What do I want for summer math? Singapore?

[Acorn]

I started by looking at Singapore, but I don't know if I want Intensive Practice or workbooks or word problems.   My children do not use Singapore during the school  year.  Can one just jump into 3rd grade material?

 

They both like math, but I feel that my (entering 3rd grade) son didn't learn much this year.  He will start a gifted class next year.  Some of his classmates go to Kumon classes, so I'm looking for something for summer enrichment.

[Jennifer N.]

I've used Math Mammoth as an afterschooler.  It's a great curriculum.  I dabbled in Singapore Standards ed for 4th grade this year (to do in place of one child's K12 math course) and I like how they teach math too.  So, this spring a lady at our enrichment school was selling Critical Thinking Skills materials.  She had used Singapore with her older children and loved it but likes the CTS math even more.  She described it as Singapore on steroids (it's very colorful).  I bought books for my older three children to work in over the summer.  What I like about CTS is it is all in one.  No teacher textbook.  Singapore gets fiddly with the two books (at least for me).  The math books are titled Mathematical Reasoning and they go by grade levels.  It's a spiral curriculum. 

 

I have one in a public virtual school this year for the first time, two in bricks and mortar and the youngest is 3.  So that's why I do a mix.

[Jennifer N.]

PS--Both my older two will attend a full time gifted program next year as well.  My second child is going into 3rd.  I bought him the 3rd grade level of CTS.  I don't think it's going to be too hard for him and he's already started the book.  I have my kids do a certain number of pages to earn computer time on the weekend.

 

Looking back at your post, I didn't really answer your question I guess.  If you want to stay with Singapore, I think you would need the textbook and the workbook. The other books are extras.

[merylvdm]

If you use Singapore and just want to buy one book, you can get the Extra Practice Problems or Challenging Problems. This assumes they have covered the work and just need more practice. Otherwise you need the textbook and workbook.

 

Have you considered rather using Khan Academy? The gamification of the website makes it fun for students - especially if they are having to do math in the vacation. And I tie the number of points earned to real rewards to add extra motivation. A few of my friends have started doing that too and it is working well for all of us. And of course Khan is free which is a nice bonus.

[Ad astra]

I have both of Singapore Math (K & 1A) and Critical Thinking Company's Mathematical Reasoning A books. One thing to consider about MR is it's very pricey (Each book costs $39~42 at Rainbow Resource Center now) and there is not much teaching in it. It's a workbook, IMO, more challenging than SM Primary and easier than SM Intensive Practice or Challenging Word Problems. If you're looking for an all-in-one text, Math Mammoth would be a much more economic choice, but less challeging than MR, IP or CWP. I'm using SM as a spine and MR as a supplement now but I'll drop MR and use IP and/or CWP as supplements next year. MR is fine but I just can't justify its price.

[Julie of KY]

I like Ed Zaccaro's Primary Grade Challenge Math for summer math fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Primary-Grade-Challenge-Edward-Zaccaro/dp/0967991536