Third Grade Math

[AngelaVA]

Originally Posted by teamommy

Singapore isn't spiral.

I think that part is a deal breaker. 2 things happen with the mastery approach for her 1 - she starts to really loathe the topic we are supposed to master and have anxiety about it 2- she completely forgets whatever the last topic was that we supposedly mastered so when we get to the end of the chapter review, we are teaching it all over again only she embarrassed and upset because she knows she did know it at one point.

[DahliaRW]

I know people say Singapore is Mastery, and maybe I don't understand the difference. But yes, each chapter is a different topic. But the topics will repeat throughout the year and review sections throw in topics from previous chapters. So for example, you'll do a chapter on multiples of 2 and 3. Then later that year you do multiples of 4 and 5. Both times multiplication, but building on what was previously learned. So it's not like you do multiplication in September and the not again until you move to the next year, if that makes sense.

From their FAQ:

Do Singapore Math® programs use the incremental, spiral or unit-style approach?
The Singapore Math® curriculum does not conform strictly to any of the above approaches. The strong point of Primary Mathematics is the way basic concepts are presented. There is always more than one approach, and the workbooks are instrumental in making sure the information is generalized in the way desired. There are 'Practice' and 'Reviews' at the ends of chapters and sections. There is an effective mix of drill, word problems and mental calculation instruction connected to all important concepts. (Note: some of the drill is provided in the guides). While typical U.S. curricula touch on a larger number of topics rather superficially, Primary Mathematics presents the core math curriculum in a way that better prepares students for higher math.

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

You can view the scope and sequence here (all of their different series are linked here, I use standards because it is the one with the home instructors guide which I find essential): http://www.singaporemath.com/Scope_a...ence_s/120.htm

And here are some samples to look at: http://www.singaporemath.com/Singapo...ples_s/257.htm

(and to add, I don't use the tests right now, just the guide, workbook, and textbook)

[tazmom]

Originally Posted by AngelaVA

So if I buy the $180 manipulative kit and level C books for DD1 now and the decide to do the level A next year with my DD2 I will only have to buy the books?

I made up a shopping cart and it's still $80 cheaper to buy the whole kit even though I have a few of the items.

Yes. With version 2, you buy the manipulative kit once and have everything needed for all the levels. If you want to use the it with another child, you only need the books.

I tried Singapore with dd2 since it worked so well with dd1. She struggled with taking the concepts from manipulatives to pictures to paper in one lesson. It moved too quickly for her to really grasp the concepts and didn't have enough review to keep them fresh in her head.

[Tasmanian Saint]

have you considered MEP? It Dora you're description, except the worksheets are black and white, but they get the child to use colour. And it's free . It's made to be used with whatever manipulatives you have on hand.

Sent from my GT-S5300 using Tapatalk 2

[AngelaVA]

Originally Posted by Tasmanian Saint

have you considered MEP? It Dora you're description, except the worksheets are black and white, but they get the child to use colour. And it's free . It's made to be used with whatever manipulatives you have on hand.

Sent from my GT-S5300 using Tapatalk 2

I looked at it in the past but I found it incredibly confusing.

[HuggaBuggaMommy]

Originally Posted by teamommy

I think Horizons math meets your requirements, though I think it is also expensive if you get manipulatives.

I was going to recommend Horizons, too.

We love Singapore, but I don't think it's really what you're looking for.

[AngelaVA]

For manipulatives I have: snap cubes, counting bears, math u see blocks, cuisinaire rods, pattern blocks, geo boards, math wraps, various addition and subtraction flash cards, a judy clock, an abacus, 0-99 number cards, 6, 10 and 20 sided dice, and number stamps. Is that sufficient for Horizons or do they have proprietary stuff like right start? Does the publisher have a web site I keep getting hits on sellers like Sonlight and rainbow resource but not a web site from the publisher telling about their math program. Also, how does the fact that it's considered a Christian curriculum affect the content?

---------- Post added at 08:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 AM ----------

[teamommy]

It's published by alpha omega, the same people that make switched on schoolhouse. I do t know about your other questions. Maybe Cathy Duffy or other review site could help.

[AugustMama]

I'm doing Horizons 1st grade with ds this year. I got it from Rainbow resource and also purchased their manipulatives set that goes with it. You probably would have a lot of the manipulatives already. It does have brightly colored workbook pages. Sometimes it is a little easy and repetitive for ds, but that may just be him. AFA the Christian aspect, it is very small, ie. a verse at the end of some lessons and some character traits emphasized. I don't do any of that and you could easily skip it. I don't do all of the drill that is recommended either, just what he seems to need.

[AngelaVA]

My friend suggested Teaching Textbooks. The site looks good. I like that there are lessons and she seemed to like the sample one. Any opinions on Teaching Textbooks?

[Chickadee&Me]

We use JUMP Math. www.jumpmath.org
It's Canadian but other than certain measurement and money concepts it's pretty good.
It is teacher intensive but the teachers manual is free online (you just have to sign up)
The workbook is big print and black white with 1-3 pages per lessons but because the print is big and the problems are big it's really not much.
There are two workbooks per grade and they cost about $10 each

This is NOT Jump at Home (Jump at Home is a watered down version of JUMP)

[Kiara.I]

Oh, do you like JumpMath? My friend had to use it last year when she pulled her son out and decided to homeschool through the local public school district and she really hated it.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by AngelaVA

My friend suggested Teaching Textbooks. The site looks good. I like that there are lessons and she seemed to like the sample one. Any opinions on Teaching Textbooks?

Over at the well trained mind boards I've read that kids who use TT (for at least upper math) don't do so well on the SATs and such. I haven't used the program myself, but that concerned me. It does seem to be a bit "slower" in pace than some others. I'd look closely before investing to see what you think and compare it to others.

[tazmom]

I know lots of people who love TT. The idea of everything being independent, checked, and graded for me is really tempting. I tried the sample with my other dd once and she figured out how to cheat, so we don't use it. :/

[AugustMama]

We are using Teaching Textbooks right now with H. For the most part I like it. I have found that she does much better writing out her math work and this can be hard to enforce with a computer program, but it is getting better. I don't just put her on the computer and let her do it herself, though I listen with her and help her work out the problems. It is too bad we don't live near each other or I would let you borrow the first disk. It includes many review problems in each lesson which is vital to make math concepts stick with H. It is a bit "behind" other programs but I would rather her be working a bit below grade level and making progress than being stuck. I'm not too worried about upper level math yet.