"That's funny right there, I don't care who you are..."
Posted on 12/19/2008 7:30:16 AM PST by bboop
Does anyone use Singapore Math? I have a 4th grader (I am tutoring) who is floundering in school. He seems to be solid in all his math basics, but cannot grasp the SM. I am ordering the books so I can help him; should I order the Teachers' Books too? Do people like SM? WHY???
I used Saxon, but my daughter uses Singapore with her little girl. Pinged her for you.
Thanks.
I have not seen/used Singapore math, but in general, it’s helpful to have solutions guides for math when you’re tutoring. Now, fourth grade math is pretty easy and you probably don’t need the teacher’s answer key, but it will save you time to look up the answers versus calculating them yourself.
Interested in this discussion as I’ve heard good things about Singapore although I learned with Saxon myself.
You can find textbooks HERE. I'm not personally familiar with SM but, it seems to me, that there's nothing unusual about it and, if you have been tutoring math, you should not need a teacher's book but that's just my opinion!
Pretty traditional approach to math actually, based on Singapore’s lesson plans. you can look it up on Wikipedia.
Singapore math is more like, "ruvee rong time two dollah you!"
What ever happened to Chisolm Bop?
We have used SM and loved it. If your 4th grader is behind, don’t jump into level 4. He’ll be lost.
Singapore math is very solid traditional math instruction, and I would not hesistate to use it. If your child is having problems, you might also consider Math U See, which is manipulative based. That program is excellent and might be an alternative - at least temporarily - to Singapore or Saxon.
Please bear in mind that “understanding in math often DOES NOT precede the ability to do problems. Math facts, for example, can easily be memorized like a game and the understanding can come later.
My approach has been to have our children memorize the math facts through 12’s so well that they can do the flash cards at lightning speed. Then we start Saxon 5/4. We never used calculators through algebra (calculators do not encourage “higher level thinking” as the fraudulent “math educators” claim. Calculators before pre-calculus will tend to make your child a math cripple).
The main problem with math is parents (unless your child in in a government school. Then the problem is the government school and the parents). Parents often aren’t disciplined and don’t realize (this comment is mainly for the non-engineers/nonscientists/nonmathematicians) that the math they were taught (calculators and all) was completely wrong in its approach and that they need to relearn the material with their children. This relearning can actually be very rewarding with the right attitude.
I think he retired to Palm Springs.
badabingbutseriouslyfolks.
I think it was made obsolete by Ebonics. Sounds like it had a groove, though.
Actually, I vaguely remember seeing something that sounded like that but which I wouldn't have dared to try to spell on the Today show back before the media was hardcore toxic insanity like it is, and before I had many better things to do than watch it. I think I was 14.
Do you remember how it worked?
Can you hum a few bars? /sarc
Laugh if you want, but Singapore has a higher standard of living than the U.S., in part because their kids do rings around ours in math.
achilles200 is totally right (except for the govt school hit) - DON’T start at anything but step one. My youngest is in 3rd (in a public school) and the teachers held a “training night” and it is just a different way to do math and will make sense once you do it - I thought it was really cool. It does involve manipulatives - our teachers made their own using 11x17 paper and colored poker chips. I will see if I can get a copy of their handouts and post here.
Thanks. The school has just switched to SM, this child is lost in the transition but seems very solid in math basics. I agree, they do NOT have to understand concepts, just memorize. Understanding must be built on solid memorized facts.
I tutor kids in fancy privates who have used calculators through 7th and 8th grades and can NO LONGER multiply. Disgusting. We did not use a calculator, either, in hs. I agree, it makes them cripples.
You are SO BAD. hardihar.
I used the original Singapore Math (Singapore version) with my son about nine or ten years ago. I know they have a Singapore Math (US version) now. I don't know what the differences are between the programs, but I can tell you about the Singapore version we used.
Unlike any other math program we've used, Singapore Math teaches you how to think mathematically. Most programs use rote learning or various methods and formulas to get answers, Singapore Math teaches children how to use logic and reasoning to arrive at the answer. Singapore teachers do use some memorizing of simple problems, but starting at the fourth grade level, Singapore goes into teaching algebraic problems. The method they use to solve them is different from any teaching method I've seen used, and I have gone through quite a few math programs.
Your student could be having problems because this system is so different. When I used Singapore with my son, I actually sat down and learned their method of teaching these problems. Then I spent extra time making sure my son understood the concept. We even used some of the supplemental books to make sure he really understood what he was doing. After that, he had no problem working through the books on his own.
They were just starting to produce teacher's books when we used the program. So I can't say how much help they are. I do know that many people wanted teacher's books back then. Hopefully, the books have information on how to instruct the various concepts they want you to teach.
While using Singapore Math, my son stayed three to four years ahead in math, and I loved the fact that he was able to learn math reasoning concepts not taught any where else. I used the 4th through 6th grade Singapore Math program. I switched to a different program for 7th and above because the upper level programs had almost no support such as solutions to extensive problems or methods to teach the complex concepts of the higher grades. The 7th through 10th Singapore Math program was equivalent to our 9th through 12th courses. Their 11th through 12th program would be more of a college level program here.
And exactly WHAT is wrong with good old fashion readin’ ritin’ & rithmatic??
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