[MCP Phonics Teacher's Manuals]

We're in book B and have never had the TM. I don't think it is necessary.

[2nd Grade Math Is *Killing* Me]

I'm right there with you! My dd 7 understands all math concepts we've covered in 2nd grade and can do the work, but is pretty terrible on facts (at least speed-wise, eventually she can get them right). I feel for you! :grouphug: Math has been a crying event for us at times over this year and last over math facts too. I just got her a Flashmaster, and it seems to be helping her some (and she enjoys using it).

[HWT teacher's guide?]

There is good information & tips in the teacher's guides. I have owned every one from K level on, and we are in cursive now. They are cheap, and worthwhile for the low price. Plus, inside each one there is a code that gets you access to content on the HWT website. I would say they are not mandatory, but helpful imo.

[Math Facts - Speedup for Timed Test]

My dd 7.5 is similar. I just ordered a Flashmaster for her (directly from the manufacturer, because they have a 90 day guarantee). It is a handheld flashcard computer. We have flashcards, and they are color coded by family (+1 has one color, +2 another, etc.) and are a small size that are easy to hold. I can't recall the brand, but Veritas Press sells them. I like them much better than some of the large manila cardstock type (like CLE sells) that are hard to handle (too big for 2nd grader hands). Triangular flashcards are nice -- they show the 3 fact family numbers, and you cover one up to do addition or subtraction on one card. We have Subtraction & Addition Wrapups too, but they were a bust for dd. Some kids find them helpful. We've also tried math fact copywork, but if writing is an issue, that might not be too helpful.

[Would you skip WWE 1 and FLL1?]

I wouldn't skip FLL1 or WWE1. We're doing level 2 of both now (a 2nd grader with very good LA skills), and I can't see a benefit in skipping to level 2. There is a lot of repetition in FLL1, so you MIGHT want to compress it but I don't see what you gain. Esp. if you follow the WTM approach of so many years of grammar. FLL and WWE take so little time, but the rewards are great. I wouldn't rush it. And I highly recommend the WWE workbooks. WWE 2 is challenging for my second grader and it really builds off the skills developed in WWE1; the dictation assignments are LONG from the beginning. If you really want dictation in first grade, just do it on your own separately with short sentences from your read aloud books.

[Spelling Workout and MCP Phonics]

I am using MCP Phonics B (just the workbook, not TM). I like it -- simple, easy to use, dd7 likes it, and it was pretty cheap. It is colorful and interesting for dd. It gives her extra handwriting practice (she does 1 page a day usually) and reviews phonics & spelling rules. She doesn't REALLY need the extra phonics practice (we went through OPGTR last year for 1st grade and she reads on a 3rd or 4th grade level), but I like the reinforcement.

 

I use AAS for spelling, but I'm thinking about jumping to SWO because AAS is a love/hate deal for us both. :glare: The SWO workbook would be less painful for us, I believe.

[WWE & FLL not duplicated]

The FLL that just came out (separate books for 1 & 2) are basically just reformatting them into separate, larger paperback books. I thought the same as you, but there are very minimal changes. I purchased the new FLL 2 (I own the original combined version), and there is almost no difference other than the larger, paperback format and improved visual formatting of the pages.They are much easier to read because there is more space. Also, the picture narrations are now real pieces of art. The copywork etc. did not change in the new editions. I use FLL2 with WWE2, and we skip some of the copywork, depending on where we are that day in WWE. Overall, I think they work great together.

[Math Mammoth reviews]

Lots of people love it and I know you will get great reviews, but not me. I think the formatting is not good at least for the younger grades if you have a fine-motor challenged child; there is too much on one page and the writing spaces seem REALLY small. Seeing all those problems on one page was pretty overwhelming for my DD. Some people have suggested ways to reformat it with Adobe, but that is a lot of work IMO. For me it is also a negative to not have more of a teacher's guide; I really want something to help me teach it and give me more ideas beyond just what is in the worktext. I do not like how the review isn't built in like it is in other programs (there are cumulative reviews that you print out separately). It puts too much of the burden on me to make sure the review is included. I tried it for a while with my dd7, and it just wasn't a good fit but this may very well be because she isn't a workbook loving kid (not a perfect paula or competent Carl, in Cathy Duffy speak :). It is one purchase I sincerely regret because I bought the ebook and can't resell it (2A & 2B). I think the author does a good job of explaining things, however, and I love watching her videos online. We just didn't find it to be a good fit for our styles.

