: I found the placement tests for the 7th and above, so nevermind that.

    But, what do I need to order, teacher book wise? She has some refresher stuff I think we'll do. It's hit and miss: 3B stuff, 4 B stuff, etc. I can't get that home teacher's guide for each of those levels, that comes out to be too much it seems! So, do they have answer keys for each book? So do I need to order more than just the student book?
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2008
  4. homeschooler06

    homeschooler06 Active Member

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    We just recently made the switch for Singapore also. Mine are the U.S. Editions. Seems to be working better for my DD for now.
     
  5. InEdensBliss

    InEdensBliss New Member

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    ohh ooohh!! SO glad you posted this. I'm desperate to find something different for my little math genius. We're doing HOrizons and I find myself skipping SO much cause she just gets it like you said. I visited the singapore website but I can't find a way to look at some sample pages or order a catalog. Am I overlooking something painfully obvious?
     
  6. rmcx5

    rmcx5 New Member

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    I think Sonlight has links to Singapore examples or at least the placement tests...it's been a while since I looked at them though.
     
  7. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    Jen, thanks so much for posting this. I have been looking for something for my dd she hates Saxon math needs something more so going to check this out. Thanks again girl. You rock.
     
  8. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    If you go to the Singapore website you can find placement tests.

    I love Singapore. However, I still hold math class for 45 mintues to an hour. lol. I just have them do hands on things or more practice. I guess I am just stuck on my schedule. lol. However, I can see why if you Singapore...math is over quickly.
     
  9. JenniferErix

    JenniferErix New Member

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    Well, today was our first day using the singapore math. It went well.

    The first part of it was all about learning how to use the books. The text books are for "Learning" it and the Workbooks are for "Practicing" it. "OH!" They said...

    Mental math is a big part of singapore math. And I had to teach the twins to "Think" about what they are doing before they try to write something. The already can add up 20 digit numers, it was the "In your head" part that they had never learned before. But once they did it they said they felt "Smarter". Cool!

    They are very visual learner, and the book facilitate that as they are very colorful and visual.

    They were doing third grade saxon and are doing 2A on the singapore math. I felt it was ok to start them with the "A" part of singapore because they need to learn how to work with singapore math, before learning new subject matter.

    So the first part really is review.. but again they were learning how to use the books.

    Verdict?
    They liked it, I like it and I hope this is our last switch for a while. Hahaha

    I started the five year old on 1A, she has always been huge in math, so she is doing well as well...

    We'll wee how it goes...
     
  10. JenniferErix

    JenniferErix New Member

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  11. MrsHannigan

    MrsHannigan New Member

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    I absolutely hated Saxon K-3 but please give Saxona nother shot in the middle grades; it's an entirely different (useful and good) curriculum beginning at level 5/4

    My 1st grader is loving Singapore, there's not a lot of boring drill. I went ahead and got the extra word problems and the rainbow rock CD, they have fun with the CD but we haven't touched the word problems. Since she's working above grade level, I assumed we might need the extra practice the farther she strayed from her expected grade level, that she might find it harder but so far it hasn't ever gotten so hard that we needed to get help from the other book. She's in the second half of 1st grade now and finishing up book 2B

    We are also using Miquon- sporadically. I credit Miquon play with the reason she does so well, she started Miquon when she was 3 because I had to keep her busy while the older ones were working.

    I have no idea how much time we spend on Math. I push her very close to her limit every day and sometimes it's a 1/2 hour, sometimes it's 2 hours. I notice that if we start around 4pm she can work for a much longer time than if I start her in the morning.
     
  12. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    Jen, sure glad you had a wonderful day and it well. Going to go check out the web site. Thanks for that too.
     
  13. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    Jen, or SOMEBODY,

    I've been thinking of getting the Singapore for my dd who just turned 11. I found she has some gaps that need to be filled and a mentality that needs to be bolstered! :)

    BUT, though I did some of the placement tests, she does fairly well at some, but there are a thing or two that could be worked at a couple of the lower levels, though we wouldn't be there for long. I don't want to spend a lot on the little bit of review, though I do want her to get what she needs!

    I'm not sure how to buy the right levels or whether they come with answer keys, or do I have to get the whole Teacher Guide for lower levels that we'll barely be touching on?

    I wish I had tried this sooner! We DID try Saxon last year---didn't work at our house. It may be good for some, but we tried it twice and it flopped both times. THere are a lot of programs that are good, thankfully. Once you find one or two that fit your child's learning styles, it's great! I've noticed that many people supplement Singapore with Miquon or Saxon or MUS or some other, which is recommended, so your child gets a deeper understanding of math, and learns how to come at problems from different angles.

    I haven't heard TT mentioned with any of that, but I think I'm going to supplement dd's TT with Singapore.

    Any help any of you have on my questions above would be GREAT!
     
  14. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    Deena, I just know we are doing Saxon and it's not working. I might look into TT again. Also, singapore. math we need something that will work.
     
  15. aggie01

    aggie01 New Member

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    Why do you supplement singapore with Miquon? Lots of people say they do this but I don't undestand why
     
  16. JenniferErix

    JenniferErix New Member

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    Deena, I am not sure what advice to give someone with an older child. I feel out of my league. Anyway... The biggest difference for me, with saxon verses singapore is that with singapore the child works mostly by themselves, whereas with saxon it is me and them working with a script through a scripted play of things you have to do everyday, the same...

    Also, again, math is their strong point and it is rare that they need help. So that is also another biggie when it came to choosing the singapore math.

    If math was not their strong point the saxon may have been a better fit because the teacher (Parent) is present through the whole lesson.

    We were doing 3rd grade math in saxon, which they were doing fine on, it was the pace that was the problem, and we went to 2A and 2B math.....

    It is that singapore is advanced AND because the child needs time to wallow in what they already know, while they learn HOW to work the "Singapore way"....

    My twins can add 80 + 5 with their hands tied behind their heads, but they needed to start off with the simple math to learn that in singapore, they teach you how to do a TON of it "In your head".

    Hope this helps.

    One last thing...
    We are with 1st grade and 2nd grade maths... I did not buy the parent books (Teacher editions) They are not needed if you can do basic math. There is no "lesson plan" per se.... you just read the text book (Or the child does I should say) and then do the practice work in the work book... The text book and the work book are sold seperately and are about $8.50 US Dollars each.

    So we got just the text books and the work books.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2008
  17. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    Do the workbooks and student books have answers in them? If they do, then I can just get those until we settle into the level she needs to work all the way through.
     
  18. missinseattle

    missinseattle New Member

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    We've been using Singapore when we pulled dd last winter. LOVE it. we still spend a good half hour or more on math though because we do math games, we work problems on the board, ect.

    We also use Miquon.

    I'm glad we went with Singapore, it's very similar to Everday Math which is what they use at the school she'll be going to in the fall. My mom teaches Everyday Math and brought some of her materials with her to Maine this past week and the way they teach is almost identical to Singapore.
     
  19. dawninns

    dawninns New Member

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    I think there may be a bit of a similarity but in terms of overall approach they're very different. Many parents who want nothing to do with EM in puclic schools often campaign for Singapore to replace it...Or use Singapore at home.
     
  20. JenniferErix

    JenniferErix New Member

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    No. The textbooks and workbooks do not come with the answers. However, we are at the second and first grade levels, so it maybe different for different grades, but I doubt it.
     
  21. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    Aaargh, thanks Jen! It'd be easier if they did! But they have an answer book for Levels 4A-6B I think, so maybe I'll have to get that.
     

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