Difference between Singapore and Miquon?

[beckington]

Could someone please explain to me the difference between Singapore and Miquon math and why you would choose one over the other? I'm a non-math person, so break it down for me, people! :) This is for a 7yo unschooled boy with no real formal math experience who is showing an interest in 'doing math'. He has shown some natural aptitude for maths (which he gets from his dad, not me!) but gets frustrated easily. Thanks!

[moominmamma]

Singapore is sequential and clearly organized. Miquon is a sort of smorgasbord of grazing opportunities. To effectively administer Singapore, a parent merely needs to turn to the next page. To effectively use Miquon, it's helpful for a parent to gain a big-picture understanding of the whole program.

Singapore does clear "teaching" of concepts. Miquon instead sets up games, activities and exercises which create the conditions where children "discover" the concepts.

Singapore does not use manipulatives in an integral way. Certainly manipulatives are appropriate, and commonly used alongside the program, but it does not rely upon them. Miquon relies very heavily on the use of cuisenaire rods as a basic foundation of the program.

Both programs promote strong conceptual understanding. Both introduce and integrate all four basic operations earlier than typical. Neither program includes much drill or repetition.

Hope that helps!
 

Miranda

[beckington]

Miranda, thank you so much for your detailed response! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond myself! I've borrowed the Miquon Lab Notes from a friend and already have an old Singapore 1a so I've been trying to compare the two, taking into account what you said. I'm still not sure which to do, if either. I like the discovery aspect of Miquon. I really want him to understand math, not just be able to pass tests, which is how I went through math as a kid.

I also printed out your cuisenaire rod booklet and think I might try that with him to start. We borrowed some rods from a friend. Hopefully he'll find the games fun. I was also looking at Khan Academy today and he wanted in on the action so he watched a segment on addition and was doing double digit addition into the hundreds in his head within minutes. Way to go Khan! Not bad for a kid with no formal math teaching, I think.

I think we will go with the cuisenaire games and Khan for a bit and see how he does, and if this interest continues. I don't want to scare him off with a formal program!

Thanks again! Much appreciated! :)

[Shantimama]

A lot depends on the learning style of your child. I homeschooled my children when they were younger and two of them did very well with Singapore and the third one thrived with Miquon. 

[hsmamato2]

 I used Miquon for 2 kids-both very different types of learners,it is WONDERFUL!!!! Singapore was sort of....meh. We tried it after we finished Miquon,b/c it seemed similiar,but it wasn't the same. I love that Miquon is fun,yet teaches so much more ,advancing quickly so that both my kids finished the 3rd grade workbooks (there's 6 total,2 per year from 1st-3rd grade)

    then they both started Saxon math 7/6 (that's 6th and 7th grade level) and had no problems understanding it. (they aren't geniuses,Miquon just prepared them to do it easily)

    So if I had more kids, I'd be buying more Miquon workbooks for them!

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by hsmamato2 

    then they both started Saxon math 7/6 (that's 6th and 7th grade level) and had no problems understanding it. (they aren't geniuses,Miquon just prepared them to do it easily)

    So if I had more kids, I'd be buying more Miquon workbooks for them!

I agre that Miquon is a great program. I'm just not sure I'd characterize Saxon 76 as a 6th and 7th grade program. It's more similar to 5th grade where I live. And there a number of things that are covered in 4th grade here (like multi-digit division, and the algorithm for multi-digit multiplication) that Miquon doesn't cover. There would definitely be some gap-filling required in order to move into a traditional 6th or 7th grade program. We did Miquon early on, then moved to Singapore (starting at the 3A or 3B level) for a year or so to fill those gaps before I felt they had really reached a 6th / 7th grade level.

Miranda