Help me place my Singapore order ??

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

I am going to be ordering Singapore Math today (per Dh's request) for my DS 6.

What all should I get? What manipulatives did you find helpful? Come on gals, spend my $$ for me! :D

We will start right at the beginning with 1A.

[Mom2GirlsTX]

Hi there,
I think you will really enjoy using Singapore, I wish I had started it with my dd at that age. We started with Saxon which she hated and then switched to Singapore. We had manipulatives from purchasing everything under the sun for Saxon, but we did not end up using them for Singapore.
IMO you would only need the 1A Primary Mathmatics Workbook and also the 1A Primary Mathmatics Textbook. If you want manipulatives, any type of of those clicking blocks is great, or you can use beans, pennies, etc.

If you want to spend some extra money and you allow your children time on computer, both mine really like the Rainbow Rock CD that goes along great from 1A thru 2B. HTH!:)

[BarbaraL in OK]

At that age, we started with SM 1a textbook, regular workbook, and household items for manipulatives (measuring cups, tape measure, ...). We had a set of Cuisenaire rods, and that came out from time to time, but I don't remember if it was related to the SM lessons/concepts or just for "fun."

By SM 1B, I switched from the regular workbook to the Extra Practice workbook in order to slow my son down and make sure he got more practice. This year, in level 3, we switched again, to the Intensive Practice workbook to give him plenty of practice AND some more challenging problems as well. This was all a matter of paying attention to what he was doing and thinking about what he needed. Singapore Math has so many choices for workbooks -- you can really make it work for your child's needs.

Good luck, and enjoy!

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

Thank you ladies. My DS is a natural at math, and we just really feel that Singapore will serve him well!

I think we'll go for purchasing some unifix (snapping) cubes...I already have a base 10 set, abacus, counting frogs, balance, judy clock... ;)

So I don't need the HIG for this level at all? I mean yes I am sure I can teach it! lol Just didn't know if the 'lessons' in it were useful, etc....

[BarbaraL in OK]

I never got the Home Instructor's Guide, so I have no idea what I was/am missing :)

[Mom2GirlsTX]

We never had the Home Instructors Guide either, and we are now on 4A...
I promise you don't need it for 1A...LOL

[Jenny in Atl]

All we used was Unifix cubes, an abacus, and a clock with movable hands. Singapore stresses mental math so you won't need a ton of extras.

[Lorna]

All we used was Unifix cubes, an abacus, and a clock with movable hands. Singapore stresses mental math so you won't need a ton of extras.

I would second this. Just get the textbooks and workbooks, some unit cubes. A clock would be useful. You really don't need much else. The programme does most of that for you.
We also had some wooden rods which went in a box. Each were different lengths from one to ten. On one side there was a dot for each amount of length and on the other side the number of the length. If you arranged them top to toe in the number bonds (say 7+3, 5+5, 2+8) then they fitted in exactly. I found the knowledge of number bonds really essential later on when adding numbers more than nine. Of course one could use unit cubes for this but they really helped make things clearer in the early stages.
I bought mine in IKEA toy department (of all places) several years ago. I am sure on must be able to get something like them now though.
Does anyone have any ideas, calling Hive Mind... ?:)

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

Ok, you have all have been very helpful!

I ordered 1A and 1B: textbooks and workbooks
2 sets of Unifix cubes. :D

[M in Canada]

I think the TM gives you more informatio on what to practice. Forexample when counting by certain numbers should be introduced or other ideas for mental math time. I would probably not think f doing some of the things suggested on my own so I do find it useful.

I also got the extra practice and intensive practice books for each level. So far I am on 2A.

[Alana in Canada]

the home instructor's guide. Once you've done 1A, see if you think it will be helpful. It certainly was indispensible for 2A and 2B, especially when it came to extra practice.

btw, I made all the manipulatives we've used, the most helpful of which is a numbered deck of cards (skipbo or uno cards) a "table" with columns marked 1,'s, 10's and 100's on it, poker chips in three colours (for level 3 add 1,000's to the chart and something to stand in for a a different colour of "poker chip")
I remember I made strips of paper, too, divided into ten spaces.

We also used egg containers and kidney beans--lots and lots of kidney beans!

[Closeacademy]

We are in 3a after taking a years break to do Rightstart B & C.

What I have found helpful:

1a/b--a balance scale, small objects, the Rightstart Abacus, 100's chart

Things that are helpful further down the road starting in 2a:

Base 10 set, Place value cards from Rightstart, Magnetic Fraction bars, Cuisinaire Rods, a regular scale, ruler with centimeters, a meter stick, and liquid measuring container with liters and mililiters.

I have had the HIG and they do have lots of ideas and mental math pages but I didn't think that they were worth the price. And you really don't need them for 1a/b.

Have fun this year. Don't rush through--be sure to stop and memorize your facts along the way, take your time and do some stopping if you encounter something that is hard, and have fun with the easy stuff.

Hope this helps.:)

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

You all are so helpful! I think I'll see how 1A goes...w/out the HIG and maybe see if I can the the HIB used/cheap for 1B so I can get a look see! ;)