Singapore Math Grade 1 - Dimensions Math or Primary Mathematics?

[@JM-kr6qf]

My eldest starts 1st grade in the fall and being a former high school math teacher too🎉 I've been super hesitant to choose a math curriculum bc nothing seems comprehensive and rigorous. I've been leaning towards Singapore and now hearing from fellow former math teacher gives me confidence that this is the one❤ thank you for this video!

[@blessedhomeschool]

I'm so glad it was helpful! I'll be using this again with my youngest when he hits first grade...I've got another year but I'm already looking forward to it 😂. Thanks for watching!

[@abbe1abbe156]

We use dimensions Math. My daughter started with the pre-K at 3 years old. She's 7 years old now She loves it because she can do it on her own and rarely needs parental assistance. We're using it with my youngest who is 4 years old and she also loves it. It's a great open and go curriculum.

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thank you for sharing and watching!

[@jnz8767]

I’m debating whether to send my child to public, private school or homeschool. Praying for the right path. This was a great review of this math program thank you!

[@hannamaria5618]

If you’re homeschooling, consider your own energy levels and ability to really enjoy tutoring your kid and whether you can bond with them while doing this. Also consider whether you can offer extracurricular activities and social experiences where they make lots of friends. Public and private - they’re both schools. Private means that they can kick kids out if they want to, should mean small class sizes, and that the children come from more privileged backgrounds. If you want to protect class privilege, have your child spend time with other privileged kids so they can pick up the etiquette and network. If you want them to mix with a wide variety of the public, send them to a public school. However, some private schools offer a different pedagogy, like Montessori. This can really affect how kids learn and empower and benefit them. Public schools can vary wildly in quality depending on funding, resourcing, and class sizes. Good luck!

[@blessedhomeschool]

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Natasha Crain, but she’s an apologist who recently did some great podcasts discussing public, private, and homeschool (she has experience with all three). Maybe worth a listen, I thought they were good! Also, check out my recent video on why I love homeschooling (and some of the other mamas who contributed to the playlist). Lots of good encouragement there! Keep praying about it, I remember telling myself if homeschooling didn’t work out, we could always make a change. We never looked back! So thankful for this time with my kids!

[@mreega4812]

What's an apologist?​@@blessedhomeschool

[@blessedhomeschool]

@@mreega4812 Natasha Crain is a Christian apologist, basically her books and podcasts offer a defense/answers for the Christian faith. Hope this helps!

[@katrinakim4145]

This was such a wonderful and in depth review! Thank you!

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thank you for watching!

[@Simplehomeschoollife]

Thank you. This was extremely helpful!

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thank you for watching!

[@tiffanylandes2345]

Weve been using Singapore Math (1A) through My Father's World this year. It is *very* thorough, almost to the point of overkill. A week on the same concept with many problems each day. We were both bored. I've started only assigning 1/2 the workbook problems. That has helped, but I'm still not loving it.

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thank you for watching! Definitely sounds like a change might be in order 💜.

[@Terripain]

Did you find anything less monotonous?

[@thesingaporemathspecialist]

Hi there! We are a group of Singaporeans empowering teachers, parents, and tutors around the world to teach Math the Singapore way. We are on a mission to debunk myths of Singapore Math and help your child excel in Math! We are just starting out! And we will be discussing on the most wanted topic - Number Bonds. And we are committed to help the homeschooling community for free!! No hidden costs, just knowledge for all!!

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thanks for stopping by and watching and sharing!

[@thesingaporemathspecialist]

@@blessedhomeschool Love your content too!! Keep giving to the homeschool community!!💪

[@teachvida]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@blessedhomeschool]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching!

[@bearybusymom1338]

Great video! Thank you! Did you compare the home instructors guide to the teacher guide for dimensions?

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunately I don't have a Teacher Guide to compare, but I did look at some of the samples online! The Home Instructors Guides are much more thorough with instructions and how to teach to just 1-2 kids at once. Looking at the samples online, Teacher Guides are much more geared to questions that involve group work, peer discussion, etc., there are more group activities suggested, and there is not quite as much direction given for the instructor. I think that the HIG's also give more reasoning to the answers, especially in regards to asking follow-up questions or providing extra help to your kids. Hope this helps!

[@bearybusymom1338]

@@blessedhomeschool thanks so much! This is very helpful!!

[@fsk760]

I’m really hating Singapore math as an instructor. Missing TGATB. Second grade. I was really excited to begin but it’s very annoying so far. I will continue giving it time.

[@blessedhomeschool]

There are so many good choices out there; maybe next year will lead you to a new option that will be a better fit 💜. Thank you for watching!!

[@NazTheGreat]

A BIG like for 'getting that outta the way' 😁 Still will watch the video 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@blessedhomeschool]

Haha thank you!

[@kerensaclarke2996]

Thanks for your thorough explanation. What online program did you use for your other kids?

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thanks for watching! We used BJU Press for a bit, and now use CTCMath for my older kids. The plan is to use dimensions with my little one still in another year or so!

[@oliviarinck5886]

My four year old daughter is halfway through dimensions KB. Weve been really enjoying the prohram but ive been unsure whether at the end of it should we move to dimensions 1st grade or move to a more "traditional" kindergarten program first since shes not yet 5. Thanks for this review!

