SM 4A fractions [Archive] - The Well-Trained Mind Forums (aka Hive Mind)

Asma_08

11-12-2009, 06:30 PM

Quick question, what level of mastery of fractions did you expect when your child finished SM4A? I feel like this time the instruction is very rushed and shallow. You go from simple addition of the same denominator to multiplying fractions. Is there more review in 5A? I am trying to decide if we should stop here before moving on to 4B and just get some books to review fractions. He has a decent understanding of the basics but the multiplication of fractions used in the word problems just went over his head.

Thanks for any insight.

Asma

mamato3 all-boy boys

11-12-2009, 06:37 PM

We are 1/2 way through 4B; We've paused in our studies and used several sections of Key to Fractions that pertained to what we've covered in SM for additional review and practice. I felt it it was worth the extra time spent. I'll save the rest of the books for 5A, if necessary.

EKS

11-12-2009, 06:40 PM

We're using the Standards edition of 3B right now and when equivalent fractions was introduced it became clear that my son needed additional input before moving on. Since I just happened to have MUS Epsilon on the shelf, we did that for a week or so and then came back to SM. It was the right thing to do.

matroyshka

11-12-2009, 06:47 PM

After Singapore 4 it was clear my kids needed some fraction reinforcement. I gave them LOF Fractions to do over the summer, and that did the trick.

Blessedfamily

11-12-2009, 09:24 PM

The fractions being divided and multiplied in 4A (I'm looking at it now to refresh my memory) are only supposed to show that a fraction represents division in another form, and that "a fraction of" something is multiplication. Just those concepts.

Multiplication and division of fractions are taught in 5A, and I have to say the concepts are illustrated very well. I took a whole lesson just having DD draw grids the way they did to illustrate why mutiplying/dividing fractions is done the way it is. In fact, we had been doing LOF Fractions and stopped it to play with the Singapore diagrams.

LOF explained why, when diving fractions, you invert the second fraction and multiply. Singapore showed it with drawings. We convered that very well between the two.

Blessedfamily

11-12-2009, 09:30 PM

One other thing.... for us (may be diff for other kids) I didn't care for the way Singpore stretched learning of fractions over three years. I preferred the way LOF does it consecutively with less interruption. (To be fair though, that's easier to do in a topical volume like LOF, vs. a general math text like Singapore.)

We picked up the pieces of fractions from several levels of SM, and then went back and did the rest of the texts. That may be the way all regular textbooks do it (I don't know), but I didn't want to teach fractions in teeny bites over three grades. Your approach may differ, of course.

Asma_08

11-13-2009, 11:44 AM

Thanks everyone!! Just what I needed to know, so there is more fraction instruction in SM5, which is what I wasn't sure of. I like the idea of going through SM4 and reviewing fractions over the summer.

Thanks again!

Asma

AngieW in Texas

11-13-2009, 01:14 PM

My oldest needed to work through some of the Key to Fractions, Decimals, and Percents books in addition to Singapore. She did the first 2-3 books in each series.

My middle didn't need anything more than was in Singapore.

I dropped Singapore with my youngest just two weeks ago. Now she's working for 25 minutes in a different Key to book each day and working for 25 minutes in Basic college Mathmatics on Fridays.

Karin

11-18-2009, 11:31 PM

My middle dd did MUS Epsilon with it, and then part of Key to Fractions. Ds loves fractions, so he's doing them in CWP, the rest of Key to Fractions and he's going to do LoF Fractions once he masters his multiplication facts. If he really wants to do more, I may let him watch MUS Epsilon and do the tests since we already have it. I don't mind the way SM covers fractions, but do like to do at least 2 math programs at that age. However, my middle dd did keep forgetting the rules to multiplying and dividing fractions with all that interruption, so ds is going to keep doing them on the side even though he's now doing decimals in SM 4B. My eldest, otoh, has a mind like a stainless steel trap for that kind of thing and had we done SM when she was at that level (we didn't know about it yet) she would have been the kind of dc who didn't need to do anything else.

Blessedfamily

11-19-2009, 12:18 AM

Oops! Asma, I just realized you might be using a different edition than me. We use the Standards Edition. I'm not sure about the US.

Asma_08

11-19-2009, 10:46 AM

Oops! Asma, I just realized you might be using a different edition than me. We use the Standards Edition. I'm not sure about the US.

No problem! I am using the US edition but its similar to what you described. I think there is much more with multiplying fractions in SM5 which is what I was hoping for. I definitely going to look into Key to Fractions.

Karin

11-20-2009, 12:01 PM

No problem! I am using the US edition but its similar to what you described. I think there is much more with multiplying fractions in SM5 which is what I was hoping for. I definitely going to look into Key to Fractions.

