Singapore Primary Math Workbooks are consumable and should be used in conjunction with the textbooks. Containing the exercises the student does independently, workbooks provide the practice essential to skill mastery. A variety of exercises are presented, from pictorial to abstract. This workbook accompanies Primary Math Textbook 1B US Edition. 176 pages, softcover.

Asian students have consistently scored higher than American students on international math testing. Why? Their teachers use a method that introduces concepts in a different order than U.S. schools. They emphasize building thinking skills rather than leaning heavily on rote-memorization. Reading the introduction to Singapore Math, I found that the goal of the course is to guide your student to become a problem-solver, even in unfamiliar territory, and understand the why behind each newly mastered concept.

Singapore Math has created a homeschool version for American students. The easy-to-follow Home Instructor’s Guide introduces new concepts (from the Textbook) and provides activities for necessary reinforcement, using simple manipulatives and games. The Textbook is a springboard for meaningful discussion between teacher and student. This discussion is basic to the course. (This is a true parent-directed curriculum. It does not rely on a pile of work sheets or hours spent in front of a monitor with a “bells and whistles”-laden computer program.) Once a concept is grasped, the student can move on to the exercises in the Workbook. These workbooks offer children a sense of accomplishment before moving to the next level: “Wow, look at the problems you mastered!” Everything is explained in a step-by-step manner with a no-rush go-at-your-own pace approach, but a weekly “suggested” schedule with objectives is offered.

Singapore Math offers a free online placement test. Since the course is so reasonably priced, you can try it without a hefty financial commitment to see if it works with your learner.

Singapore Math will help you and your children face the often daunting world of “numbers” together and come out winners!

—Dean

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Krista (Oregon), July 07, 2010

We started Singapore in Kindergarten with great results. My girls made it through book 1A without much difficulty and then really hit a snag with 1B. It simply moved too quickly and they got very frustrated. I moved away from Singapore and had them work on Miquon and they started enjoying math. We then started mixing in Singapore but again, with poor results. I think my children must need a slower progression of problems to work. I am very disappointed, because there is a strong focus on mental math and story problems, which are wonderful. It was just too much, too soon. When my 2nd grader started Math her second year, she had completely forgotten her first grade math and we basically started from square one with Miquon (Miquon is great). My oldest then went through 2A & 2B and now I'm pulling them completely. The biggest snag was definitely the mental math, I'm not sure why, it was very logical. You can also purchase a teacher's edition if needed. My girls enjoyed the units on weight, measurement, money, and time and did those with ease. Part of me wants to continue on with Singapore, but decided to try Ray's because it's so much cheaper and also has a strong focus on mental math and story problems.

Reviewed by annwolin (Boise, ID), May 30, 2010

I have been using the primary mathematics books for grade 1 and I really like it. You certainly should buy the homeschool instructor guide. It gives you the activities to do along with the textbook and workbook. For example in book 1A they have card games to help the child learn their basic math facts. It teaches you how to word your lessons when teaching and it also gives you an idea of when to move along to the next concept. For example they recommend the child memorize the math facts up to 10 before moving onto subtraction since subtraction mirrors addition. I don't feel like I have to plan lessons...the activities are all in the book and we move through it at the child's pace. I have not had to do any additional lesson planning.

Reviewed by Angela (Palestine, Tx), February 22, 2010

Everything is "mental math". There is barely any review. We started 1st grade in Saxon and stopped Singapore mid year and went back to 2nd grade Saxon. Whereas Saxon has homework and worksheets everyday, Singapore may have 2-3 math problems. I need a teachers manual that tells me step by step, like Saxon, I don't have the time to come up with my own lesson plans. Singapore just basically gives you the lesson idea and you have to just run with it. Also, Singapore doesn't break the lessons down into daily segments. If you did a unit everyday, you wouldn't last thru the school year. But, if we don't do a math lesson everyday, my daughter forgets too easily, as math is not her strong suit. Basically, unless you have the time & energy to make your own lesson plans and extra worksheets & you have a gifted child in math, then don't try Singapore.

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