Yet another Singapore Math question...about books for me.

[Alice]

I've been reading a lot of the posts about Math lately and thinking about Math education in general. I've decided that I'd like to read more about teaching Math and/or something to help me really understand Math better.

My ds is only 4 1/2 so this isn't a huge issue now but something I'd like to do for my own education and also in order to lay a better foundation for him in the years to come. I know I'm not saying exactly what I'm looking for in the best way...and I think that's partially due to my lack of Math understanding. I can do Math but I want my kids to really get Math...if that makes sense at all.

 

My Math background....I always did well in Math in the sense that I got good grades but I hated it. It was always my least favorite subject and I'm beginning to think it was because I could do the work but didn't see any "big picture" or really get the bigger concepts behind what I was doing. I liked Geometry but always did it "wrong". I'd get the right answer but with a different approach than the teacher. I liked Calculus because I had a good teacher. I went through Multivariate Calculus and Differential Equations in college. I did ok in Multivariate as I had a good teacher. Diff Eq almost killed me. I also took Statistics which I found dry and boring. (I took so much Math due to a Chemistry/Biology major.)

 

OK...enough about me...just wanted to give an idea of where my own level of math skills are. I've looked at the Singapore website which is the curriculum I am planning on starting with (and continuing with barring unforeseen circumstances). I noticed several books...Knowing and Teaching Elem. Math by Liping Ma, one called Elementary Mathmatics for Teachers and one called Arithmatic for Parents.

 

Any advice or experience with those books (I saw them mentioned in a post here recently but can't seem to find it)? Or any other "mathy" books that would be a good place for me to start?

 

TIA!

[SophiaH]

Hi Alice,

 

I know what you mean...Calculus I and II sure didn't prepare me to teach first grade math! LOL!

 

I've heard the one mentioned by Ma here on the boards...I'm in the same boat you are and am planning on buying "Essential Parent's Guide to Primary Maths." Here is a link to it on rainbow resource. http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Essential+Parents%92+Guide+to+Primary+Maths/036971/1207850845-720706

 

This book is specific to Singapore and helps to explain their methodology, although it looks like it's more for the 4-6 grade levels.

 

If you're wanting something more general, maybe others here can help...?

 

HTH (a little?)

[Ali in OR]

I have Liping Ma's book and found it interesting. Mostly you will pick up on the difference between what teachers know in China vs. US. You'll appreciate that the Chinese teachers have a much better grounding in mathematics than US teachers, but this book doesn't really teach what the Chinese teachers know. It's not really a how-to book, but it is enlightening. It's rather expensive but if you can borrow it from a library or friend, it's worth reading.

[Sarah CB]

The Parker and Baldridge book (Elementary Mathematics for Teachers) is fabulous. They teach you how to teach and use the Singapore books as examples for you to work through. I've learned so much from that book and really appreciate the explicit instruction to the teacher.

 

Sarah

[Alice]

Thanks everyone!

 

Cadam..I do have a friend who uses MUS. Hmmm, maybe I'll ask her if I can borrow some of her DVD's. Her kids are older so she has been a great resource for me. Thanks for the suggestion.

[oakmom]

You may want to check out http://www.livingmath.net This is a website by a homeschooling mom in California and she lists so many great resources for the parent and the child. She also has a great yahoo discussion group.