Singapore primary math and math mammoth used simultaneously?

[Blessed mom]

Do any of you use both of these together? I am thinking of trying to use them both with a first and a fourth grader. If you use them together, do you try to match up topics? I have used Singapore with my fourth grade son in the past, but felt that it did not have enough practice for him. So, I thought we may use Singapore as the main curriculum, then have him do one to two pages of Math Mammoth a day as a supplement. Any thoughts on this? Would this be overkill?

[ErinE]

I think it would be too much. They are similar programs so I'd recommend picking one. MM has plenty of problems. For level 4 and up, I usually assign half the problems unless it was a short lesson or a new, tricky concept. If you wanted to keep SM but reinforce concepts as needed, you can purchase MM grouped by topics.

[Farrar]

I agree that it would be too much to do them both. I would suggest either doing Primary Math but pulling some MM pages when you feel like your kids need more practice. Or, doing MM and using the CWP as a supplement.

[chiguirre]

I tried this with T, but it was too much and too similar. I'd pick either SM or MM, whichever you already own or appeals to you more. If you go with MM, I'd add CWP. If you go with SM (including IP and CWP) I wouldn't use MM. Instead I'd look at Miquon through 3rd grade and LOF Fractions, Decimals and Pre-Algebra for 4th grade and up. These will add some fun practice to the base program but are different enough that it's not just more of the same.

[Corraleno]

I agree with PPs; they are so similar that doing both would be overkill. If you want more practice than Singapore provides, I'd use MM as your spine and add Singapore CWP for extra challenge. Best of both worlds. If you still want more, you could occasionally throw in some Beast Academy and/or Fred for fun resources with a totally different approach.

 

Jackie

[Blessed mom]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I feel a little stuck. I like both MM and SM. I think I lean toward SM, but I feel like it does not have enough practice for learning math facts. For example, in the 1st grade book, it looks as if there is only one page devoted to each family for addition. For those of you who have only used SM, how have you grounded your children in their facts while using this program?

[chiguirre]

Flashcards work well.

[nwmama]

I know quite a few families that do two complete math programs but they all do summer school to get it done. Some of them do 3 days a week of one and 2-3 days a week of the other. The others do one program from Sept-Feb and the other Mar-Aug.

 

We're going to start doing 2 programs this year and, for now, go with the first option and do both programs each week. I've picked Saxon and Singapore which are completely different so that if they don't understand a concept in one program, they'll have another option to learn from. We do school through the summer anyway so we actually need two programs to have enough to do.

[Five More Minutes]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I feel a little stuck. I like both MM and SM. I think I lean toward SM, but I feel like it does not have enough practice for learning math facts. For example, in the 1st grade book, it looks as if there is only one page devoted to each family for addition. For those of you who have only used SM, how have you grounded your children in their facts while using this program?

 

First of all, Singapore 1 is very different from later levels in the amount of practice and review present in the text and workbook. In 2A/2B this year, I've often felt that there has been LOTS of review and practice; I didn't find that last year.

 

I use the Intensive Practice and Challenging Word Problems a few levels behind to provide an enriching review.

 

For math facts specifically, I have played games (like Addition War, Go to the Dump, Number Line races); used iPhone apps (Math Bingo, Squeebles); played games or done activities with c-rods like those on Education Unboxed; and used the Mental Math at the back of the Home Instructor's Guides. I just do a bit of work every day on the math facts.

 

By the end of Singapore 1, I hope to see automaticity in addition / subtraction math facts within 10 (especially bonds of 10). I also want to see a strong ability to regroup to figure out math facts within 20. I don't push for memorization of the facts within 20 yet, because the regrouping skills are so important for later on. I want my dds to practice that over and over and over again.

 

I do use a supplementary curriculum to present the ideas in a complementary, but very different way. Miquon, Beast Academy, and Life of Fred all have a place here in introducing a fresh perspective on math. Math Mammoth has been pulled out occasionally for some topics (like Canadian money), but it's so similar that my dds would revolt if I used it in conjunction with Singapore on a regular basis.

[Blessed mom]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice! Have any of you done Rod and Staff math with Singapore. They are vastly different and Rod and Staff would drill facts while Singapore would teach concepts. Any thoughts on doing this?

[chiguirre]

I used R&S with a different kid. It takes a while to do all the activities in the TM. It's really a very traditional American program with a lot of rote memorization and a LOT of practice. If your child needs that much practice, they will probably be overwhelmed by SM. If your child loves SM, R&S will bore your child to tears.

 

I would consider getting the drill books if you'd like, but honestly you can do the same thing with downloading free math practice sheets (MUS has a nice generator) and using flashcards consistently, especially the triangular flash cards that show number bonds the same way as SM.

[DarlaS]

I used R&S with a different kid. It takes a while to do all the activities in the TM. It's really a very traditional American program with a lot of rote memorization and a LOT of practice. If your child needs that much practice, they will probably be overwhelmed by SM. If your child loves SM, R&S will bore your child to tears.

 

I would consider getting the drill books if you'd like, but honestly you can do the same thing with downloading free math practice sheets (MUS has a nice generator) and using flashcards consistently, especially the triangular flash cards that show number bonds the same way as SM.

 

 

:iagree:

 

And Singapore Math has facts practice scheduled into the home instructor's guides. Ideally you would use the instructor guide, supplement with flash cards and drill sheets, or choose another program.

 

Some kids may not need more than what's in the workbook, but most will--as you've already discovered.