We were a similar place last year, but we decided to finish sixth grade math (in our case - SM6) before going on to pre-algebra. I chose to have my dd do 6th grade math for a few reasons: - It was working. Why change what wasn't flawed? - It would be too hard to go backwards. My daughter would feel so defeated if she needed to go back and do some review. Better not to skip ahead if it's going to cause us to retrace our steps later. - Extra practice has been good. Brains sometimes go mushy around puberty and she needs review. I want her arithmetic skills really, really strong before tackling algebra. So we finished SM6a over the summer and 6b by October and we've been trucking along in pre-algebra since then. I've decided to keep doing some elementary math topics as she continues on in algebra next year. She's great at algebra, but I don't want her to forget how to solve those arithmetic or geometry type problems.

I would use something conceptual along with teaching textbooks. My experience with Teaching Textbooks was that it focused on how to do a problem, not why it works. I don't know what level you're talking about, but Math Mammoth or Singapore or AOPS would be good options to balance TT. Key to Algebra is too much like Teaching Textbooks, it would overlap on the "how" and not provide much of the "why".

My partner is going to be taking the naturalization test to become a US citizen at the end of this month and I thought it's a good opportunity to do some work as a family. My partner knows very few of the answers and the kids have never studied US history and there are some basic questions about the constitution and such that they really ought to know. The test consists of 100 questions that really only just need to be memorized, but I think it'd be nice to actually engage everyone. What family TV programs or activities can you think of that might be useful? We'll do this work in the evening so "fun" is nice. Tonight I thought we could watch some schoolhouse rock videos "We the people", "I'm just a bill", "Three ring circus", "electoral college" "No more kings" Can you think of an amusing documentary about the constitution? Or about US Government? or US History? I figured we could also do quizzes as a family game-show style. Other ideas?

The freebie owner's guide to the human body is just worksheets. It's okay for an overview, but it's not as cool as Cells and the Brain which have text and cool activities and games. So, yes! Use the freebies, but understand that the stuff you actually pay for and download is much more in depth and fun.

When your kids were little, did you take them to the pediatrician who told you they were in the 75th%ile for height (or something like that...)? You can think about it like this: if you were to line up 100 kids from the shortest to the tallest (with #1 being the shortest and #99 the tallest), your child would have been number 75 in line. That is, they are taller than 75% of the population. Same with test scores. A score in the 73rd %ile is better than 73% of the test takers at that grade level. Most likely, the 73rd percentile would be a higher grade level equivalent than a score in the 51st %ile, which would be pretty close to average.

We liked the TM and I'd recommend it. It's not *necessary*, but it is nice. Also, resale value was very high. I sold it for near what I bought it for.

If you're in a silly, not-easily-offended mood, take a look at this Onion (spoof news) piece on standardized testing. (Disclaimer: It's teeming with satirical educational jargon and swear words)

I just have the girls fix the mistakes I circled. If they still get it wrong, we do it together and then the next day, we'll repeat the missed problem.

I agree - look at each kid individually. Homeschooling works great for my older daughter, but my younger one loves school. She thrives there. I couldn't provide all of the physical activity and crafts and fun that she gets there, so we do a little afterschooling and she gets the rest at school.

I would feel fine about that with my own kids at 9, though I'd probably ease into it with short trips and checking up and a cell phone, etc... But only you know your child and your library and your town. Independence and safety are both important. If he's ready and you're ready, go for it.

I was a public middle school teacher for a while and I'm not altogether certain that teaching to pass a test is such a bad thing. I think it depends on the material being taught and how it's being taught. I taught in a self-contained 7th grade class, so I sat in on all the departments meetings. The math department was focused and were already following a curriculum and the test aligned with it, so that was fine... but the English department was a mess. The kids had horrible skills, were unable to punctuate or capitalize a sentence, couldn't spell, and had no knowledge about words such as "antonym" or "plot" or "noun". They had never been taught such things... Instead, they'd been taught to read with whole language and by middle school, English was about drawing pictures to illustrate stories or stream-of-consciousness writing. When the testing was instituted, the English department tried to rebel. I actually found it such a relief to have something specific to teach. I dove right in to "teaching to the test" and my kids learned. Of course, I also went out of my way to make the material interesting and fun and relevant outside of a test context... but just because a test was the end goal, didn't make the experience any better or worse than any other learning experience. Also... I loved the AP classes I took, and have taught TOEFL and GED and SAT prep classes and made those a lot of fun for my students. My own kids have had a great time studying for the Latin Exams and Mythology Exams. I think a test gives them a goal and set of material to learn and a result that reflects what they've been studying. I don't see anything inherently wrong with any of that.

