Macrina Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 DS is 4.9 and is breezing through Saxon 1 at the speed of two lessons a day. He should be starting 2 in a couple months and so much of that is review in the beginning that I think it will go just as quickly. The catch is he has fine motor delays and limited reading skills so I do all the reading and 99% of his writing for him. Right now we focus on the lesson and then do about 5 problems from the fact sheet and 1-2 questions from the worksheet to make sure he's got it and then move on. My concern is that as he continues to advance that Saxon may not be ideal for him because of the amount of writing required, esp in higher levels. I use it for a few reasons A. it's what my own homeschooling mother used and she swear by it so I choose it B. it goes right up through high school C. it's well "scripted" so though even though I am not strong in math, as he gets better than me at it I will still be able to teach it D. I am using it for my DD and want to use it in the future with my other DD and so I'd like to be using all the same stuff with all three (in a perfect world right?!) That all being said- would it be wise to find something different for DS? I would still want a curriculum that went through high school for consistency in terminology and format and I still need something that holds my hand all the way through. I guess I am just getting concerned about the writing thing. He'll get better and better with writing but I expect it will always be something he loathes. He does all his math in his head, the lessons we do just teaches him the concept and then he runs with it. Saxon seems SOOOO worksheet focus for him. I really need some guidance! My Mum still swear by Saxon and isn't bugging on this one when it comes to advice for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesa Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Look into Singapore math or math u see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chai Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 IMO, using Saxon with a math-savvy boy will make him hate math eventually. Singapore is a great math program. It require a minimum of reading and writing. When my dd was younger, I wrote most of her answers down for her. You will need a plan for getting ds to start writing his own answers eventually, because you will probably meet with a lot of resistance. (Speaking from my own experience! :001_smile:) I would also recommend Miquon. This is a math program for grades 1-4, that requires very, very little reading skills. It is a discovery based program that your ds could do largely on his own. I used this in combination with Singapore and it was a great mix. You could easily just use one or the other program--but combining them, slowed my dd down a bit. It is entirely possible that your ds will speed through the early years of math and then slow down a bit. My dd went through the early levels very quickly, but she is now at the pace of one grade-level each year. (However, she does not love math, so she doesn't have a desire to go faster.) HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 It has enough practice but not too much for a kid who wants to move fast, plus there are high level supplements if you need them. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuovonne Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 As for the handwriting - what about getting a set of rubber stamps with the numbers on them, and then he could "stamp" the answers instead of writing them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macrina Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 As for the handwriting - what about getting a set of rubber stamps with the numbers on them, and then he could "stamp" the answers instead of writing them? LOVE this idea! I am finding the Singapore math website a little overwhelming and hard to navigate- can anyone tell me more about it? Because of the guidance when getting started from other been there done that hsing mothers this is the first thing we've used that isn't "working out" in a sense. Spoiled, aren't I? Feeling a little discouraged though :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn&charles Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I also recommend Miquon and Singapore. I had a ds who zipped through math too and didn't have very good handwriting skills. I often let him tell me the answers to his math problems orally until his writing ability caught up. I also 2nd the thought that if your son is math savvy, Saxon might not be the best choice for him. Bear is very math gifted and Saxon almost killed that. Thankfully we moved on. ;) I am finding the Singapore math website a little overwhelming and hard to navigate- can anyone tell me more about it? It might be easier to look at it here: http://www.sonlight.com/singapore.html Sonlight has home instructor guides that help with the hand holding part and they show you what you need for each grade as well as provide samples and a placement test. Maybe that will be less confusing than the actual singapore math website. (It is for me). Because of the guidance when getting started from other been there done that hsing mothers this is the first thing we've used that isn't "working out" in a sense. Spoiled, aren't I? Feeling a little discouraged though :o Aww, don't feel discouraged. Sometimes you think you have it all figured out and then find you have to tweak things. I remember happily starting Otter in MUS after the other 2 kids had used it and then finding it didn't work for him AT ALL (at the time) and having to scrounge around for something else. Every kid is different and just because it worked for one doesn't mean it will for another. Sometimes it's a blessing in disguise when something doesn't work out because you find something else that is a lot more fun! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Yes to Singapore and Miquon, even though Miquon didn't work best for my 8 yo it has lots of great things to offer. I found Saxon tedious to teach, and it was a poor fit for my dc, although my eldest stubbornly adhered to it until the end of 76 (she did ps until 8 and then we went to Saxon 54). Of course, these days when I tell my 10 yo it's time for Singapore Math, she starts singing "a pore math" so the puns do happen for at least some. We started off with work and text books, although I didn't need both for the first levels. We added CWP this year and I wish we'd been doing them all along. I haven't tried IP yet, but will next time I buy math books. What specifcally do you need help navigating Singapore with? btw, I swithed to Singapore thank to the old AL board (before this forum was set up) and have been very happy with that choice for my mathy dc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macrina Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 The Sonlight site is more clear, it's a start. But all I see for the "earlybird math" is KA and KB- does that include the 2A and 2B? The A's and B's confuse me!! And what/where are these supplemental materials? And what's IP and CWP? I am finding all of this oddly stressful! LOL! Usualy this sort of thing is fun for me- but I had JUST got comfy with Saxon. <sigh> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spetzi Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I tested ds when he was that age so we started SAxon 3. I wrote most of the work because his little hands couldn't write at the level he could compute. I tested him ahead and skipped much of the review. I still think of Saxon as a thorough course, but I'm glad I switched to Horizons. It moves quickly, I think there is enough review and there isn't as much