Singapore preschool->Gr 1 question

[Greenmama2]

My DD is doing the last earlybird book (we use the Singapore edition, not US or Standards because we are in Australia so there are actually 4 books and she is doing 2B) and I was about to order 1A for her to move onto next when I noticed from the sample pages that it seems that is seems to skip back quite a bit (and I looked at the other editions too, they all seem pretty similar). Like back to number facts under 10 etc, no clock reading (until 1B), just introducing 10 - 20.
Has anyone used a Singapore preschool book (any edition) and 1A? Is it mostly review? Or am I being misled by the sample pages?
I thought Singapore was meant to be a program without much revision & this suits DD well. Especially as we unschool and only pull out these books when she asks. If I get her 1A and it's all "old" stuff she wont ever ask again.

[EllieJelly]

Someone recently did say that the primary is the same as earlybird, but that it moves at a faster pace. I remember because I was really disappointed to hear that! Maybe try the placement test to see if she's ready to completely skip over it?

[kgianforti]

We used the Singapore Earlybird books (the EB books we used are the set of two: Book A and Book B) and are almost done with Primary 1a. One thing, the samples are probably showing the "easier" stuff in Primary 1a. Yes, there is some "review" topics from Earlybird and we simply skipped those since my dd had already mastered them. Primary 1a really gets into the "heart" of the Singapore Way in terms of the "making 10" strategy to problem solve with the number bonds. Earlybird only made a slight introduction to number bonds.

If you do think that Primary 1a would be too easy, you can always try the placement test to confirm this.

[kgianforti]

Originally Posted by EllieJelly

Someone recently did say that the primary is the same as earlybird, but that it moves at a faster pace.

I don't completely agree with this....Chapter 6 of Primary 1a (US Edition) begins to work with the number bonds using the "make 10" strategy to solve addition and subtraction problems up to 20. This is not found in EB.

Yes, there are some chapters that are "review" - counting to 10, shapes, for example. But there is also a chapter working with number bonds more (EB was really an intro) then you move on to solving addition/subtraction using the number bonds. Also EB doesn't expect the kiddo to remember the number bonds to 10. Primary 1a is where you do that.

Keep in mind that Primary 1b also introduces addition/subtraction beyond 20 and multiplication/division. So by skipping 1a, you head right into this kind of stuff.

[Lisa1970]

I am using it. My son was definitely ready for 1B, and he already knew his addition facts off the top of his head and could do subtraction when counting and such, so he could have gone on to 1B. BUT, he hated it. It was too hard. I pulled back out the unfinished Earlybird 2A and 2B books and we are going to finish those off. Depending on how he feels, we might even go back and purchase 1A and do that one. I know it is repeat, but at this age, I do not want to stress him and have him hate math. I want to build his confidence and have him enjoy it.

I used Singapore Math all the way through 6B with my older children so I am not at all worried about him being behing. Honestly, public school 1st grade covers 1A material at best. 2nd grade would do 1B and some of 2A. 3rd grade is equal to the rest of 2A, all of 2B, and some of 3A. 4th grade would do the rest of level 3. Get the idea? When you finish 6B, you are ready for algebra. This means, if your child completes 6B in 8th grade, your child will be right on track for average American track. Remember, in Singapore, they do not start school until the year they turn 7. So 1A and 1B is for kids who are 7 yrs old. If your child completes 6B in 7th grade, they are equal to an accelerated or honors track American math. And if your child completes any earlier, they would be maybe called gifted track, but in our case, it made it difficult to find a school for our daughter to go in to as she did algebra in 7th and geometry in 8th. I don't care about the difficulty though, I would never hold a child back over that. It is the schools that needs to catch up, not my child that needs to be held back.

But the point is, you are doing fine and great. If your child is really eager to get on to 1B, the give her the 1A test and if she passes, move on. If she balks at math at all, just do the 1A. I am likely just going to do the workbook of 1A, not the text, since he already knows how to do it, if it comes to my having to do 1A. But he is capable of 1B.

I hope I have helped! Just PM me if you have any more questions or would like more help.

You know, you could just get the 1A intensive practice if they have that one. It is harder than regular.

[Greenmama2]

Thanks for the responses. I forgot to mention that I looked at the placement test and from what I know she can do right now (1/4 of the way through the last earlybird book) I think she would score 50-70%. the site says 70% and higher to give the next level up. I can only assume that by the time she's finished with earlybird she would score well over 70% on the 1A test. I wont give the test though, unless she asks for it. That tricky unschool thing

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2

I wont give the test though, unless she asks for it. That tricky unschool thing

I'm an unschooler and I've had no problem giving placement tests. I explain to my kids that in order to know what book would be at their level, there are some problems they can do to help decide. Just like we try on pants at the store before buying them to make sure they're the right size, with room for growth, it's a good idea to "try on" the Singapore books. Some of the problems might be too advanced, some would likely be easy. Then we'd know which book to buy. Since the desire for curriculum is coming from them, they've always been very motivated to get the book with the right level of challenge.

