Singapore as supplement: Extra Practice vs. CWP

[Another Lynn]

We're using MUS. We've just finished Gamma and so I was thinking of adding something from Singapore level 3 to use over the summer and into next year. I'm torn between Extra Practice or Challenging Word Problems.

Any thoughts???

Thanks!

[nmoira]

We're using MUS. We've just finished Gamma and so I was thinking of adding something from Singapore level 3 to use over the summer and into next year. I'm torn between Extra Practice or Challenging Word Problems.It would depend on why you are wishing to supplement. The Extra Practice books are designed for kids who need more practice with problems than is included in the Primary Maths workbooks. The CWP books includes more challenging problems than those in the workbooks (or even in the Intensive Practice books). If your child is doing well with MUS, I'd choose CWP.

[Karen in CO]

Have you looked at the Intensive Practice? They have problems plus Word Problems. I haven't used the Extra Practice books, but I switch back and forth between the IP and CWP. I like the IP books because they have a variety of problems and good, hard word problems. I like the CWP when I just want more word problems.

[kpupg]

They are so different, it is hard to make a recommendation. What is your objective for this supplement?

Extra Practice is "more of the same" problems from the Singapore text/workbook.

CWP teaches word problem solving, which is far more than just arithmetic practice. Solving word problems is a whole skill set unto itself -- which is one reason most people use CWP up to a year behind the level of the regular text/workbook.

Karen

[Sue in St Pete]

We're using MUS. We've just finished Gamma and so I was thinking of adding something from Singapore level 3 to use over the summer and into next year. I'm torn between Extra Practice or Challenging Word Problems.

Any thoughts???

Thanks!

I don't have any experience with Extra Practice, but we've supplemented with Singapore's CWP for several years now. In fact, I just got help with the last problem in the last book - CWP 6. :D The Singapore Math forums come in handy every once in a while.

I have found it to be a wonderful supplement to MUS. One great example is when MUS teaches area and perimeter. They have the kids do a number of area problems, then a number of perimeter problems. CWP would give them word problems with part of the information needed to find the area, then ask them to find something to do with the perimeter or vice versa. It really challenged my son to know the difference between the two, not just repeat similar calculations. It takes multiple steps to complete the CWP. My son calls them evil. :eek:

[Reya]

We're using MUS. We've just finished Gamma and so I was thinking of adding something from Singapore level 3 to use over the summer and into next year. I'm torn between Extra Practice or Challenging Word Problems.

Any thoughts???

Thanks!

I have the WB, EP, Intensive Practice, and CWP now.

How about IP? It's got some word problems and is more "thoughtful" than EP or the WB.

[Another Lynn]

Thanks!

I think part of my problem *is* figuring out why I want to supplement. Mainly I want to give him a different perspective than just one. And I like that he would have extra practice with "peripheral" topics that may be covered in a different sequence in MUS (measurement, time, money, etc.) This makes me lean towards just getting the Extra Practice. Then CWP appeals to me because it would really test his understanding, challenge him, etc. But he's already not thrilled with increasing the number of MUS problems/day - maybe I better not give him something he might consider "evil" (ala Sue's son! LOL!) Plus a friend of mine mentioned that CWP is really logic stage stuff - so maybe I should hold off on that. But I've seen other folks say they wished they had started CWP earlier....

So...I'm really not sure yet. Guess I'll keep mulling it over for awhile... or get both or get Intensive Practice instead....

Thanks again!

[elegantlion]

I have not seen all the books but we are using the CWP for next year. When I first saw Singapore word problems my immediate reaction was these were problems with real world application. I see how they make my ds think about math the way I use it.

My ds also grasps math facts very easily, it's the word problems that make him think.