I've never even heard of it! Thanks for the info! :)

My 8th grade daughter has only been home from public school since November and has always loved math. We haven't found a good fit for yet at home yet so now that I am planning next year for her freshman year, I'm struggling with deciding on a math. We started out with Saxon Algebra 1 and she hated it but I also think she wasn't quite ready for Alg 1 even though she was taking Alg 1 in public school. We added Life of Fred which she loves but obviously it isn't strong enough to be used alone. I have heard that Teaching Textbooks is a fun but weak program for kids who are strong in math. Is this true for Algebra 1 as well? There's a possibility her field of study in college could be math related and I really want a strong math program, but at the same time she is so easily bored, she would really enjoy something like Teaching Textbooks. She will be using MFW Ancients next year for 9th grade and we will be repeating Alg 1.

I pulled 2 of my kids out of PS in 1st and 4th last year. In school I KNOW they were required to keep their desk tidy, put their book bags and books where they belong, be respectful of others trying to learn (no interrupting class, using a lower voice, etc), staying on track, and keep up with their supplies (crayons, pencils, etc). However, now that they are home, they are totally opposite. They never put their things away when they are finished and then spend half the day the next day looking for it when it's time (or never having glue, scissors, or a pencil when it's needed). I am going broke replacing these things (I have bought dozens of pencils, at least 10 packs of crayons, and at least a dozen gluesticks in the two mo we have done school). They never put their work where it belongs so I can never find it at grading time. They interrupt class. They work on craft projects (not relating to what I'm teaching) most of the day. They don't listen to instructions and I have to repeat a dozen times or make them redo something. I have provided many tools for them. First I gave each their own binder, organized it for them including a zipper case with everything they needed (scissors, glue, pencils etc), a box/child for their finished work. This was a flop and never got used. Then I made a place on my desk where all finished work goes...never got used. I have our bookshelves meticulously organized by subject and child so they know exactly where to return their things when they are finished. I find them on the floor, other rooms outside the school room, in the wrong places on the bookshelf, or just thrown into a pile of books. I tried getting pencils with their names on them so I could closely monitor who was 'taking" the other person's pencil and loosing it. They were all lost in no time. I finally decided to keep a pencil box on the middle of the school table at all times so it wouldn't be hard just to drop their pencil or crayon in the box when they were finished, but they can't even do that! There are constantly crayons and pencils all over the floor and never a pencil in the box when it's needed. We have made behavior charts, reward charts, etc., for returning their things and they really just don't seem to care. Their work is a sloppy, doodled on, crumpled mess by the time it is turned in. NO pride at all in their work (or is it lack of respect for me?) I'm at a loss. I feel like the nag police all day long. I have to tell them every single thing all day (get a pencil, you will need crayons, where does your pencil go when you are finished, what notebook do you need every day for grammar) and it is completely wearing me out! I assumed at least my 5th grader would be more independent by now not having to have me follow her constantly telling her what she needs to work on and keep up with. I KNOW they were not allowed to behave this way in public school. Have any of you encountered this and if so, how did you "cure" it?????

THANKS everyone! I think I'll just try to find 2 used. I am just burned out on ordering MORE curriculum. lol I'd like to just dig in with what I have but I know that doesn't always work. :)

My ds (7/2nd) is bored to tears with First Language Lessons of the WTM. I am thinking of switching him to R&S English. I already have R&S 3, but would have to order R&S 2. I have considered starting him with 3 and see how he holds up. My only concern is that we will be possibly missing vital information taught in 2 but not 3. A 2nd grade friend of mine says very little new is introduced in 2nd grade, but I am still concerned. Thoughts? Opinions?

My 7yr old son was adopted from Ethiopia a little over a year ago. He really struggles with understanding math. Have any of you had success with a particular program with a child who has very little concept of math? We worked on K/1st all year last year (many different approaches) and he retained none of it. Still he cannot tell me how many people are in our family (8) without counting each of us (and REALLY struggles if we aren't all in the same room and he has to count us from memory). He has a wonderful memory when it comes to Bible, history, and literature and able to answer almost everything after I read him a story. He is learning to read beautifully too.

Ahh I see. I knew we would need them but I didn't know if there were any on the market I could get by with until the others came. I guess if the first lessons start out explaining the blocks, it won't work. I just hate it when we can't start all our subjects on the first day. I like to start off with a bang and at full steam (while I still have steam left HA HA). :)

We are starting MUS Alpha & Beta this year for our 1st and 2nd grade boys, but the manipulatives are on backorder. I didn't order them through MUS because I thought I could find them used faster. However, that isn't the case. I can't find them anywhere (and ebay has them for way more than they are new). Looks like I may have to order them backordered through MUS. Does anyone know of a substitute manipulative I can use for the first few lessons until that comes in?

Has anyone used both and can give an overall comparison/opinion?

THANKS everyone! There are some great suggestions here. I love this board!

I am planning our next year's curriculum for upcoming 5th, 2nd, and 1st graders. I also have 2 in public middle and high school who are VERY active (school sports, band, choir, etc) and keep our evenings filled as well as a VERY busy toddler. I am also pregnant with #7 due in January (big surprise to us but a happy one). I know I MUST choose a curriculum that requires very little planning from me this year. I need a curriculum with full lesson plans already included. I had originally planned to do Sonlight but to do it the way I want to do it, it will cost more than I have budgeted for school. Can anyone suggest any really good solid complete curriculums that are easy to use, already planned, and less expensive than Sonlight? :)

Thanks everyone!!! Learning Adventures looks VERY interesting and is inexpensive enough that I wouldn't break out in hives if I didn't like it. I wish their website had more information/samples. Yes I hope to attend a convention this summer and I hope that helps more too. I have seen a friend's SL TM and it is GREAT and just what I want as far as planning it out for me. I would love to get my hands on the other two (or three) curriculums. Why does this have to be so difficult? I think I want it all in one package and that may not be possible. :) I'm all for having my cake and eating it too. ;)

We are really enjoying our first year homeschooling this year with the curriculums we went with, but I am quickly burning out with all the planning. I feel like all I do outside of teaching is planning to teach and my other obligations (house, church, one on one kids time, HUSBAND, etc) are really suffering. For this reason, I am researching complete curriculums next year with all the planning already prepared for me. The problem is I have researched and researched and every time I research I'm sure I have found "the one for us" and then second guess myself later. I'm torn between MFW, SL, and WP. I also love the idea of HOD, but I ordered a used copy for my K son to check it out, I didn't like the literature selections. LOVED the idea of it though. I will be homeschooling 1st, 2nd, and 5th next year. We did ancient history this year, but I am torn between US history or middle ages next year. I would like to buy one curriculum for all 3. We would love a very literature & history emphasis with a lot of hands on activities. I LOVE the literature selections in Sonlight, but I want a lot of hands on activities (without having to plan them separate). My kids thrive on all the activities we are enjoying from SOTW. When I look at the websites and how the programs are set up, I prefer SL because I like how it is organized and easy to follow. I wish MFW and WP were more "here is what you will cover in 6 years and in which order you will cover" but that would take away the flexibility most like. Plus I worry that SL would be harder to combine ages than the other programs but without trying it I could be wrong. It appears that WP would be easier to combine ages since it lists assignments for each age (or am I getting it confused with something else?). Can you tell how torn I am? lol I need some level-headed focus for I have none right now. ;)