Need guidance -- dd wants Singapore Math; mom wants Horizon

[Linda...inOwasso]

Okay, I need some advice from the old pro's:

 

Dd 7 is whizzing through Horizons 2 and Singapore 2a right now. She asked me today if she could only do the Singapore because she likes it much better than Horizons and feels the Horizons is too easy.

 

To her credit, she does get 100% on most of her Horizons daily lessons and she's made a 90% or above on every test this year so I know she's "getting it." I frequently cross out sections from her Horizons lesson which I know she has mastered. However, I am very reluctant to do away with Horizons altogether. It would actually be much easier for me to drop Singapore from the schedule.

 

What I like about Horizons is the continual review of addition & subtraction etc.. Now that Singapore is covering multiplication and division there doesn't seem to be any review of + and -. Dd seems to be much stronger in math than I was as a student. I'm worried that I can't see things clearly and make the right decision because of my own weakness in math.

 

Anyone feel up to helping me on this one? Thanks so much!!

[chai]

I've used Singapore as my dd's primary math program and have supplemented with Miquon and Horizons. I finally threw out Horizons, because I'M bored with it! IMO, Singapore is a much better program, especially since your dd loves it. If you feel she needs review on facts, you could do that through on-line math games, worksheets, or flashcards.

 

If you are really set on using Horizons and Singapore, you might want to bump up the grade level of Horizons. My dd can do a grade ahead in Horizons compared to Singapore.

[Ali in OR]

We do both Singapore and Horizons much the way you describe (crossing out portions of Horizons). If we were to stick with just one program, it would be Singapore because I feel thats where the real instruction is. Singapore is actually developing mathematical thinking. Horizons is just random exercises (we only have the workbook--no TM). But we will probably continue to supplement with Horizons just to have the review and frequent exposure to other topics like time, Roman numerals, etc. Since we have to do testing in this world, I'm thinking dd will benefit from using both programs. But I think your dd has good taste in math programs!:)

[swimnactmom]

I think if she likes math, and feels that Singapore is more interesting/challenging, I would go with Singapore. Just like adults have preferences, and can't always implicitly put their finger on why they prefer one thing over another, kids get those feelings too. I would go with her instinct on this.

Singapore's Intensive Practice and Challenging Word Problems are great supplements to the program. Also, you can easily add in a page of extra computation problems from any outside workbook to supplement if you feel like something is missing. My guess is that once she gets going on this, and knows it was her decision, you'll have one little motivated math student on your hands!

[Linda...inOwasso]

Scary as it is for me, I'm now leaning toward letting her use only Singapore (IP & CWP). After more discussion today she told me that she would rather do 10 pages of Singapore than 1 of Horizons. She even went so far as to say that she wants to do Singapore outside of school too, just for fun.

 

Not a bad sales pitch for a 7 year old! :)

[chai]

It's great that she loves math. Let her follow her passion. If it helps at all, there are a lot of mathy people on this board that prefer Singapore, especially for a kid who is good at math. If you want a little more hand-holding, you could get the TM. I haven't used it, but it might give you a little more confidence.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

I'd drop the Horizons. I've used Singapore exclusively with both my kids. Neither of them forgot how to add and subtract while they were learning to multiply and divide. It's kind of like riding a bike. The neural pathways are there. They might have to "turn them back on", but the knowledge is there. Your dd will recall it when she needs it. Trust her. If she feels Horizons is a waste of time, and she's bored with it, then forcing her to do it will just cause more frustration, which will lead to sloppy mistakes, daydreaming, doodling, and other issues.

[swimnactmom]

Also, at the end of each unit there is a cumulative review in the textbook which reviews previous lessons. There are also big reviews at certain points in the workbook. So even if you're finishing a unit on angles or volume, you will end up reviewing fractions and decimals (of course depending on what level you're doing, but you get the point.)

When I first looked at Singapore I thought, how is he going to retain this math when the program doesn't seem to drill it into his brain. It's kind of amazing though. Between the Extra Practice, Challenging Word Problems an Intensive Practice books as supplements, my ds actually knows his math well.