StephanieF Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Ds is 5 1/2 yrs and on lesson 62 level B rightstart. Along with posters in a similar thread he seems to remember how to do something one day and then forget the next but on the whole I can see he is understanding and progressing although we do often have to spend a few days on a lesson (eg adding 9's). This is fine, I know it isn't a race and one day it will all click. However I do worry about the lack of word problems in Rightstart. When I look at something like Singapore they mix addition and subtraction which we haven't covered and so unless you just go through picking out the odd question for him to do it is difficult to use (I can see this being less of an issue once subtraction is covered). Also they use the counting method of addition and so have little pictures of birds etc to count. So what do you do, just rightstart until level C and then supplement? Are there any rightstart type worksheets out there which use word problems rather than just basic addition type questions. Or is it fine just to keep drilling the addition facts? I personally don't like flitting about between programmes and love the script in RS so would find it difficult to try and do a lot of matching up between several different courses. This is the problem with HE, anytime not spent teaching is spent worrying that you are forgetting to teach something lol! Writing is my next issue but that is a another whole thread!!!!!!!!! Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 My personal opinion is that I wouldn't supplement unless my child was lost/stuck/not getting it with the current program. If everything were going fine, I wouldn't see the point of supplementing. That said, I have considered Math Mammoth as a supplement for my son. Not yet, as he's hanging in there with RS, but I won't be surprised if, at some point, he needs some extra practice (he requires much more drill and repetition than my daughter does). The nice thing about Math Mammoth (aside from the fact that it's extremely inexpensive) is that you can buy only what you need; for example, you can buy ONLY first grade addition. I used Singapore with my oldest child, who is now 14, and I was not impressed. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Well, 5.5 is still preschool age for lots of kids, so I would not worry in the slightest. You are right, it's not a race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siloam Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Stephanie, RS does have word problems, they just do most of them orally between the student and the teacher. At this age I wouldn't overly worry about it. After you finish level B and subtraction has been introduced you could easily start Singapore Word 1, then just do one Word problems book a year. I think multiplication via addition is also covered a bit in the Word 1 book, but by the time you get to those problems you would probably be far enough into level C to have also covered it there. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gratefulmother Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I find that with Rightstart my children have such a fantastic understanding of mathematical concepts that there are several times a week that problems come up in our everyday life that if given time they can find the answer to on their own. I don't usually give them the answer they are looking for if it is something I know they can work out. We have this little routine where they ask for the answer, and I use the dumbest sounding voice I have and say, "I dunno!" They think it is so funny (not sure if the humor translated into the post), and it encourages them to keep trying to work it out. For example, yesterday my daughter wanted to buy a coat that was more than I was willing to spend. So, she was going to kick in some of her own money to cover the extra. Then she wanted to add in a scarf. She did all of the work in her head to come up with how much of her own money she would have to use with the coat and scarf together minus what I was paying. She is 7 1/2 and on almost the exact same lesson as your son. Also, a couple of times with Rightstart when I could tell she wasn't fully comprehending just because her brain wasn't there yet, we have taken breaks and just done review pages from Singapore. Then in a month we try it again, and she has always been ready to move on at that point. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I did RS B when my dd was K5 and remember thinking the same things. :) The word problems turned out NOT to be a big deal, so I wouldn't sweat over that. In retrospect, I wish I had focused more on nailing those facts and getting them fast. I did, but my dd is just one of those who doesn't nail things, ugh. We played the games and did drill sheets, but when I get there with my new little ds, I'll probably also have him do the Flashmaster and Abeka Tests and Speed Drills book. I think I'll also run another basic workbook, say from BJU or something straightforward, alongside. Definitely by level C I'll add that on. You just have to wing it with B, because you have that developmental issue (how much time it takes, the amount of writing). But the main thing in B is to work on the facts and getting them fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieF Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 Thanks that is really helpful! I think that because RS is used by such a variety of ages it doesn't allow for those developmental issues with younger children. I suppose I wish that it had more drill built in so that I don't get worried when he needs more time on an area than they advise. I'll have a look at some of the books you mention with a view of supplementing in the future. Thanks! Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I made a point to really do more games from RS, and now I feel ds gets his "drill" time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieF Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 That's a good idea because the games are considered great fun by ds! Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Three Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 ooops! my mistake! off to start a new thread... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Bee Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 What's worked well for us is using Horizon's math workbooks, just one semester back. Another words, you are more that halfway (about lesson 53) though RS level B, so I would order Horizon's 1st grade book 1. This has worked for us and my son thinks its fun. I to wanted some type of workbook for my son. I will say that I am on level A though, but it is working out great! Horizon's is advanced, so I know if he is keeping up well with their workbook we are well on task! Hope this helps, just my .02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieF Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 yes it does help! I would like more workbook type work to add in and that is a good idea to order 1 level behind! thanks! Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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