What does your kid think about it? I fretted about this about AoPS pre-algebra book, but my kid feels differently. I think that it has problems that come from some math competitions help, as she can't wait to sit for her first AMC8 this year.

This and Goddess Girls

Does anyone use this?

My almost four year old is not rhyming yet. He can't break words into their individual sounds or blend sounds yet. He can count syllables. He does know all his letter sounds. He will start a Suzuki violin program, and from having an older kid in this program, I know he will get a lot of practice with listening and pulling apart and putting back together sounds this year in his group class. Of course I read daily to him, with lots of rhyming and alphabet books. It seems like a lot of reading programs assume that kids already have very good phonological awareness and start with letter sounds. I'm torn between hoping that his music class will help get him to where he's ready to read without a formal curriculum and part of me thinks it's really weird that he isn't even rhyming yet, since my other kids did at this age. So, should I pursue a more structured approach to pre-reading skills? And what's recommended? I'm hoping to teaching him with OPGTR, as I've used it previously with good results.

I'd recommend O'Sullivan's stew, Amy Ehlrich's (not sure of the spelling) Wild Swans, Fioona's luck, Her Stories (a collection of African American folk tales), Strega Nona, and Finn McCool (might be a different spelling) and His Fearless Wife

Was this hardcover or soft cover?

How difficult would it be to adapt for a secular homeschool?

I had pneumonia a couple years ago while pregnant. I had an awful cough for months.

If you have the paperback edition, how sturdy is it? I've had paperbacks that I've kept for years. I've had paperbacks that the pages fell out with light use. I'd prefer a sturdy paperback over a hardcover, but if it won't last, I'll get the hardcover.

So sorry

I went through recurrent miscarriages between my second and third kid. When our fourth was stillborn in the third trimester, I knew I wanted to try for one my healthy baby and then we were definitely done. My pregnancy with my fifth was brutal and miserable. I can't live with that level of terror again. I can't go through, or put my family through another late loss. So, even though I'd love a huge brood under other circumstances, I'm done.

If he doesn't get dressed earlier in the morning, it makes when we do get out the door that much mores stressful, and we already struggle getting out the door. We used to do this, but he's petite and picky, and I already fret about whether he eats enough. None of the clothes are difficult for him. He just sits there. Or if I'm not in the room watching him, he'll empty clothes from his drawers even though his clothes are already set out for him.

I have four kids: 10, 7, almost four, and a baby. My preschooler is so, so frustrating in the morning. We pick out his clothes the previous night. All he has to do is get dressed, put his pajamas in the hamper, and let me brush his hair and teeth. It is a struggle to get him to do this within 45 minutes when I serve breakfast. Then he doesn't want to eat his breakfast. By the time breakfast is done, I'm super cranky, which makes our homeschool day start on a bad note. How do I get my preschooler to get ready for the day? I put him to bed at 7 and serve breakfast at 7:45.

I keep eyeing RSO astronomy: if it was a full earth science, we'd probably do that

Last year, I did science with my first grader and fourth grader together. I'm looking at Elemental Science Earth Science this year. It's the first year we'd be doing a logic level course. How easy would it be to have both do it together, simplifying for my second grader? He's not especially gifted at writing or science, but I always struggle with getting science done.

What's your favorite student planner? I want something for me to write down her independent work each day and for her to write down her assignments for outside activities.

I've contacted Seton, but has anyone had a family member administer the Iowa Basics and then managed to have the results sent to them, not the test administrator?

Would you mind elaborating?

She wants to attend part-time to attend a couple classes that would fall in the middle of the day, which means I'd have to drive her there and back every day: it's not close and would really be less than ideal for her three other siblings' school days.

Two of my good friends are pregnant with their fifth. I have five kids, but one was stillborn. I also had multiple miscarriages. No underlying medical problem that anyone could find, and oh how we looked. I try not to be jealous or bitter, but I am.

It'll be close enough for a day trip for us next time, so yes, we might.

If I know that I don't want to homeschool for high school, when would be the best time to move a child to school? I fret about putting a kid in high school with no school experience: if the adjustment is rough, I worry it will affect college admission. However, we are enjoying homeschooling and middle school is such a rough time that I feel reluctant to send her to middle school.

Excellent point that I didn't think about. As 5D just came out, I'm sure those of us who finished all of Beast are in a minority, but I'd especially love feedback from those who did

That's great to know. Thanks

I don't want to pay for a book we won't use very much, and I know my daughter would prefer working through the competition math book before her competition this fall rather than reviewing her pre-algebra. The competition math book is sequenced for after pre-algebra.