writing. Once you get to Saxon 5/4 (the one after 3), there isn't a workbook. All problems need to be written out on paper. So my advice is not to expect too much writing. Completing the pages orally or having you write the answers is not bad (as long as you have the time.) I still do oral work w/my 1st grader. Why let weak motor skills slow down their brainwork? JMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 The Sonlight site is more clear, it's a start. But all I see for the "earlybird math" is KA and KB- does that include the 2A and 2B? The A's and B's confuse me!! And what/where are these supplemental materials? And what's IP and CWP? I am finding all of this oddly stressful! LOL! Usualy this sort of thing is fun for me- but I had JUST got comfy with Saxon. <sigh> It is true that many with mathematically gifted kids chose to go with Singapore. I, however, am a Saxon holdout and have used it with all 3 kids. I like the program and am able to modify it easily to suit each child's needs. True it isn't the best program out there for any of them but it is a good, solid math program. Some of the modifications we have done, depending on the child...skipping the beginnings of each book (the review parts that are for a child coming off a summer of no learning), doing fewer of the review problems per lesson, skipping lessons in which the material is already known, etc... For my dd (6yo) who is currently in Saxon 54, we skipped some of the review chapters in the beginning of the book that I knew she had mastered, I write out the problems for her and she does the work and fills in the answers, and I do not have her do every problem in the chapters (just select a few of each kind). I did add Singapore's Challenging Word problems and Primary Challenge Math (http://challengemath.com/primarygrade.htm) this year just to slow her down a bit. I am not looking forward to doing Alg with an 8-9yo. LOL Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Add my voice to the Miquon and Singapore chorus. And get Cuisenaire Rods (necessary with Miquon) so if he can't "write" the solutions he can still show them with rods. That's what my son did before he could write (and still does sometimes as he's transitioning to writing). And, I'd argue that not sticking with one constant methodology and nomenclature (especially early on) will actually be a net positive as opposed to finding a "consistent" program (Saxon) to take you all the way through. We're loving MEP too. http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) IP is Intensive Practice. It has puzzle/challenge type problems that my daughter really enjoys. You can see pages from these Intensive Practice books (and just about any book!) on Rainbow resource: http://www.rainbowresource.com/pictures/030211/1232435090-1005414 Looking through the pages online there should give you an idea what level you need to start with. My daughter likes math a lot more now that we've switched to Singapore. She was getting bored with MUS. (Not because she's ahead in Math, just because it was not fun for her in that format. And, while she's slow with math facts, she's good at math puzzles, so Singapore is a good fit for her.) Edited January 20, 2009 by ElizabethB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Add my voice to the Miquon and Singapore chorus. And get Cuisenaire Rods (necessary with Miquon) so if he can't "write" the solutions he can still show them with rods. That's what my son did before he could write (and still does sometimes as he's transitioning to writing). And, I'd argue that not sticking with one constant methodology and nomenclature (especially early on) will actually be a net positive as opposed to finding a "consistent" program (Saxon) to take you all the way through. We're loving MEP too. http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm My ds used the rods with SM for a while, too. Forgot to mention that I did a lot of ds's writing when he was littler as he's a lefty and also was a bit delayed in fine motor skills. I used HWT for working on that, but that's not math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macrina Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 My ds used the rods with SM for a while, too. Forgot to mention that I did a lot of ds's writing when he was littler as he's a lefty and also was a bit delayed in fine motor skills. I used HWT for working on that, but that's not math. Yeah, DS is a left too and has been in OT for two years. We do use HWT :) So I still don't know what to do. My Mum thinks I should buy one of everything and then decide and the resell :) She also says I should relax!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 We use Singapore for my math wizzes. We used number stickers or I took dictation for him until he caught on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phathui5 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 The Developmental Math series doesn't have much reading in it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 http://www.singaporemath.com/Homeschool_s/60.htm This is the page on Singapore's site that explains the differences in the programs and what to choose. I agree, the site is not really intuitive and there is a lot of information. There are three versions of Singapore math. The original - Primary Math, 3rd Ed. which isn't geared toward a U.S. audience, the updated - Primary Math, US Edition, and most recent, Primary Math, Standards Edition, which includes some things taught in US schools. It is updated to meet the guidelines for California public schools but contains all of the Singapore stuff from previous editions. Because it is new it does not have all of the extras written for it yet (Home Instructors guides only go up to level 3 for example). The 'A' and 'B' just means semester one and two. 'B' follows 'A'. I love Singapore. It has helped my remedial students understand how and why, to think mathematically, and moved my good math students far forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Singapore has been an outstanding fit for my dd. She's 5 now and does not have any trouble with the writing, but I still try not to let it get to be too much for her. Sometimes I'll write the answers for her or just go through things orally, especailly on days she has a lot of writing to do in other subjects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneC Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 We use Singapore here too. I do about 50% of the writing for all three of my kids but we love it because there is so little repetition. Even my dd who doesn't really like Math is thriving with Singapore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Singapore is a good solid program. Perhaps you need to work on him starting to write some answers. Like he writes the first one and you complete for the first week and next week he writes the first 2 and you complete, etc. I am working on this with my DD who is also mathy, a lefty, has vision problems and isn't very co-ordinated. Right now she is writing half and i am completing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cillakat Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 i'd switch to singapore *right now*. it's excellent wrt getting them to break down problems so that they do have that skill when, later on, it becomes necessary. Singapore is fabulous.....both of my kids are succeeding with it. My 7 yo and my 9.5 yo are in 4A. The 7 yo zoomed through 2b, 3a and 3b *so far* this year. (omg - where are we headed???) My 9.5 yo did parts of 3A, all of three B and now is just starting 4A. Love love it. K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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