MUS vs Singapore, Please help!

[Aletheia Academy]

We're using manipulatives and games for K, but I am having trouble deciding which program to use when first grade begins. I know I don't want to use both.

My understanding is that MUS focuses on mastery of one basic skill before moving on to the next, which I like. I also like that the workbooks are black and white- not too distracting. And I like the manipulatives.

I don't know too much about Singapore, but I hear that a strength of this program is in teaching concepts. I have heard some trepidation about teacher-friendliness. I do not consider myself to be a strong "math person."

Supplementing either of these programs with inexpensive workbooks, say MUS with Key to... or Spectrum is an option, but I don't want to try to use two complete programs.

Feedback from those who have used either, or both, of these programs as to their preferences and reasoning would be much appreciated.

Warmly,

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Singapore is also a mastery type of program. Each unit in the books focuses on a given topic or skill. The textbooks have color, but the workbooks are all black and white so they definitely aren't distracting. While the program doesn't call for specific manipulatives, we often pull them out to teach a new concept or when one of the DC is struggling with a concept.

Singapore does do an excellent job of teaching math concepts, which is why I chose the program. I happen to love math, but I don't think you would need to be a math person to teach the concepts. You can always purchase the instructor guides for the different levels or just post your questions here when you need some help.

HTH

[mcconnellboys]

I use them both. Of the two, I think Singapore is the best at teaching mathematical thinking. If you want to add in manipulatives, you can purchase the teacher guides to go with their lower level maths and these have ideas for adding in all sorts of stuff.

Regena

[Surfside Academy]

I have been very satisfied with MUS. My ds who is 7 has almost finished with Beta. I like the fact that MUS focuses on one subject before moving on to another. If my son really "got" the lesson right away, we simply moved onto the next lesson. I also like having he the DVD. I have my son watch each lesson with me.

I do supplement with Singapore's Challenging Word Problems. Each book is fairly inexpensive; about $8/book.

[Cadam]

I use MUS for my base curriculum and then about mid Beta we add the Singapore challenging word problems . I am math phobic and I really needed the teacher training avalible through the MUS dvd's. I would have been totally lost if I started with Singapore.

I suggest getting the demo dvd (http://mathusee.com/requestform.html) from MUS to see how things are done and then go look at the Singapore books before you decide which program to go for. you will know which program is the best fit for you, they are very different. Singapore spirals once each year (hits each topic once in a year), MUS does a topic for a whole year and gets through all topics by Algebra, other math programs spiral multiple times in a year like Saxon and Abeka. So, it depends what you think will be the best fit for your kids.

[strider]

Singapore is not mastery (as MUS is)--Singapore is more spiral in approach.

My dd is not math oriented, and she really struggled with Singapore by about 3rd grade. Singapore teaches mathematical thinking--for her, it became too theoretical and not concrete enough. MUS is much, much more concrete, both in their heavy use of manipulatives and in the way things are explained in the video.

I am not math oriented either. Both my dd and I have found MUS to be a God-send, quite literally. We hit a real wall with Singapore.

I suspect my son would do fine with Singapore, though, because he IS math-oriented, so the logic-stage thinking that is introduced so early would be fine for him. However, we are doing MUS with him just because I prefer both kids to do the same program. As a math-oriented kid, it almost doesn't matter what program I do with him--he has a sense of how numbers work that is instinctive.

[LG Gone Wild]

My ds is very literal and Singapore was a terrible fit. Plus, kids can do lessons independent of you.

[Aletheia Academy]

Your feedback has been very helpful. I do like the idea of supplementing MUS with Singapore's Challenging Word Problems. :p

[Sue in St Pete]

We also supplement with Singapore's CWP. I was not aware of Singapore when we started MUS in K. Around 2nd grade, I had heard so much about Singapore, that I tried to supplement with the entire program. I failed. Ds had learned addition the MUS way and was not interested in learning addition another way (Singapore teaches it more vertical than horizontal). I didn't think it was necessary to teach metric measurement in 2nd grade. And, Singapore was so different that the way that I had been taught, that I found it difficult to teach to ds. BTW, I have a degree in math.

I started to supplement with Singapore's CWP after Delta. I wish I had started earlier. They are challenging. They are great!

Here is a link to a post with my detailed review of MUS:
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=939

I really believe that both programs are solid. What is best will be based on your child's learning style and your teaching style.

Good luck!

[nutmeg]

My ds is very literal and Singapore was a terrible fit. Plus, kids can do lessons independent of you.

My very literal 10yodd does Singapore independently! :D

Sounds like you can't go wrong with either choice. We have used Singapore from the begining and love it. My eldest just started 6b today. *sniff*