After two weeks with Abeka math 4 this year I was ready to pull my hair out.  My ds was frustrated and was taking a hour to do one page.  He's really good at math, so I was at the end of my rope.

After much prayer, counsel, and research we decided to switch to Singapore Math.  We've used it for two weeks and I'm so happy with it.  Most importantly we took the placement test.  I opted to start with 3A even though he did well on that test.  The 3b test showed things I knew he wouldn't get and I wanted to get a feel of the Singapore method without adding frustration again.  I wanted him to have some victory in math. 

I knew it was going to be a hit when I bought it.  I bought the Home Instructors Guide as well, which I recommend.  It suggested some manipulatives.  When it said number discs I thought of Poker chips.  Any math that my ds can use poker chips and dice will be a hit.  I didn't want to buy a whole base 10 set, so I improvised.  I used legos for part of it and a Rubic's cube to represent 1000.  Now I know the Rubic's cube doesn't have 1000 pieces but it sure feels that way when you try to solve it!  Ds loved it and got the point. 

The other day we were doing a science experiment for the planet Mercury.  It involved a bowl of flour and rocks, so i thought outside might be a good place to do it.  It was.  After the experiment ds wanted to put flour all over his body and his clean himself off with the hose.  Why not.  So we did math orally and he got them all correct.  It was great.  It was a hoot watching him slather his legs with flour while trying to figure out 4 digit numbers.  Definately a priceless moment. 

So singapore math is a hit with us.  Now I just wonder if there are any health benefits to being covered in flour.