I worked a week or two ahead at home and used those methods in the classroom. I essentially spread the prep throughout the week. I had a few review games that I rotated through. Remember that the idea is to use stick in the sand method. Keep it simple and the families will appreciate it. Busywork isn't needed. I did do a bit of prep for fine arts and the science experiments but that wasn't too time consuming. I used the materials CC suggests for tutors to have on hand such as Classical Music for Dummies.

CLE LTR helped me teach my youngest to read after trying a number of other programs. He did not enjoy 2nd grade reading and LA so we dropped it for other options. But my middle child loved it. I don't agree that it was busy work and too much writing if you have a child that loves a structured curriculum. Most of what they have them working on has a learning purpose. Lessons took about 30 minutes to complete. Some days it would take longer.

I think either option is fine. Really, they will learn a lot from the memory work even if it isn't in context with the other studies. The idea is to give them the pegs and then when they enter the dialectic and rhetoric stages, the have that base for discussion. I suggest you read The Core as Leigh has laid out the methods and reasons for the Foundations method in that book.

My oldest son had this happen one time in a waiting room. I don't remember what she asked. He said, "I don't know about that right now. I just learned about the Kush today. Do you know about the Kush?" :lol: The lady had no idea, even asked him to spell it, but still seemed interested in hearing what he had to say. He was very respectful but I'm pretty sure he showed her that he was learning and knew something she didn't. So the joke in our house is that they should just ask about the Kush when someone starts quizing. :lol:

We are using a two month trial of Aleks. So far really great but I think DD needs some extra video instruction. I need something that makes sure she understands the concept before moving on too much and to keep reviewing. I feel Aleks does a good job at this. She likes that she can work on the similar concepts before moving onto a totally different concept. (vs. Saxon). I think a slightly more mastery approach might be better for her, so that is very appealing. I'm not 100% set on switching out of Saxon just yet but I think it is worth exploring what else is available. I see a lot of good in Aleks but I'm wondering if there is something else that might fit our needs. Also, does Tabletclass have a trial?

We did ok with Sonlight this year but it wasn't structured enough (I didn't use the guide since I didn't really find it usefull). DS7 finished in January and DS10 is still trying to work through the books. He didn't really enjoy a number of them so I let him choose a different book that I felt would replace Sonlight's choice (not junk). He was reading and that's all that matters to me! Anyway, I'm looking at next year and I'm thinking back to the my CLE days. It's pretty likely that DS7 will be using CLE LA next year. The boys got really burned out on the readers and never seemed to enjoy the stories beyond 2nd grade. My youngest didn't do CLE 2nd because he disliked 1st so badly. I finally gave up and decided to have him do Sonlight readers. So, what is something fairly similar but with different reading? I need something that can lean towards independence for a 3rd grader and 5th grader. But that still evaluates comprehension skills of the work they are reading. I keep thinking that just having them read should be enough but my DS10 really needs some work on comprehension and "reading between the lines". I'm not looking for lit analysis either. Really, just something like CLE but maybe with more variety in store themes. Any ideas?

Yes, both. I'm -25lbs and more support is needed! I'm hoping for some perking-up, also.

I'm sure they changed the opt-out option for A&B last year. The registration form says something about paying only full tution for A & B. (Check with the director, though.) You can check with your director to see about attending a different math level if that is what is needed but they don't encourage that in Challenge A & B. There's a bit more flexibility for Challenge 1-4.

At 4.5 that is developmentally appropriate and has nothing to do with right or left handedness. She will outgrow it as she matures. And it will not cement bad habits. Make sure you read aloud a lot and have her watch you move your finger as you read the words.

It really depends on how much you want to spend. I spend nothing some months and other months I purchase a lot of books. I generally just download freebies for games for my kids. I also use the library's ebook site to borrow books. One thing you can do is create your ebook wishlist on Amazon and then use this site: http://www.ereaderiq.com/ to get notified via email of price drops. I have found some really great deals on books that I really wanted because of this service.

We enjoy it! Go for it!

I followed CC's challenge guide schedule and DD watched the DIVE lessons accordingly. You might find they aren't needed for pre-algebra. We needed them for Algebra!!!

It's really ok to label them. I use CLE. And I only use MM if we need another way to approach a topic. So it isn't really supplementing. I like it though. I just know that the mastery approach wouldn't work on my children who need a lot of reivew. What I have used of MM is very well done and I'm glad to have that as a fallback should CLE not work. I also like Khan academy when a different explanation is needed. My youngest gets upset about how many pages each CLE lesson has but it only takes him 1/2 hour to finish the lesson if he focusses. It's not that strenuous. He's just a goofy boy who would prefer to be outside. I use Saxon but only in the middle school and now high school years. That is really where CLE and Saxon are alike. I don't like Saxon grades 1-3 and don't really think it is like CLE. In fact, I prefer to not use it until pre-Algebra, although I know 4th grade becomes fairly similiar.

Omma, you will be happy that you started your 8th grader with Challenge A. It will be a great foundation for later challenge years. And Essentials will also be great for your DD. No laughing here, just supporting your decision!

My DD tested in pre-algebra for 7th grade and we were using CLE. I don't think that's an issue for a student that is moving through CLE 6 successfully.

Ranches go for a premium here and are rare. Most homes are two-story. So it is possible that the house would go for that on its own if it is really nice. And the land? Land is at a premium!!! So we are probably talking $1 mill. They put houses on tiny lots around here!!!

