DS10 (grade 5) is using MM4B currently, and will move into 5A in a couple of months. In a previous thread, BA was recommended for him and I was planning to use it as a supplement to MM, but I am unsure which level to start with? Other posts have recommended starting from the beginning at level 3, but I am wondering if this will be too basic for DS10 who is quite advanced, but a little behind in grade levels of MM due to trial and error with a couple of other math programs a few years ago. We are not in the US and level 3 of BA will cost upward of $230 with postage and exchange rate, so I want to ensure I purchase the correct level. If you are using MM4B and about to go into MM5A or have jumped from MM to BA (or are using it as a supplement) around this level, would you recommend I purchase level 3 or 4? Thanks in advance :)

Thanks sbgrace, but I am still undecided. Thanks for explaining how to purchase CLE. In regards to the review unit, can I just buy the whole grade set - all of 400? I'm not sure what you mean by needing to purchase at least one other light unit? sorry.

I have been thinking along the same lines. The risk of falling further behind is a major concern for me. As it is, I am wondering whether he is getting frustrated because he is in level 4, when he is probably ready for more advanced concepts in level 5. Switching after 4B is good advice. Thanks. Currently I'm thinking of adding in BA once a week while continuing on with 4B and accelerating. That way if BA is a good fit and we are comfortable with the program a switch may be more possible further down the track.

Thanks for the recommendation. I had a look at CLE and the samples looked good but I couldn't work out what we needed to purchase. I wouldn't mind purchasing a spiral program to have a look to see if it would suit better than the mastery types and I see this one getting good reviews.

I totally agree with you, we left IEW for the very reasons you have mentioned. IEW took the joy out of writing for my DS (who didn't love writing to begin with). But so many love IEW, which probably means it suits a particular type of learner. What does your son think of it? edited to add: we didn't have 'lots' of experience with IEW - we used SWI-A and a theme book.

Yes this is my biggest issue with it right now (the slow teaching of algorithms). The drill is not an issue because we can skip certain parts, but at the same time I am worried we might skip something inadvertently. I was looking back at MM4A and multiplication, and the numerous lessons to teach and think about this. We just want the standard way and to move on. The teaching is broken down far too much for my get it done DS. He's not really a 'why' kid when it comes to maths. Even for me though, I feel like the incremental steps actually cause confusion rather than help. I have looked at BA and it looks really good, but I am nervous to switch programs, wondering if we will fall behind in the transition etc. I see many start BA back at 3A, do you think that is necessary or do you think one could transition into 4A after completing MM4A? Thanks for your input Farrar, I really appreciate it.

I agree, and I am concerned if that we skip too much we may miss something important. If we stick with MM this is how I will try and use it, but I am starting to think that I would prefer something that just moves on more quickly. I'm going to have a good look a BA today.

- We have finished MM4A. We are using it a year behind because we messed around with a couple of other math programs in the early years - SM and MUS. We pretty much lost a whole year on MUS. Also, because of this, I don't want to spend too long on something as simple as multiplication (we spent weeks on this in 4A) which I think he could learn in a week. He doesn't need the incremental steps, and we need to play catch up a little also. However, this is also why I am reluctant to change programs, I don't want to have him fall behind again while we trial programs to see what fits. But having said that, if MM is going to progress as slowly in the future grades, I am wondering whether we should use another program. He understands things very quickly (quicker than I do at times), I think he could advance ahead quicker if he were using a program that catered for that. Do you mind me asking: up to what level of MM did you use, and what did you jump ship for?

Thank you - this sounds like a sensible thing to do but I worry we may skip some important instruction by doing this. I'm going to have a look at Beast Academy.

DS10 has used MM for the past 4 years and all in all I have been quite happy with it. I like the instructions written to the student. DS is quite mathy (and generally advanced) - he picks up concepts very quickly (although he will tell anyone who will listen, that he hates math). The problem we are having with MM is that it is too incremental. I know people love the program for this very reason, but I'm beginning to think this is slowing DS down. I have tried reducing the amount of problems per page, and it still moves too slowly for him. For example, when teaching multiplication, it took half the book to teach what I think was a fairly simply concept. DS isn't interested in knowing the why's - he wants to learn the procedure, lock it in, and move on - he doesn't want to spend half a book on the many different ways to do multiplication. I don't really like to change math programs, but I am starting to think MM is not for DS. We have tried Singapore and that didn't suit. We have always used mastery programs so I am not sure if a more spiral program would work? I am not a mathy person, so I need something that is fairly easy to teach, but that will challenge and interest DS. Something that moves quicker than MM. I would be interested to hear any suggestions. Thanks.

