:bigear:

Colleen - You can also purchase First From products from Rainbow Resources. I'm just starting it with my rising 5th grader, so I can't answer many other questions. :)

Oh, you all are too funny!!! :lol: I didn't have time to write it all out earlier, so I just posted the "thanks". Here is the long version: We have used RightStart Math all the way along. And, have mostly enjoyed it though this year was a struggle at times. My oldest is finishing Level E next week. I had read that from RightStart you can go directly into Video Text Algebra. In fact, I had communicated with RightStart earlier this year and got the same answer. I decided to go with Singapore, because I just *couldn't* imagine starting Algebra in 5th grade. But when I went to the homeschool convention in Cincinnati the VT rep told me, "Kids coming out of RightStart are more ready for VT than kids coming out of 8th grade in other programs." Well, that and hearing Tom Clark speak at convention convinced me to go with that. So, I purchased VT module A. Today I just happened to see a thread entitled something like "Does Right Start through Level E really prepare you for Algebra?" Well, I read through the thread and the resounding answer was no. The thread even had a quote written by Dr. Cotter the author of RightStart saying they aren't ready after Level E. Dr. Cotter suggests going on to RightStart Geometry and half way through starting VT module A, taking 2 years to finish both programs. I really, strongly dislike RS geometry just in their normal programs. The lines aren't exact so my children measure and get the answer wrong, they measure angles and can't see the exact measurement and more. And, the explanations stink (to me, I have a friend who enjoys it!). My friend that enjoys RS G also says the lines continue to not be exact and explanations are a little shaky. So, I'm not going to be going on with RighstStart. I'm just very, very thankful to learn that my ds won't be ready for VT next year *before* I get frustrated with ds thinking he is just not trying and he gets frustrated b/c he can't understand it. I don't want to push him into something he isn't ready for, and I really had been questioning it but the rep just convinced me this was the way to go! Then, I had another crisis wondering what the world I was going to do with ds next year! :) But, with research on here I'm going to give Math Mammoth a try for 5-6 along with LoF Fractions, Decimals & Percents and then I'll be ready to move into VT module A or whatever pre-Algebra or Algebra in 7th!!!! Crisis averted!!!!!!!!!!!! If you made it to the end of this, you deserve this: :hurray:

I just prevented a math crisis because of you all. :)

I have naturally yellow teeth. I don't drink coffee or tea or smoke, so they aren't stained. The Crest whitening strips work great for me!

I started Algebra in 8th grade, back in the late 80's. All of the "advanced" kids took Algebra in 8th, the "average" kids took it in 9th.

Now I don't know what to do!!!!!! At the Cincinnati convention I talked to a VT rep. She told us that our children would be ready to go directly into VT module A after RS E. She said that RS children are more ready for VT in 5th grade than others are in 8th. So, I bought module A. The woman suggested we go through at this pace: watch video do even questions - day 1, watch video again do odd questions - day 2, take quiz A - day 3, take quiz B - day 4. Finish module A in 5 grade. Finish all of the modules by 8th grade. Do all of the Geometry modules by 10th grade. 11th grade take Calculus at a community college, 12th grade take a business math class. The entire time I was questioning this, but she was very convincing! Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. I REALLY, REALLY don't want to do RS G!! I have thoroughly disliked the geometry in RightStart. So often things don't measure correctly on the worksheets, I don't like the directions and am often confused. Would starting LoF be a possibility for next year? Or, what are my other options? Did I mention I'm frustrated??????????????? :glare:

Thanks, Karen, for your great *testimony* :) with how you combine AO on a 4 year cycle. My mind is in full gear tonight with all of the possibilities!

Bump. Hoping for an answer by tomorrow morning! :001_smile:

I think it is worth having the new one. The logic stage is improved, IMHO.

I have used SWR with my 2 oldest. My younger ds has learned the phonograms and has started the spelling lists. However, I'm trying like everything, to have an easier year next year. Will AAS continue to help my ds learn to read? Is it really simpler than SWR? Can I fast forward through some of level 1 if ds already knows it or should I start with level 2? Ds has only been through lists A-F in SWR, so I don't know how they compare. Is it worth putting more money into another new program?????? That is the million dollar question!

Another Lynn - Thanks for your input! What part of AO did you use? Did you only do the AO yr 1 recs and found your own books for your oldest?

Could someone tell me how to do what I have in my head, but can't figure out how to do? :confused: I want to do Ambleside with my 1st, 3rd and 5th graders next year. However, I want my oldest to do WTM history and I like the structure of SOTW with the AG (narration questions and maps) for my youngers. How can I do this? We are ready to do Ancients again next year. I'm just torn, torn, torn between giving up my history cycle and just doing AO with each child on their own level. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, the books for 5th and 3rd won't be "ancients" books.

Really? The revised AG has the white Kingfisher and the red? Yahoo!

I so hope the newer editions have the old pages too! I just ordered the new activity guide from Amazon. Does anyone know for sure?

Ooh, really? I wonder if the newer editions of the activity guides still have the old Kingfisher pages too! I'll have to go look at the activity guides that I still have. Thanks!

I'm going to use SOTW Ancients with my youngers and the old, white Kingfisher with my oldest next fall. I would love it if someone had a list linking the two up! Thanks!!

I'm going to be using SOTW Ancients next fall for my younger boys. My oldest will be using the old, white Kingfisher (that I just scored for $15.00). I would love a list linking the chapters in the old, white Kingfisher with SOTW. Is there such a list anywhere?

Is the old, white Kingfisher Illustrated History Ency. really better for outlining?

I rarely say "shut up". My children are not allowed to use it. It just sounds rude somehow.

We will be doing some type of school this summer. I'm going back and forth between alternating days with math and Latin just to ease up our daily schedule the rest of the year *or* doing art and music, things that I rarely get to in the school year. Either way, I'm going to have a lighter school year next year! I think spreading my days out throughout the year is one way to do that!

I'm planning to start in July with a "light" month of music, art, literature. Then, we will start our core subjects in August. We will take a week off at Thanksgiving, two weeks over Christmas, a week for spring break, and the entire month of June. The month of December and one week next to spring break (to make a longer feel to our spring break) will also be lightly scheduled.

Colleen - I could kiss you!!!!!! Thank you for writing this out for me! I've been kind of stuck at "how am I going to put this all together?" Yay!

Why do we over think these matters???? I wish too I would have just went with SWB's recs from the beginning! Oh well, live and learn! :D

I read that example also. I don't know why I question if it is enough! :) I guess because it is the lowest level of the books she recommends. I do have the Kingfisher book she recommended in the last edition, so I wondered about using that one. I should just go with the Usborne for next year and quit stewing about it!