How Singapore Math has changed my life

Singapore Math has changed my life. Gone are the old ways of begging pleading, cajoling just to get some math, any math done. Now all I hear is, "Do I have to play with Lego?" "Can't I just do another page of math first?" Well, it's not quite true, but I can dream! Seriously though, Singapore Math is very good and it has reduced many of those struggles I have with my non-mathematician.

There is a book you work through with your child and a book your child works through on their own. This reduces the need for your child to hold a pencil so much. A big plus if your child doesn't want to write. The books are small in height, so sometimes there are only 2 or 3 questions per page. An advantage when in the old math book, doing one page a day was too much.

There are some interesting and not so common ways of adding and subtracting (and in the later books other things, I’m told). There's more emphasis on calculating in your head and less on writing down the workings. This is a bonus for both my struggling child and my potential mathematician.

Singapore Math was introduced into this country when Singaporean students came in number 1 in world math tests. Maybe it’s due to more than just a good math program, but it doesn’t alter the fact that it is a good math program.

The levels are 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b etc., two levels corresponding to one Grade Level, so you are only buying half a year's curriculum at a time. The levels don't correspond to the American Grading system, but then, what child corresponds to the American system? The good thing is, you go to the web site and print out a placement test to see at which level your child should enter this system. If they score above 80%, that level is too easy, so you try the placement test for the next level.

The minuses (just a few) are that they use the metric system and (oh dear, I have to say it) English spellings. But if your child can cope when asked to "colour", and realize that quarters and fourths are the same, then I'm sure they won't notice many other differences. Or you can buy the US version which is, in my opinion, not as good.

As for “me and my household”, when I started the books for my non-mathematician I then tested my mathematician, who tested surprisingly low because of his lack of knowledge of the metric system. So he's actually zooming through grams, kilograms, liters, milliliters etc. Now I'm about to start my Kindergartner. It seems ideal for both strongly and weakly mathematical children, and I’m sure all those in between.

You can buy Singapore Math from www.singaporemath.com, or from www.sonlight.com. Each level is $19 plus shipping, not including the teacher’s book. One of the books is non-consumable so you could use it with another child later.

All I need now is for my baby to have a few birthdays and then she can start Singapore Math too!