Love to Learn
- Reviewed on Thursday, June 24, 2010
- Grades Used: 3rd - 4th
- Dates used: 2009-2010
We really like it and it works for the visual child. I was so surprised to read how the reviews for Singapore were so all over the place. We used to use MUS because it was so highly recommended but after 3 years of it - we had had enough. MUS is so dry.
What I finally figured out is that my son is visual and the approach used in Singapore really helped him to "see" how to solve the math. DS went from dragging his feet and hating math to telling me that he's really good at math. At first I didn't think there were enough practice problems to actually get it but if you go through the textbook (do all the problems) and then follow up with the workbook - 90% of the time it's plenty. At first, I was getting both the "Extra Practice" and "Intensive Practice" but I have found that the Extra Practice book is helpful and all I really need to review and follow up if there is a weak link.
You do want to do the placement test that you can get off of the Singapore website. The Singapore text/workbook numbers do not really correspond to grade level. Generally speaking, an average math student in the 4th grade will use 3B and 4A and an advanced 4th grade math student will use 4A and 4B. The curriculum is divided up into semesters so you need 2 full sets of textbooks and workbooks to complete a school year. Please do not attempt to buy only the workbook as most of the instructional value will be lost. I buy the Home Instructor's Guide as well and although it cost about 17$ - I find it's so helpful with tips, lesson plan and the all important solution to the word problem - most importantly how to set the word problems up. But if money is an issue, you could get by with only the text & workbook.
I have my degree in Economics which is very mathematical and my husband has his MS in math, so we are math people. DS and I challenged daddy to a math contest. DH was asked to solve a particularly difficult word problem which he got wrong. Then DS and I did it the "Singapore way" with pictures and logic and we got it right. Needless to say DH was red-faced but very impressed.
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thecrowleygirl
- Reviewed on Thursday, May 27, 2010
- Grades Used: 1st & 3rd
- Dates used: 2005
Tried it for 1/2 a year because I heard so many wonderful things since they came out with an "American Version". I was more lost than the kids. Each lesson has you bouncing from this book to that book, to the workbook, and then back to this book....seems to be several supplimental books needed to buy as well. And they touch a concept, boom that's it, never seeming to return again. Unless you have a math genious, this is not for the average child. Unless the parent has a math degree, I wouldn't recommend it. We had been with Saxon Math, tried Singapore for that 1/2 year, saw how lost my 1st and 3 graders were, and went back to Saxon Math. So glad we did! My kids have excelled with Saxon Math (an advanced math curriculum) over the years and my oldest is going into 8th grade next year and ready for Saxon Algebra 1.
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karmenjones
- Reviewed on Thursday, February 11, 2010
- Grades Used: 1
- Dates used: 2009
I purchased Sinagapore math last year after hearing how "amazing" it was from various people, including a math teacher who uses Singapore to teach his own kids. The kindergarten level was ok, but the 1st grade material was not click for us at all. My daughter was not learning her facts! A bit discouraged, I eventually stopped singapore and started printing drill sheet from a math drills website. She was learning more with this than with singapore. Then I stumbled upon Math-U-See which has been absolutely amazing. My daughter all of a sudden is thriving in math nd has wonderful understanding of numbers. We love the manipulatives, the lessons, the layout, the everything. It seemed to me that with Singapore that there were too many pictures. For example, a picture of four birds in the tree and 3 approaching to join them....how many in all. Rote memory was lacking. Some of the pages are great. I plan to skim thru the Singapre books and pull out whatever is useful after we finish our current Math-U-See book. Miquon is also a good supplemental math, though not a great core.
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christy7177
- Reviewed on Saturday, January 30, 2010
- Grades Used: k,1,5,6
- Dates used: 2008-2010
I keep hearing how this is great for kids advanced in math. However it works with those struggling in math as well.
I took my daughter out of public school at the beginning of 6th grade because various issues. The main one being that she was struggling and I felt the school was leaving her behind. The school tested her (in math) at about a 4th grade level at the beginning of 6th grade. I put her in charter school for 6th grade, but the math was too advanced for her. So, I took her out of charter school and began the homeschooling journey.
Over the summer I tried a few curriculums to try and find the right one by the following school year. I thought the Math U See would work because I had heard so many great reviews. I really liked it, but, she felt she didn't learn best with that method. I then tried Saxon math because I thought the built in review and lots of practice would be good for her. She didn't complain, but it was obvious that she didn't like it. She said that she felt burnt out by it. Next, I was debating between Rightstart and Singapore. I ended up going with Singapore. Immediately we knew this was the right one.
My daughter tested at the level 6. However, I decided to go with the level 5. I figured that it would build her confidence, give her review, and get her used to their math curriculum. She has progressed beautifully through theor program. She has since used level 5 and 6.
We love that the lessons seem just long enough. Yet, if she needs the extra practice, then we use the extra workbooks we got to go along with it (Singapore has various kinds of workbook add on options). My daughter loves the activities that help her develop a deeper understanding of the concepts. I like that this math program helps develop critical thinking skills. It doesn't just rely on rote memorization.
My younger children also use Singapore (levels: k and 1). I bought the K level through Sonlight and it only came with the textbooks. I went to Singapore's website and bought the teachers guides and activity books to go along with it (along with some extras -- power math and set of 10 readers).
I bought a few of their manipulatives as well. Oh, and I have all the cdroms for the SIngapore math as well. These are nice add ons.
I cost is very reasonable in my opinion. The only cost I ever cringed at was the level K teacher manuals.
I am very impressed by this curriculum and will not ever be changing it.
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