sunshineslp Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Hello all! I have lurked on here for a LONG time and it finally occurred to me to sign up and post:) So here is me in a nutshell: four kids, homeschooling my oldest two at the moment (boys, ages 6 and 7, so 1st and 2nd grades). I have used RS2 since they were in K. My oldest is currently in RS2B. I like it, and he has made huge strides, but he picks math up easily. He hates mastery math, we tried MUS and I wanted it to work so badly! but he hated doing such similar problems every day. The issue is that RS is TOO scattered. He isn't recalling enough and I admit, I am horrible at the games. I have a 3 and 4 yr old also and life is just too busy often times. and before you ask, no, the boys just never want to play the math games together. SO... I am looking into what to move to once he finishes RSB. I have heard that RSC isn't that great,even the second edition. however I like the subtraction they teach. do i buy it just for that and then switch? kind of pricey... :( I am wanting to know, is Singapore Math easy to use for larger families? Is it less mom-intensive than RS at least? I am worried I might have difficulty teaching it. I am not "mathy", but after teaching RS I feel like I HAVE picked up a few skills:) Is singapore easy to teach? I want a strong mental math program. I have looked at CLE (not mental math enough for me though...) and MUS (bust...) and tried MM but the sheer amount of problems per page were major no-no's for my boys. I need something with less clutter and not so intimidating looking. thoughts? thanks:) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Honestly, I would encourage you to combine your older two sons for school unless there is just a HUGE disparity between their abilities. Now, I used MM1-6 and it worked like a charm, but there is more than one way to skin a mathematical cat. Prior to buying anything, give placement tests. Now, I think from my reading on this board that CLE Math is notoriously thorough, and well laid out. I gather that it is easy to do daily and highly affordable and flexible. Do the flashcards as prescribed and you should be golden. Mental math can be worked on along side the program with a supplement or postponed until a time when life is not as hectic for you. I learned mental math well after 1st or 2nd grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExcitedMama Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 DS is only in book 1A but check out Math In Focus. The lessons so far have been short as far as reaching and DS is completely able to read the directions in the workbook and do the problems on his own which I imagine would be helpful when you are pulled in so many directions. It's been fun and DS enjoys it. I'm nervous about teaching math so we have the teacher's book but others say you don't need it and if you were to use it with your other kids and just buying them the workbooks I think the cost is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Ivy Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I have four kids in 1st through 5th grades using Singapore right now. I've been using it since my 1st was 5 years old, along with the Right Start abacus and a few Math Mammoth worksheets as needed. I don't find it difficult or teacher-intensive. I do have to discuss the lesson and demonstrate concepts, but I spend maybe 5 to 10 minutes per kid per day. Sometimes I might teach for half an hour, like if they are totally new to a concept (long division algorithms, how to use the abacus, etc.) It's probably the easiest part of my day. I do spend time reading up on how to teach math, though, and I think this helps make it easier for me. I've gotten so familiar with it, that I've been able to help my fourth child get a year "ahead" in Singapore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I agree with the PP that suggested combining your oldest two boys, if you can. We have four children, ages 9, 8, 7 and 6. The 10 yr old has math disabilties and cannot be combined with anybody. The 9 yr old is math gifted and cannot be combined with anybody. But the two little boys combine very well. The 7 yr old used Singapore 1 last year and he really struggled with it. I think, a lot of it was due to maturity. He still struggles with it a bit this year (redoing Singapore 1 after completing MUS Alpha and half of Beta). The 6 yr old is pretty average with math and between the two boys, they accompany one another quite well. It makes planning a little easier. Now...on to the "teachability" of Singapore. Personally, I find Singapore to be somewhat difficult to teach from the HIG. I find the HIG makes some assumptions that the instructor would have a higher math understanding than I necessarily do...lol. But...it isn't terrible. Overall, I think Singapore is a great program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoutingmom Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 If you want to have the RightStart methods less expensively, you could buy their tutoring program, Activities for the AlAbacus. It has the RS way to do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and some other topics. It was THE original program. It is not scripted or anything. I know people that have used it for their only program. I am not necessarily suggesting that for you, as it requires playing games more and determining what to work on, etc.... but if you wanted the RS techniques to go with another program, it is an option. I have heard that RSC isn't that great,even the second edition. however I like the subtraction they teach. do i buy it just for that and then switch? kind of pricey... :( thoughts? thanks:) Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dudley Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Yes Singapore is definitely low clutter, fewer problems, and strong in mental math. Easy to teach? all depends. I'm strong in math so Im probably not the best to ask. Generally I just give instruction for a very short time when they open the workbook, or when they get stuck or when I know an important concept is coming up. I make sure that we do extra practice when multiplication comes up. (like I hit the 3s hard the week they are introduced with flash cards or something. ) As the teacher you just need to understand their method, particularly behind the mental math and how to thing about word problems visually. I disagree with combining kids in math, I feel it is an independent subject that should be worked at at your own pace, dudley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshineslp Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 thanks guys:) I am considering the activities for the al abacus you mentioned Scoutingmom! Sweetpea- I cannot combine my boys either. they may be close in age, but far apart in math ability. I worry over your comment on the HIG... I have heard it many times... I dont' want to have to scour the web on "what was singapore talking about" kwim? but i honestly having found another program that seems as strong. MUS was boring to my kids. it simple moved to slow. we need mastery, but not THAT level of mastery. I wish MM worked, but it is too visually overwhelming. I feel "OK" teaching math, i mean, i have taught RS for 3 years and I like the concepts. I would hope maybe that might make singapore easier for me to grasp? anyone use CLE? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshineslp Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 mrsivy- what types of reading to do use, to help you teach singapore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dudley Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 If you look at the Singapore math practice books on Amazon you can see that the first couple of pages are a summary of how the concepts are taught in that book, which might be helpful..... short and concise. I dont use that book, I use the singapore workbook, US edition. and I don t know if the practice book follows the same sequence as the workbook, It might be enough to help you feel confident to teach it... I dont know, it was just a thought. on how to save some time in the teaching learning curve The HIG has the answers though, which saves time in checking answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 If you think MM is too visually cluttered per page, so is CLE. Less problems per page than MM, but my dc found it too cluttered per page & lots of pages per lesson. Lots of problems per lesson, lots of spiral review. I really wanted to love CLE. But my daughter cried over it... Even with crossing out un needed problems, it was visually junky & distracting, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshineslp Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 hilltopmom- oh bummer! so what did you land on? I am thinking SM is my best bet. i hope it is as easy to teach as MM... i guess if i get stumped I can use MM or RS to introduce the concept... I really wanted a more open and go type program but it sounds like i may need to be okay with adapting the program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Singapore Math is working well for us. I have four math students right now: a Kindergarten student in RightStart, a 2nd and a 4th grader in Singapore Math, and a 6th grader using a mish-mash of Beast Academy, Jousting Armadillos, and a few other things. I use the HIG for some lessons and just the text and workbook for others. I am mathy, but the Singapore conceptual method is different than the way I learned math, so I'm learning, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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