i didn't even realize I could purchase the books or think of that! thank you :) I found out you could download the students workbook for free...a plus definitely. did you supplement your child with another syllabus concurrently with them doing Bridges at school?

thanks...this is quite scary. I'm starting Singapore Maths and Miquon to hopefully provide a solid foundation before he is exposed to the above program. While I understand it might make maths semi-interesting, I think the elementary children needs a much better foundation before playing those games.

Need more information regarding bridges for Mathematics system. I had tried googling & searching here, only for 1 old thread talking about it. I don't think it's a great system from speaking to teachers/other parents, but need help to supplement/afterschool my kids. I am currently using some kumon books/singapore maths kindergarten essentials (midst of book B now) and just started learning about miquon math (my DS1 is playing with the blocks, but I'm still studying the system, so we have not started the miquon books yet). Would like suggestions on how best to teach him at him while not getting him too confused about the Bridges system. Homeschooling 100% is not an option --- DH & I both work (>40 hours a week out of home). thanks, lin

Need more information regarding bridges for Mathematics system. I had tried googling & searching here, only for 1 old thread talking about it. I don't think it's a great system from speaking to teachers/other parents, but need help to supplement/afterschool my kids. I am currently using some kumon books/singapore maths kindergarten essentials (midst of book B now) and just started learning about miquon math (my DS1 is playing with the blocks, but I'm still studying the system, so we have not started the miquon books yet). Would like suggestions on how best to teach him at him while not getting him too confused about the Bridges system. Homeschooling 100% is not an option --- DH & I both work (>40 hours a week out of home). thanks, lin

I like SM series & am working my way through it now with my kids. I grew up in Asia & actually learned maths with the SM books once upon a time, almost 30 years ago :) I don't think the series changed much but we sold/donated all my old books, so I'm starting afresh with my kids.

Other! I applaud all of you who stuck with the 100 ez lessons book :) My DS & I about cried with that book. After 3 months, I sold the book & we kick-start our reading with a mix of BOB books, the early-reading lesson website books & leapfrog/super why/pbs kids type shows & games. My 4.5 DS1 could read all the CVC words and we are gradually moving to the more difficult books/words now. My DS2 (2.5) could recognize all his alphabets & could sound all the alphabets...so we will likely do a mix again.

thanks for the tip! i was looking to supplement the SM series. when are the sales normally?

try singapore elementary mathematics A & B. The A is probably quite basic for kindergarten level, but there are some basic concepts there that I found very useful :) I have 2 kids so was going to just re-use most of book A for DS2.

follow-up question: which c-rods did you all purchase/are using? I bought a small 77-piece set from christianbook & am underwhelmed. I will be returning those. it's the plastic baggie one from learning resources. would the 155 piece one from amazon suffice? I am mostly teaching my 4.5 year old son. not using it for the other 2 kids (one is a friend) I'm tutoring. I am considering these ones (though the $$ is getting tight with these new syllabus!): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FFWCOW http://www.amazon.com/CUISENAIRE-RODS-SMALL-GROUP-155/dp/B001AZ6W7E/ref=pd_sbs_indust_1 http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER7480-Connecting-Cuisenaire/dp/B000F8T9HW/ref=sr_1_8?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1353734609&sr=1-8&keywords=cuisenaire+rods will probably save to get the base 10 blocks after the holidays. anyone else have other (hopefully cheaper) suggestions? help! thanks, lin

thank you! appreciate it. i do understand pin yin :)

subbing...my 4.5 year old could do individual sounds very well...I'm teaching him mostly the word-families style (we've done -at, -an, -ell) and he could sound and read those words now (as well as common sight words the a and, etc).

resurrecting a somewhat old thread, but I am toying with several ideas and would love to have some of you chime in if possible. I am thinking of teaching my kids conversational chinese...I used to speak chinese semi-fluently, but have forgotten all the reading/writing...any ideas of a good curriculum/books/cds to use? we have watched some online chinese dora and I point out words to them, but is there something more structured I could use? thanks! lin

I am of Chinese descent and am toying with the idea of teaching both my kids conversational chinese. I have long forgotten how to read/write detailed Chinese characters (kanji), though I still recall a few basic ones when I come across some. Any suggestions of good software/books to use (bearing in mind my main handicap -- not able to read the chinese characters)? I could still speak/pronounce the words properly, and I would be happy with both kids understanding/speaking simple chinese words. I found a website with dora in chinese and we have gone through some of that together. thanks, lin

thanks for the tips! i bought it from christianbooks & am waiting for it to arrive :) and thanks for the videoes, I was searching for those earlier in the week.

We've used AAR, it's okay. I've also used the basic phonic books from progressive phonics & early-reading.com to good effect.

have you tried the kumon series? there are some in that series I really like :)

thanks all! yes, i saw that it's used with c-rods. what other manipulatives are used? abacus? etc?

I think we are at a little of a standstill with addition & would like to explore some other options. Keegan (4.5) is doing well with writing his numbers, counting up to 40, but doesn't seem to understand the addition concept. any thoughts about using miquon math to help with this? I am getting the singapore math essentials soon (though I think he's getting to the B level for math essentials vs the a level). also, where od you all normally get the miquon books from? (preferably with cheap/free shipping). thanks, lin

thanks for above tips. i was just shopping around for more curriculum for my DS1 aged 4. might look into the miquon math concepts and books. was getting singapore math essentials for him :)

I actually learnt SM methods when I was a child :) & really liked the way things are presented. I know the math syllabus here isn't very good & fully intend to supplement with SM. I'm helping another child in grade 2 with this as well. (my kids are 4.5/2.5)

great idea! i think i would try to do a country a month thing around here :)

thanks for all the perspectives :) I'm accumulating info for DS 4.5 years now...

i have the same concerns. unfortunately, all the public school for the 2013/14 year are half day options for kindergarten & I work 12-hour days :( trying to fit afterschooling into his 1/2 day PS, maybe private school for enrichment (science/social studies, PE/etc) vs FT private school (but all are religious based & I prefer a secular curriculum).

interested to know & subbing...trying to decide between day PS, extended enrichment at private school (I work FT 12 hour days), vs full time private school ($$$), and part time private school then afterschooling (not sure how on board DH would be)...as he'll have to do most of it.