Looking to start Singapore Math. Grade 1...Advice? Tips? FSOT?

[kannondicarpo]

Would love any BTDT tips? Advice?

After talking to a friend who uses it she suggested it would work well for my advanced K'er.

Would love to hear your experience with it?
What should I look into buying and if you're selling, I'm in!

Thanks mamas. We are halfway through our first year of HSing and it's gone great so far!

[blondeviolin]

I started Singapore 1a with a bright Ker. My advice would be to go as slow as necessary, pause to practice concepts that seem difficult (in 1A most kids need practice with making ten to add past ten).

The Home Instructor's Guide will make the program easier to use. And, in that vein, the Standards Edition has a better HIG.

C rods are GREAT manipulatives that make the program more hands-on. Check out educationunboxed.com for ideas on how to teach with rods.

[blondeviolin]

Double post.

[HeatherlovesCDs]

I'm using 1a and b this year with my 1st grader. I would imagine as long as you go slowly and make sure your child has mastered things before you move on it would work fine. I am another one who likes the instructor's guide even though I know many say you don't need it. We do because the text book is all pictures with no explanation and the workbook is just practice. Also, the guide gives you hands on activities to do. We are enjoying the program.

Have you tried their K program though? Is your child advanced beyond that? On their website, they have placement tests you can have her take. We did K, but I looked at the test myself to see what my son would know and make sure he was ready to move on. Maybe you could have her take that. If she places in K, you could skip what she already knows. Or, at least you will be sure she is ready for 1a.

Good luck!

[tibeca]

We opted to use K from my 4yo and work through it, as I didn't want to miss anything by skipping ahead. We really just skimmed through the K a and b books. We skipped some pages when it was clear she got the concepts. We will be moving on to 1a soon. Much of it is review at first, so you may be ok.

[kannondicarpo]

Thanks mamas.

Heather, I didn't realize there was a placement test. I think we'll do that. He (that's ok that you were referring as she ) is really bright in math and so super dee duper bored with his Kindergarten book. I will update!

[HeatherlovesCDs]

Oops! I'm really bad about remembering the gender of the child in the OP. I try to just say things like "your child" or whatever that is completely gender neutral so I don't get myself in trouble. Sorry!

The placement tests are on their site and you can download them. I think it's a nice feature. I'm planning to use them to make sure my child has mastered each book before moving to the next. Let us know what you think.

[kannondicarpo]

I will do that.

And seriously no worries. I know you have 6 but I can't ever remember their ages!!!

[kannondicarpo]

I had him take the 1A exit/placement test and he scored an 84%. It says that 80% indicates that they know the material well enough to move onto the next level. That being said, I want to give him a really solid foundation so we are still going to work through 1A before moving onto 1B.

On a side note: I am one proud mama.

[HeatherlovesCDs]

Originally Posted by kannondicarpo I had him take the 1A exit/placement test and he scored an 84%. It says that 80% indicates that they know the material well enough to move onto the next level. That being said, I want to give him a really solid foundation so we are still going to work through 1A before moving onto 1B. On a side note: I am one proud mama.

Good for him! Mine could have gone straight to 1b this year, but I still put him into 1a. We have gone through it very quickly skipping a lot of the early stuff about number relationship and such and are almost done. I'm glad we decided to go through it because now I'm sure he has the foundation of how to do it "properly" so that it won't be a problem later that I didn't teach him to do it certain way. He has a math brain and just pops out with knowing how to do something and surprising me. So, there is stuff he knows that he wasn't "taught." Just this week, I am realizing how important the number bonds are and I didn't place much emphasis on them in K. I would have "messed up" a little if I'd skipped that.

Anyway, great job for him! I'm glad to hear the update.