Singapore Math?

[Kim in Appalachia]

Do you need the teacher's guide? A friend wants to switch to this program. I usually recommend having the teacher's manual, but I have no idea about Singapore.

Thanks.

[bethben]

I have the home instructors guides from Sonlight. I rarely use them. They do have some nice practice in the back for mental math drills. They have games to help the child learn the concept. They also include a day to day schedule. We are in 3A right now. I am math minded, so I usually have no problem explaining the problem or finding the right answer, BUT, if you need a little extra help teaching math, I would start the instructors guides by at least level 3. The textbook pretty much explains everything you need to know. I would tell your friend to try it out and if she feels like she needs a little extra help to teach the concepts, then get the instructors guides. I've heard they are more helpful as you get further on in the course.

Beth

[nutmeg]

I made it through 6b just fine without them.

Of course, I'm not sure if I missed anything, not having them. :)

[runningirl71]

I do use mine. I never bought them for lower elementary, but starting with 4A they have been useful. I like to go through the notes for the lesson to make sure I'm covering all concepts and the reason behind what is being taught. Also, the guides tell you when to use certain manipulatives at what times. There are paper manipulatives in the back that can be copied, and there are also mental math drills. Plus, I use the schedule located in the front of the book. I have the math game cd and it will tell me which games coincide with which lessons.

It really isn't NEEDED but it makes me feel like I'm covering all the bases. I'm not really math minded either, so this is why I am comforted by it, I'm sure!:)

[PhunandFonics]

I started using them around 4A as well. I found them to be very helpful because there were times I had trouble simplifying *my* thinking! I could look at a problem and solve it algebraically, but I couldn't for the life of me do it in simple math! I also began using more of their examples around level 5 just because I found that my son needed more direct instruction. He was getting everything correct, but he wasn't always understanding what it was he was doing. Using the HIG kept my life much simpler and I was able to teach on the fly much easier!

[Lynn in WI]

Yes, around 4A or 4B is when I started using them. I think they're especially helpful for reminding you when topics were introduced and how much your child should have mastered before moving on.

And, of course, having the answers is EXTREMELY helpful--especially for the word problems. Saves tons of time for me.

[kokotg]

I have them but rarely use them. I always mean to look through them and get ideas for extra activities and whatnot, but I generally don't get around to it. We're doing 3a and about to start 1a.

[Darcy from LWM3B]

I would definitely recommend it past the 2nd or 3rd grade - if only for grading.

I would say not mandatory for 1st or 2nd. :)

[mcconnellboys]

There's just a multi-year answer key for the books. Some of the lower levels do now also have a "home instructor's guide", which provides info on extra drills, games, manipulatives, etc., that you can use along with the programming, but unless you have a kinesthetic learner, I don't really think you need them.

Updated to add: Well, in looking at the other posts, I guess they now have out the guides for the entire elementary series. I haven't seen the ones for grade 4 and up yet.....

[Geo]

The Home Instuctor's Guides (sonlight) are not absolutely necessary, but are a nice feature to the program. You never know when you might want to refer to it. I agree with the other poster: the mental math drills are a nice addition...as well as an answer to an occasional word problem (level 4 & up). The singapore "teacher's manuals" were for teachers in a school setting. If $ is a concern, just keep an eye out for them on the FS board here or
homeschoolclassifieds.com
ebay.com
vegsource.com
You can often find them for around $12ppd
Definitely worth the price.

best intentions,
Geo

[AudreyTN]

We're ending 1B and getting ready to start 2A. (I've also got another near the beginning of 1B.)

I found the HIG invaluable for my "math challenged" daughter. I usually don't look at the HIG until we get to something that I know she will need extra help with. Then I will start doing the activities suggested until she gets the concept.

My ds6, on the other hand, teaches himself just by looking over the text before doing the workbook.

It's definitely nice to have "just in case"...

[Elaine]

I haven't bought them yet, but I will if I think that I need to. I did get stumped with the fractions as math is not my strong suit, especially fractions. I kept drawing that stupid pie!;)

The Keys To books are good for supplementing and explain the concepts well, if you get in a jam.

[Niebski]

I used the Home Instructor's guide for 4-6.... I liked the schedule, the answers, and helping out when I got stuck on a word problem. I have 4 and 5 guides for sale (though I can't post on the sale board yet).

Sue