[Do you finish after lunch?]

I have only one 2nd grader, and we usually start by 9 and we can almost NEVER finish by lunch. This is a continual source of frustration and guilt for me, because it seems to be an often touted benefit of homeschooling that I can never seem to attain. Even when we start before 9 we can't seem to do it! Usually it is more like 2 and sometimes later. I can't seem to fit it all in plus do the household stuff I need to do and get done by lunch. We do math, First Language Lessons, Writing with Ease, AAS, Bible, reading (both reading aloud) sometimes HWT, plus science 1x/wk, history 2x/week, latin 1x/week. I totally agree that the more we can get done in the morning, the better. I'd love to start about 8, but it is almost impossible because I need to go to the Y for my sanity and don't get home until 7; by the time I get ready, get dd up and moving, both of us eat breakfast and get dd to do her 15 min. piano practice it is at least 9. I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see how people who are consistently done by lunch actually make it work (esp. those with more than one dc)!

[Singapore math review by SWB?]

In the Grammar stage Math section SWB talks about how SM is not as concrete and fact oriented as the other programs she recommends in WTM (Saxon, Abeka, MUS). She says that it gets into logic stage thinking much earlier than other programs, which may be problematic for some kids who need less abstract teaching. She points out that SM is part of a larger math-oriented culture in Singapore that provides a lot of math reinforcement, and recommends the additional books beyond the workbook & textbook to provide adequate practice. This is from the latest edition of WTM.

[Reading literature for grades 1-3]

I bought the Sonlight instructor guide for 2 intermediate and advanced. I bought both, without the books, so I have lots of choices to get from the library.

 

I just did the same thing! Another idea is Memoria Press's new literature guides which look pretty good to me.

[God's Great Covenant-anyone use this?]

I am using it with a 2nd grade dd. We LOVE it. I just got the timelines and maps, and they are great too. Wish I'd had them when I did SOTW 1 last year. I agree with getting the teachers manual -- it does have very good notes. You may already know this (esp. since the title includes the word covenant), but if not, it is written from a reformed protestant viewpoint, and includes in the teacher's manual corresponding catechism questions (Though it isn't part of the weekly curriculum, you could tie it in if you wanted). I was looking for something that aligned with our reformed theology, and this is really great.

[VP Leagues and Legends]

Yes, basically as a read aloud in first grade. It does teach some terms in a fun way. The book is nice, but don't bother with the workbook. I bought the workbook, but found it to be pretty useless (my dd didn't enjoy the activities at all). Agree it isn't a year's worth of geography, by any stretch.

[what to do with grouchy/whiny kids?]

DON'T think that homeschooling is the problem. HSing is only revealing the problem. i think that many people say "i could never hs" because they really don't want to deal with their kids when they see how crummy their behavior and heart attitudes are. They only want to see the good. a kid in a classroom will not reveal their heart attitude to a teacher, will fly under the radar, etc, but they cannot hide these things from a loving parent who is truly trying to guide them in what is right and best for them. Then the teen years come and the problem has festered unbeknown to the parent who has been conveniently absent. suddenly they have a monster. no...kids don't suddenly transform into monsters. they have to grow up into monsters, or grow up into healthy adults. which do we want?

 

I have a 7.5 dd with similar characteristics described on this thread (though she isn't always sullen, but she does hate most schoolwork other than history & science). This week we had a doozy of a fit, and for most of that day was seriously thinking "maybe she should go back to Christian private school." But in the back of my mind is the thought of shoving the problem under the rug only to see it explode in a teenager out of control. Thanks for your posts, because it reminds me of the truth!

[AAS and retention - Help, please!]

My dd7.5 is very similar. She is on step 12 in AAS Level 2 and knows all the phonograms (plus some we haven't gotten to since we have the whole set), all the rules, usually can handle any review words etc., etc. However, she will do things like write words without vowels or put the letters in the wrong order (like when she's doing WWE2 dictation), and some other things that seem contrary to what she has learned seemingly well in AAS. I appreciate hearing SWB's comments about spelling not transferring over at their age.

[Would Classical Conversations make my life easier or just cause more chaos?]

We did it last year, but as a supplement. If you do it as your central organizing curriculum, I think it could simplify your life. However, you have to be able to give up that 1/2 of a day every week for 24 weeks, which for me was kind of hard (when it boiled down to it, it really was a full day, because we got home about 1:30 and no other school work got done because both of us were whipped). It made it feel tough to do other things, like field trips and at the time it made it too hectic for me. But, it wasn't my main program. I can really see that if it was, life would feel easier.

