We are afterschooling math, partly out of the Singapore math curriculum, partly from some fun worksheets and partly following questions and interests on her part (and ours). I really like introducing new concepts with guidance from the Singapore math material.
DD has finished most of Singapore math 2B (each year is two books, A and B), so I'm going to buy 3A&B. But looking at their overview some concepts we've been talking about are in 4th or 5th level books. (co-ordinate grid and decimals are in 5th). Each set of textbook and instructor's guide for a year costs $60.
Experienced people, please help. I think I'll get the 4th level books for the geometry, but should I stick to working through the other topics in the suggested order? I've discovered that you do need to know multiplication facts to divide and that you need to be able to divide to manipulate fractions. So I'm inclined to think there's a method to the syllabus. But, with only x number of hours per year, maybe they just distribute things where they'll fit and hold off on some stuff until you need it for more complex things. Like, leave a co-ordinate grid until just before you're plotting x=2y and concentrate on telling time and calculating time intervals earlier because it's so useful. Or does co-ordinate grid mean plot x=2y, and not battleships? After all, they're using decimal notation in 2nd, but supposedly not learning it until 5th? And percentages are just 1/100ths, aren't they? So why are they in 4th or 5th?
I am hesitant to just buy them and jump in for two reasons; cost and my inability to tell when she's bored, tired, needs to apply herself or simply isn't mentally able to do something yet. I don't want to jump in with decimals and percentages if it will turn her off the idea. I'm also not a natural teacher and I get frustrated.
Can anyone help?
Last edited by Tallulah; 12/09/10 10:43 PM.