Maybe do Apologia Botany this year? It matches with the first semester science better. Second semester science for CC is geology and some weather. History is a tough one because CC's memory work isn't just ancients for Cycle 1. If you look at the second semester's history memory work, you will see what I mean. I don't really try to match history with CC but do a brief overview to give my DS10 the extra pegs he needs to memorize the information. He kept asking me for more information, so I had to feed it to him. For geography we do a brief lesson to show the area we are studying in history but then the CC geography is what is put to memory and drilled. FLL is close enough. I use FLL but use the CC's definitions (grammar memory work) when I read the definitions out of FLL (if there is one).

Keep in mind that CLE is a popular curriculum. It will have people that love it and hate it and both will "loudly" express their opinions and experiences. Generally the negative experiences are enough to make one doubt their choice and panic that their math future is doomed. (it isn't!) There is also the traditional vs. conceptual math debate and CLE gets dinged for leaning more toward the traditional side. Maybe that is the case, but it "works" for enough families that don't find the more conceptual math programs to be a good fit. It wasn't for us. Our experience with CLE has been great. My kids score high on standardized tests which to me is a good way to know that we are on the right track. Well, that, and we are making progress each year without much need to go back and review. Another way I know is by using placement tests for other programs. My son placed two grade levels above for TT and could skip a grade level if we moved to Saxon. It's true that CLE doesn't teach things like Singapore and other more conceptual mathematics, i.e. the scope and sequence are very different, the concepts are still there in CLE but you cannot let the kids do the lessons on their own which I believe is tempting because it is sooooo easy to do and the curriculum is marketed as such too. Kids will only teach themselves the steps because they may not be able to grasp the greater concept which takes some maturity to identify and then emphasize. CLE is incremental also which means that the conceptual part may have been taught in an earlier grade and isn't always retaught when it is brought up again a later grade. When the concept (rarely) falls out of their head, I will hit Khan Academy or I will purchase a unit from Math Mammoth. And, not every curriculum works for every kid. Sometimes it just doesn't work for the parent. So, if you start noticing a lack in understanding or a lot of missed problems in an area, it is time to review and maybe even try teaching the concept using a different curriculum. It might even be time to just switch curriculum. So, yes, your plan is enough. Go with your plan and don't read the forums about math because someone will always be around to say CLE didn't work. I can say Singapore was a bust for us. That doesn't make it a bad program. It just means it didn't work for us.

CLE has mental math techniques built into the curriculum in 4th grade. My son just did one in his lesson today where he had to add 100, divide by 1000, etc. to come up with a final answer. Almost everyday's lesson has a section labeled mental math in 4th grade in the review and it is covered incrementally throughout the year. If you want more straight foward practice over the summer try this: http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/prodev/math/mentalmath/dailymm.html

So far decent day: Read aloud Apologia lesson Math lesson independent reading FLL/WWE IEW Logic Lesson Spelling Laundry OOOOOOOOOO (yes, that's how much I need to do) dishes shine my sink sweep kitch finish cleaning boys' room tidy LR tidy DR tidy Foyer Vac entire house (I will get to this someday, right?) tidy bathroom Music Lessons Weight Watchers Jog

Yes, you have plenty of time. What did you use when you homeschooled for 2nd grade? Why not return to those materials?

Just a different way of thinking about this; I don't remember my mom working out extracurricular conflicts for me at that age. I had to speak to the coaches and directors on my own and figure out how to manage the conflicts and make the calls as to which I was going to disappoint. Her choice to be in cheerleading impacts her choice to be in drama and it's an important lesson to learn. Is it possible to pull yourself out of the middle and let your DD work with the people in charge? Otherwise, don't sweat it. You can only do what you can do with the limited number of hours in the day.

Our tutor did cover the concepts for each upcoming lesson for the week. The students often didn't bring in any questions to discuss, but of course questions were addressed when they were asked. They would solve problems when called upon. It just wasn't as active as other discussion classes such as Rhetoric. However, the tutor doesn't really have time to cover ALL the concepts for the week in one hour, so we really end up reteaching it through the week. You will want to find out what your community's dynamic is for math because I do think this may be very dependent on the tutor but might possibly be dependent on the kids in the class. This group is just really quiet during math but not all the other discussion classes. DD spent about an hour per day on Algebra 1 and bit longer as she moved toward the end of the book. We used the DIVE CDs to help teach and she did all the problems in the lesson (not just evens or odds). I would say that we wouldn't have time to include another math curriculum in addition to Saxon but I haven't really found it to be necessary. (occassionally we watched a video on Khan if something wasn't sinking in) I didn't use DIVE for Saxon 87 in challenge A. We just read through the lesson. I don't remember a lesson taking an hour though, it was closer to 45 minutes.

yummy dinner!!! My shoulder is sore too!!! It must be a bad day for shoulders.

well, I didn't do so well. DD had archery tonight so that put a damper on getting stuff done. And the tetnus booster I got yesterday is killing me, so I'm done. My entire arm and shoulder hurt! The boys' room is much improved but not finished. More work for tomorrow!!! Yippy!! Most will carry over to tomorrow morning since someone is coming over. The good news is all my kids are at overnights tonight, so I have a quiet morning to clean. Clean boys' bedroom tidy dining room tidy living room tidy foyer Laundry OOO kitchen clean up meal in CP vac entire house