singapore math questions new question added

[Red Pajama]

I'm homeschooling my twin boys for kindergarten this year. They are doing well. We've got a variety of math manipulatives, such as unifix cubes, pattern blocks, base 10 stuff (the unit cubes and 10 rods.  Need to get 100's blocks), coins, and judy clocks.

Their math skills so far: counting by rote to 100, skip counting 10s and 5s, simple addition and subtraction, place value, telling time to the half hour, and a basic understanding of coins.  I need to work on standard and nonstandard measurement,  skip counting 2s, and practice more with money.

I'm looking at adding singapore math, as I've read great things about it. I don't know if I should buy the kindergarten B book, or move into the 1A.  Since I'll be buying two, I'd rather not make a mistake and buy the wrong thing.

Can someone give me an idea of what's covered in the kindergarten vs first grade books?  what would you recommend based upon my assessment here?

Thanks for your help.

[inky leeuhhh]

we use the 1a book right now and its mostly so far been simple addition and subtraction. i think it sounds like your kids are doing great! hopefully someone more experienced with singapore can give you more help :)

[moominmamma]

I vote 1st grade. We bought some Singapore KG level books once for one of my kids ... as a distraction for a 3- or 4-year-old when older siblings were doing their math work. They were very basic. Bigger/smaller, longer/shorter, counting, addition to 20 (usually with pictures), subtracting by crossing out 5 of the 8 balloons and counting how many are left, that sort of thing. They sound more than ready for the first grade books. 

Miranda

[kgianforti]

I would go with 1a as well.

[Greenmama2]

If you poke around the SIngapore site you can find a placement test. I haven't had DD take it, just read through it and noted what she would probably have got wrong. You could try that (or have them actually take it if you think they would enjoy it). In any case they sound more than ready for 1A

[AAK]

Go with 1a.  You can go slowly if you want, adding in games and hands on math.  You might get 1b at the same time.  Sometimes I would bounce between the two.  If we were needed a break from arithmetic and wanted to spend time on graphs or whatever.  Look at the content samples available on the website and you will see what I mean.  Money is in either 1A or 1B but not both.  Same with graphs, time, measuring, etc.  

Amy

[Lisa1970]

If you get 1A, make it last a long time and supplement. I have found 1A to be equal to public 1st grade and 1B to be equal to public 2nd grade. Part of 2A would normally be covered in public 2nd grade (but unfortunately, my son's 2nd grade teacher last year covered none of 2A content). And then 3rd grade would take you through 2B.  In Singapore, they do not start school until 7 yrs old so you need to basically think of the numbers on the book as being one grade higher than the American grades. Regardless, when the child finishes 6B, they are ready for algebra which is equal to American grade 9th grade average track. 

For my first grader, I stupidly skipped over 1A and now am wondering if I should go back and buy it. Right now, we are just reviewing math facts and working on things like that. We started 1B and it is not bad, but it is clear he needs a better foundation in math facts before moving on anyway. Reality is, a normal 1st grade scope and sequence would not cover more than what is in 1A.

I hope that helps! Oh, my older children did Singapore Math but they are past it now. They are both in Algebra 2.

[Lisa1970]

Honestly, for kinder, I would skip the books and spend the year skip counting, skip counting backward, trying to learn place value, attempting reading clocks, and basic math facts. Don't forget reading the calendar and learning days and months, number of days in a week, month, year, hours in a day, minutes in an hour, seconds in a minute, measuring things, etc. There is so much fun to do. Oh, and the biggie...practicing writing their numbers. This is the hardest one, but most important. Most kids will reverse numbers and letters to some extent to about 7 yrs old. I have my son practice on the chalk board, drive way, patio, dry erase board, and occassionally, I will print off a worksheet for this online.

[Lisa1970]

Don't forget learning sorting and patterns. You can get cutesy little workbooks they might find pleasant at the stores, book stores, target, etc. And there are computer games for this stuff too.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Lisa1970 

If you get 1A, make it last a long time and supplement. 

I think this is one of those YMMV issues. One of my kids started 2A at age barely-5 and has continued to move through the program at a reasonable pace, entirely motivated by her own appetite for math. (She turned 8 yesterday and is working in 5A and 5B.) I had another kid who did 2A and 2B at age 6 in one quick plunge, and then wasn't ready for the rest of the program until almost age 10, at which point he finished everything through 6B. Different kids, different courses through the program. I do agree that supplementation is a great idea. Not necessarily with another curriculum, but with "real life math" and "living math" and games, projects and explorations. 

Miranda

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by Red Pajama 
Since I'll be buying two, I'd rather not make a mistake and buy the wrong thing.

Have you looked at Math Mammoth at all? It has similarities to Singapore (both are based on Asian math teaching methods), and it's available as an ebook, with all teaching included, so you could buy it once and print it as many times as needed.

It doesn't have a K level, but it sounds like you've already covered all the recommended prep work for 1A.

[Lisa1970]

My point was that they will not be behind if they do not complete the level. We all have kids at different levels. I have no clue what YMMV stands for. I just know a lot of people get worried when their child does not finish things fast enough.
 

Originally Posted by moominmamma 

Originally Posted by Lisa1970 

If you get 1A, make it last a long time and supplement. 

I think this is one of those YMMV issues. One of my kids started 2A at age barely-5 and has continued to move through the program at a reasonable pace, entirely motivated by her own appetite for math. (She turned 8 yesterday and is working in 5A and 5B.) I had another kid who did 2A and 2B at age 6 in one quick plunge, and then wasn't ready for the rest of the program until almost age 10, at which point he finished everything through 6B. Different kids, different courses through the program. I do agree that supplementation is a great idea. Not necessarily with another curriculum, but with "real life math" and "living math" and games, projects and explorations. 

Miranda

[moominmamma]

Totally agree about the different kids, different levels thing. YMMV means "Your Mileage May Vary." Sorry about that.

I just didn't want the OP to assume that needed to slow the program down. Not all kids, even young ones, will need that. What we're both saying is not to go by grade-level-years (Singapore doesn't match up very well with North American grade-level-years anyway) but by the response and readiness of the child. 

Miranda

[Red Pajama]

What is the general opinion of if the home guide or teacher's manuel is needed for this level? I'm fairly certain I'm getting two  1A workbooks for two students. Can they share a textbook?  Do I need the answer keys or teacher's guide? I'm a teacher by trade, if that makes any difference in your answer.

Thanks again.

[kgianforti]

I made it through 1a without the HIG (Home Instructor's Guide - this one is meant for HSing) but I decided to use it for 1b. I didn't feel that I was teaching it properly and I'm terrible at explaining things sometimes. A lot of extra activities are included in the HIG as well as some drill pages at the end. It also has the answers to the textbook and workbook. This is for the US Edition. We will switch to Standards when we begin 2a.

[Red Pajama]

Is the main difference between the US edition and standard the use of metrics?  or is there something else? 

[kgianforti]

This is a very nice breakdown about the differences of the versions on the Singapore website. I want to go with Standards because I have heard the HIG is MUCH more user friendly and I will need that the farther we move along in SM.

http://www.singaporemath.com/FAQ_Primary_Math_s/15.htm

Check out that link!