Miranda

[Greenmama2]

Thanks mmm. I know I could give it to her but I also know she hates being tested in any form - major perfectionist. She like reading eggs for example but avoids the quizzes at the end of every map despite easily scoring over 90% each time she actually does attempt one. I guess I'm concerned that asking her to do the test may lead to less enjoyment of activities like the Singapore books. Hmm, I'm leaning towards ordering 1B now so I can peruse it properly & I'll know by the time she finishes with the earlybird book if it's too advanced for her. If I'm still unsure then maybe I'll chat to her about the placement test.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2

Hmm, I'm leaning towards ordering 1B now so I can peruse it properly & I'll know by the time she finishes with the earlybird book if it's too advanced for her. If I'm still unsure then maybe I'll chat to her about the placement test.

That is what I would do. We just started 2A here and I think there is quite a jump from 1B to 2A, but 1A is really basic. We did skip it, but I was aware of what we were 'skipping' and if there was something to address, we did.

Amy

[ebethmom]

We're using 1A right now. It is very basic. I do like the way it emphasizes the combinations that form 10. I know there is a mathy term for that, but it doesn't stick in my math resistant brain.

We had the EB workbooks ready to go for Kindergarten, but dd preferred her Dora workbook. Her Dora book was published by DK. She got a lot of math practice in, and was motivated by the sticker rewards. I guess I should find those EB workbooks and sell them!

I used RightStart for ds. It wasn't a good fit for us. When we switched to Singapore, ds was ready for 2A. The test showed that he was between 1B and 2A. We tried both, and 2A worked better for him.

[Greenmama2]

Thanks, that's really helpful

[kgianforti]

You should ask on the Singapore Math website forum...

http://www.singaporemath.com/Forum_s/11.htm

There's a gal named Jenny (the moderator and she wrote the HiGs, I believe) that can be very helpful.

[Greenmama2]

Oh my gosh, there's a whole forum?! Wow. Thanks for the link.

[kgianforti]

Yes, and there's a board specifically for math pre-purchase questions.

[Greenmama2]

Wow, so I probably should have posted to that forum befor buying huh
I went ahead and ordered a couple of workbooks to look over before DD finishes the preschool one. I went with the SIngapore edition rather than either of the US ones because we are in Aus and the currency units are the same. So when I went to order I discovered that the SGP workbooks are split again so that there are not two but four. 1A parts 1 & 2 etc. Initially I thought that would be good as it might side-step the problem I was having deciding so I ordered 1A part 2 and 1B part 1. Ugh. Firstly I should have ordered the textbooks rather than the workbooks because I was hoping for the same colour picture format that DD has been enjoying in the preschool books and secondly the supplier sent me 1A part 2 and 1B part 2.
There's more but the 17 month old is playing in the cold ashes in the fireplace...

[kgianforti]

Wait a minute...are we talking about the same Singapore Math? This is the one we are using:

http://www.singaporemath.com/Primary...US_Ed_s/39.htm

And there's the standards:

http://www.singaporemath.com/Primary...s_Ed_s/134.htm

It has Primary 1a and Primary 1b - there are no "parts" with the workbooks.

The reason I asked in the other thread is because my younger K student has started 1b (we use the textbook, workbook and IP).

[Greenmama2]

No we are using the SGP (SinGaPore) edition (yet another edition, I assume not regularly sold in the US) because we are in Australia and the currency values match.
To update again we started 1A today (part 2 of the workbook) and Miquon. She likes both even though I wasn't expecting her to like the less colourful workbooks. I think it'll be fine although personally I hope she asks for Miquon more frequently just because I like it better. I'm just annoyed about having to order 1B part 1 again. I emailed the company and haven't got a response. Since Singapore wont sell directly when there is a local distributor my only other option is to order from a New Zealand company which adds exhorbitant shipping

How is your girl finding 1B? What is IP btw? I understand HIG but not IP.

[kgianforti]

Cool, I never heard of that...is it from the "regular" Singapore Math company?

We just started and it's easy right now. We are also working Horizons 1 as well. Actually, we put Singapore down to finish the first Horizons 1 book.

IP are the intensive practice books. They assume mastery of a chapter and give you even more challenging problems than the workbook. We are using the IP book instead of the workbook for the easier chapters.

Hope it all works out for you! They should send you the book without a shipping charge since they screwed up!

[Greenmama2]

Yes it is. Just after I wrote this I got an email saying they will send me the other book

[kgianforti]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2

Yes it is. Just after I wrote this I got an email saying they will send me the other book