[@blessedhomeschool]

I think if she completes KB you could definitely give it a try! You could always take it a little more slowly if needed since she is younger...just adjust as needed :) Thanks for watching!

[@MandyKastendieck150]

What are your thoughts on the Teacher’s Guide vs the Home Instructors Guide?

[@blessedhomeschool]

Great question! I have only looked at the Teacher's Guide for 1A online to compare, but I DID use the Teacher's Guide for Kindergarten because they don't have a HIG (and from what I understand, I don't think they will make one; it was pretty easily adaptable to a homeschool environment). For homeschooling, I think the HIG's are much better than the Teacher's Guides because they are much more thorough with instructions and how to teach to just 1-2 kids at once. You could certainly adapt a Teacher's Guide to a homeschool environment, but looking at the samples online, they are much more geared to questions that involve group work, peer discussion, etc., and there is not quite as much direction given for the instructor. I think that the HIG's also give more reasoning to the answers, especially in regards to asking follow-up questions or providing extra help to your kids. Hope this helps!

[@MandyKastendieck150]

@@blessedhomeschool Thank you!!

[@doubleg8960]

how would singapore math work for a child with autism? First year homeschooling 2nd grader. I feel I would have to start him on 1A. TIA for response, I will greatly appreciate it

[@blessedhomeschool]

I definitely recommend checking out the free placement tests they have on their site, just so you make sure you have a good placement!

[@katrinakim4145]

May I ask which online math program you used once you had three kids in elementary level math?

[@blessedhomeschool]

Absolutely! Once my little one was born, we began using BJU Press Distance Learning Online. We used that for about 2.5 years, and mid-way through last year we began using CTCMath. We are going to stick with CTCMath through the upcoming school year for my older kids, and we'll see how it goes after that!

[@angelamoreau4777]

Thank you! If we were to switch to DM from PM after first grade, do you think there will be any gaps?

[@blessedhomeschool]

Do you happen to know which PM you have? (There are four editions of Primary Mathematics: PM U.S. Edition, PM Standards Edition, PM Common Core Edition, and PM 2022 Edition). If it's Primary Mathematics 2022, there might be gaps, but if you have any other edition you should be fine!

[@Crazy_Stories_YT]

Hi! thanks for this awesome video, would you suggest a 2nd grader who is switching to singapore to begin with 1A? I feel MFW 1st grade math didn't prepare her to enter singapore's 2A. I think she would be way behind and want her to learn the singpore way. Thanks!

[@blessedhomeschool]

Great question!! If you don't mind spending the money on 1A, it might be worth starting there...maybe she just moves through a little bit more quickly. The do offer free placement tests, so you might also start there: www.singaporemath.com/pages/placement-tests Good luck with everything!

[@Preservestlandry]

15:49 This is the same method as Common Core, that everyone supposedly hates. The diagrams with the numbers in the yellow circles, that's how my son learned CC math. But if they call it Singapore, it doesn't suck anymore, I guess.

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thank you for watching! I do believe CC standards were modeled in part from the Singapore method, since their methods have been so successful. I just found this article which I think gives a helpful explanation of the similarities/differences: argoprep.com/blog/k8/singapore-math-vs-common-core-whats-the-difference/

[@rubymorrison106]

I saw a news article that was saying that kids are struggling in math because of common core so when they switched to traditional math, the scores went back up. A teacher was talking about how cc was bad. So now I’m confused.

[@blessedhomeschool]

Thank you for watching! Honestly, it’s hard to say (there are a lot of variables). In the end, you will want to find which method works best for your kids. I think Singapore is a solid approach, and really helps build understanding. One big problem in public schools (which I saw as a math teacher) is so often concepts are taught “to the test”, so kids might be memorizing a certain procedure to be able to pass a test, but the understanding isn’t there 🤷‍♀️. Again, this really can vary a lot by kid! Some do completely fine without all the manipulatives and things, and a more traditional approach.

[@rubymorrison106]

@@blessedhomeschool we are in limbo right now. My daughter is in first. She was doing CLE math and it worked for her when she did it, but it was just a lot. So last week I switched to master books and she liked it but I feel like it’s missing something. I can’t quite put my finger on it. When I showed her a sample page of Singapore and horizons math, she liked both of them hir she said she liked the way Singapore looked more. I feel like I’m starting at the very beginning with her and hate myself for forcing her to continue to do CLE math. We spent so many days at a stand still, fighting to get through it and now I’m just like, I choose peace.

[@blessedhomeschool]

Yes! Peace and relationships before the curriculum 🙌🏻. I am sure you are doing a wonderful job. We can’t change the past right, just give yourself grace and do the next right thing 💜. Singapore is a great curriculum. You could always give it a try for the rest of the year to kind of test it out and see how it works for you guys!

[@TitaAguirreGarcia]

Are the printouts book needed?

[@blessedhomeschool]

I think you could get by without them, but may want to find those resources elsewhere (for example, if you already have flash cards or want to print your own mental math practice, or use an app…then you could do that instead). This package just kind of wraps it all up neatly in one place.