Yes, there is quite a bit more on fractions in SM 5. We use the US for the workbooks. SM 5 is the hardest level, IMO, based on one child so far.

Blessedfamily

11-21-2009, 10:49 AM

Yes, there is quite a bit more on fractions in SM 5. We use the US for the workbooks. SM 5 is the hardest level, IMO, based on one child so far.

Are you saying you think SM level 5 is even harder than 6? Because I"m finishing level 6 in the Standards Edition now, and I would say the same. Level 6 did take the processes a bit further, but the real work was done in level 5. It is definately the toughest to me.

If you meant something else, than I digress.:001_smile:

Asma_08

11-21-2009, 07:23 PM

Are you saying you think SM level 5 is even harder than 6? Because I"m finishing level 6 in the Standards Edition now, and I would say the same. Level 6 did take the processes a bit further, but the real work was done in level 5. It is definately the toughest to me.

If you meant something else, than I digress.:001_smile:

Ohhh, you guys are making me nervous. I am actually debating putting 4B aside until next year and just do extra practice and fraction reinforcement. What makes SM5 so difficult, what are the math concepts that are focused on?

Asma

Blessedfamily

11-21-2009, 08:09 PM

Ohhh, you guys are making me nervous. I am actually debating putting 4B aside until next year and just do extra practice and fraction reinforcement. What makes SM5 so difficult, what are the math concepts that are focused on?

Asma

Level 5 really starts to get into pre-Algebra topics. Frankly, I'm only doing Pre-Algebra to allow dd to mature. SM 5 & 6 have actually cover the material. Many kids do LOF's first 2 books concurrently with SM 5/6.

Don't worry though, SM explains it so well. Use a 2nd book like something from "Key To" if your dc needs reinforcement.

Level 5 covers decimals, more fractions, percentages, ratios, rate, data analysis (mean, mode, average), coordinate graphing, geometry topics, Algebraic expressions, approximations, and applies those topics in solving word problems.

Asma_08

11-22-2009, 06:31 AM

Level 5 really starts to get into pre-Algebra topics. Frankly, I'm only doing Pre-Algebra to allow dd to mature. SM 5 & 6 have actually cover the material. Many kids do LOF's first 2 books concurrently with SM 5/6.

Don't worry though, SM explains it so well. Use a 2nd book like something from "Key To" if your dc needs reinforcement.

Level 5 covers decimals, more fractions, percentages, ratios, rate, data analysis (mean, mode, average), coordinate graphing, geometry topics, Algebraic expressions, approximations, and applies those topics in solving word problems.

Thanks for the info! Well maturity is a big issue here, and I definitely don't think he would be ready for those concepts in the next six months. I definitely plan to slow down next year, I wonder what else I can add to supplement. Anyone use those Critical Thinking Skills books for math, do they complement Singapore well?

Blessedfamily

11-22-2009, 09:20 PM

Primary Grade challenge Math is good. Your DD can do the easiest levels, and then the more challenging levels as he goes further into SM.

I bought the book and waited to use it with dd because she picked up another complementary math. Well, by the time I got around to it, she had outgrown the book, and had to go to the regular Challenge Math. Timing is everything around here.

Karin

11-24-2009, 12:36 PM

Are you saying you think SM level 5 is even harder than 6? Because I"m finishing level 6 in the Standards Edition now, and I would say the same. Level 6 did take the processes a bit further, but the real work was done in level 5. It is definately the toughest to me.

If you meant something else, than I digress.:001_smile:

Yes, for my dd SM 5 was harder than SM 6. SM has a lot of review, although there were a few challenging things in it.

Laura Corin

11-24-2009, 01:44 PM

Karin

11-25-2009, 12:03 AM

With Hobbes went from 4A to LOF Fractions - it was a very nice transition. We were leaving SM anyway, to follow a programme that is more like that used in UK schools, but the LOF was a nice text to use after 4A.

Calvin went from 4A to 4B and I do think that his fractions education was not solid. He did another programme that went over the basics again and then finally (third time lucky) did LOF Fractions. He does fine now.

Laura

This is great to know. Ds just started SM 4B, but I would like to add LoF Fractions in January, but wasn't sure. Ds enjoys fractions, so I thought I'd do both since I plan to have him continue with SM through 6B because my middle dc needed a number of times through fractions to retain all of the rules, although my eldest didn't.

kpupg

12-02-2009, 01:25 PM

I love Singapore, but yes, that section did seem to really zoom over things too quickly. We added in Key to Fractions at that point. LOF Fractions didn't yet exist back then, or we might have gone with that. But, yes, I agree with the others that some supplement is a good idea.

Also, if I'm remembering rightly, PM 5 & 6 both include lots of review of the whole fractions/decimals realm.

Karen

Karin

12-04-2009, 12:24 PM