 

I thought I would be glad to not do it this year, but I have to admit I miss the weekly fellowship with other HS moms (though not all were "classically" homeschooling).

 

Have you read The Core by Leigh Bortins (founder of CC)? If not, I highly recommend it ; it is only about $10 on Amazon. It pretty much explains how you do classical education the CC way.

 

I read your other post, and just want to say :grouphug:.

[Has anyone used or looked at Classical Math (grade 2 or 3) by Logos Press?]

Thank you so much for your detailed review, Lorien! I was really interested in how they did fact drill (an area we really need to incorporate more of), so your likes & dislikes of that aspect especially is really helpful.

[Has anyone used or looked at Classical Math (grade 2 or 3) by Logos Press?]

Wow, I am so excited to hear from someone is actually using it! Is it easy to use for homeschooling or do you have to do a lot of adjusting? I saw some teaching activities that required having a class (like graphing, for ex.) Does your ds find the worksheets difficult to use -- the spaces are pretty small? If you have a few minutes, could you briefly review this curriculum -- the things you like & don't like about it?

[Has anyone used or looked at Classical Math (grade 2 or 3) by Logos Press?]

Just wondering...this was written by one of the Logos School teachers to sub for Saxon 2 & 3. I am intrigued by the samples online, but can't find any reviews of anyone who has actually used it for homeschool.

 

It has a lot of chants built into it, which I think would help my highly auditory dd, though the daily worksheets seem very dry & repetitive.

[Help! Can I use FLL 1/2 with the new version workbooks?]

FWIW, there are no workbooks for the new FLL 1 and FLL2 either. They are now paperback large format (similar to OPGTR) but not workbooks -- you still do all the work orally or on a separate sheet of paper (for copywork etc.).

[Is MM too good to be true?]

What I am not getting about MM is ... what is so great about it?

 

I looked at second grade and what they would study - and all that I just finished covering in 1B with my second grader in SIngapore. Maybe not the cup with millimeters stuff. My dd does it mentally, too, things like 85 - 37. Without problem. At the begining of second grade. Easy to teach, too (for me, SIngapore is). It is true, I teach her, I use the TM a lot, but this is what I want to do, I don't expect her to learn math without me teaching her. So I am missing something here, cause I just do not understand why MM is so wonderful?

 

I have struggled to feel the love, though I have wanted to since it gets so many raves. I own Light Blue Grade 2, and previously had used some of Sing 1A & 1B stds which was much easier for me to use. The formatting of MM is really a hindrance for me, as the teacher, and the jam packed pages are in issue for dd (and I don't want the hassle of reformatting). It is a purchase I actually now regret (esp. since I bought the ebook which I can do nothing with). For me, not having an explicit teacher guide is a downside (and I'm not math phobic -- I've gone through diff. eq.)

[song school latin: classical or ecclesiastical?]

We are just starting SSL this week. I was planning to do ecclesiastical pronunciation because the W sound of V just irritates me for some silly reason. However, I just realized when looking at it today that everything on the Headventure CAP site is mostly classical (the games, videos...). Plus, Classical Conversations, which were're doing at home this year, does classical, and we may go back to a group next year. Anyone choose ecclesiastical & later regret it? Just wondering...

[WRTR vs. AAS or contine SWO (spelling questions)]

If you go with WRTR, don't spend the big $ for the whole Spalding package. The TM's aren't that helpful for homeschoolers (imo). Just get the latest edition and the phonogogram cards, the assessment manual, and then and read all the posts you can find on here about using it. That's really all you need for spelling (maybe buy their student composition books, but really you can use a regular composition book for writing the words). I am using AAS, but have considered WRTR many times (I own it) and still may convert at some point. It is hard to give up the open & go of AAS, however.

 

ETA, I ordered a TM for 1st grade and sent it back. That's why I said they aren't so useful.

[BJU new/3rd edition MATH grade 1 users...QUICK question...need asap pleeez??]

We used it last year, and I would say it usually took about 1/2 hour, sometimes less. We would only do the lesson worksheet, and I had dd do the review sheet later in the day as "homework" which probably took her another 10 minutes or so.

[The Well Planned Day Planner]

I think it would be a waste of $. I used it last year, and this year made my own, but it really is all about the weekly planning pages with a few extras thrown in.