We also ditched it after Fable!

Thanks - it has been great to hear opinions. I'm not against technology, and my DS does use Minecraft, Scratch and communicates online/comments on you tubes etc, so he does have exposure. My concern is more about the purely social media sites like the ones I mentioned above.

He doesn't use social media per se but, for example, he watches you tube video's about Minecraft and he has seen how nasty some commenters can be. He's 10 though, I don't take his opinion seriously, it was more a tongue in cheek comment.

In the past I have thought 15+ is an age I would consider (if there was interest) also.

I had a conversation today with someone close to me who was complaining about quite vulgar abuse her 13 (going on 14) year old son has been receiving on his Instagram account from another child at school. I commented that I didn't like social media for this very reason, especially for children. The person seemed to take offence to my saying this and told me that children NEEDED to know how to use and deal with social media, and that if parents didn't allow children to use it, they would do so behind parent's backs anyway. I don't agree, but was wondering what others think? I asked my 10 year old what he thought would be an appropriate age for children to use social media, and he said between 16 and 18. I tended to agree. What age would you/do you allow your children to use social media. Things like Facebook/Instagram/Twitter.

Which do you prefer and why? I am torn between the two and cant decide which to use for DS10 (going on 11) who has completed FLL3. Has anyone used both?

We had an issue with EIW and Mathew Steven's voice. Don't forget with IEW, you don't need to use the student DVD's, you can teach straight from the TWSS or use a theme book.

I ended up purchasing the e-book (level 2) and had a read through it yesterday. I don't think we will use it as it moves very slowly. Lessons 1-21 covered nouns and pronouns, then at lesson 22 verbs were introduced. I didn't look much further as DS10 has finished with FLL3 recently and this would have been much too basic and drawn out for him (even as review). We decided to go with IEW's Fix It instead. SCM really need to show more samples as I couldn't gauge much from the samples on their site. I see what you mean about the spelling, the studied dictation gets very lengthy toward the end of the book. My DS would hate having to re-write all of that, although if we decided to use this program I wouldn't have used the studied dictation anyway - I was looking at it more for simplifying grammar.

Yes it would be nice to see higher levels to gauge where it is heading, especially composition-wise.

anyone?

Homeschool Supermom...Not! http://www.amazon.com/Homeschool-Supermom-NOT-Grace-Homeschooling/dp/0975854399 I have just finished reading this one. The cover looks cheesy but the contents weren't (Christian content also). And although we are not really CM I enjoyed (for easy reading) A Charlotte Mason Companion http://www.amazon.com/Charlotte-Mason-Companion-Personal-Reflections/dp/1889209023

I have just seen this new language arts product advertised by SCM and was wondering what CM'ers (or anyone else) think? https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/using-language-well-a-new-language-arts-resource/

I don't know how it will work without the extra student materials, and I'm hoping it doesn't end up being a whole lot of extra work for me. Having used the program twice before (only up to unit 4/5), I'm hoping familiarity with the program will make it easier to use the TWSS alone. This is going to be our last shot with IEW so I hope it works!

Do you know in which edition of WTM SWB refers to this. I have the 3rd ed. I'd like to see what she says about IEW because I plan to use IEW short term (2 years) with our goal being WWS.

I agree. After doing a lot of research, I believe you can use the 'dress-ups' in a less forced way and still benefit from the program. I also feel some kids (like my DS) don't really need the dress-ups. I will be using the dress-ups as suggestions when we brainstorm at draft stage, but if DS feels that adding a dress-up will make his writing sound clunky, grammatically incorrect, or he really just cannot find a place to add one in naturally, then I wont force it. The last thing I want with teaching writing is tears and frustration. You can check out the thread I started at the IEW forum under Miscellany. It is the most recent thread, so you shouldn't have trouble finding it.