I'm a lesbian and we were married when we lived in CT, but our two biggest problems have not been solved by that. First, I had no way to sponsor my partner for a visa because the US govt doesn't recognize our relationship. We've had 15 years of dealing with immigration. Second, we have had to pay about 10,000$ per year more than we would have to if we could file a married federal tax. We know this because every year we file for federal govt as two singles. But for state taxes, we have to complete, but not file a federal married tax form so that we can properly fill out the state married tax form. It's absurd that we can't file as married... And it makes me so angry this time of year to actually have to learn how much more we pay. That said, I'm actually really impressed by this discussion. Most everyone is so thoughtful and tolerant and I'm proud to be a part of this community. We are heading in the right direction and I have confidence that in time we'll get there. (I'm typing this on my phone, so excuse weird typos)

I can't imagine not having the textbook, but then again, I never had the HIG... Maybe having both is unnecessary?

Google "Waldorf survivors" or "Waldorf critics" for reasons.

I haven't seen the middle school book, but the paragraphs for high school book wasn't very impressive in terms of teaching paragraph organization. For a dyslexic middle schooler, consider adding in EPS Paragraph Book. The sentence structure work in those books is really simplified, but the paragraph organization focus is straightforward. It won't be a stretch after Killgallon, but will get the job done.

Kilgallon is awesome for encouraging rich interesting sentences. However, at some point during middle school, you'll want to work on paragraphs and essays and you'll need something else.

Winners: Doing our own thing for math... I had no idea I could, but I feel confident that we're focusing on areas that need focus and avoiding busy-work. History Portfolio. The girls have gorgeous portfolios full of the things they've learned. Human Odyssey -- a great resource Story of Science -- Hakim is awesome McHenry Science -- Cells was amazing, botany was great, human body worksheets were okay, starting the Brain in a few weeks! Can't wait! Latin Prep -- We take it really slow because it's not a priority, but it's working well. Losers: Not really anything... As a supplement, Lyrical Life Science and LOF Pre-Algebra have been weaker than others, but not really that bad!

My 11 yr old would love something like: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/day-after-day-dress-in-bouquets

Good news - I saw the MRI (my partner works at the hospital...) and it looked totally normal. I am appalled by my back and chin fat though. I'm not overweight, but oh my... I don't look very slim from some angles (internal). It's good that I can rule out the cervical spine as a source for the constant numbness of my hands, but it looks like I don't have an answer. Luckily, I don't have pain or anything, so I suppose I can live with it. In a way, I'd have preferred something specific and non-life-threatening and fixable to have shown up on the MRI and then I could fix it and all would be well!

Hands on Equations has some nice problems in their Verbal Problems Book. They start easy, but they're great for making a connection between Algebra and word problems. Also, if your child never did Singapore's Challenging Word Problems, consider those. We've gone back and done some CWP from the level 4 and 5 books using the bar models as well as trying the same problem with algebra and they're plenty challenging! Also, I love that they're solved in the back... Zaccaro's Become a Problem Solving Genius and Real World Algebra have great problems.

I'm back! You know... an MRI is not something you can be prepared for. Loud just doesn't cover it. It was like alternating between a jackhammer next to my ear and then sometimes a siren and sometimes someone yelling "badabadabadabadabada" with a tamborine and a jackhammer as accompaniment. It was not easy to relax and it was awfully hard to not swallow for 3-5 minute periods. I did get the contrast injection too. It felt a little burning up my arm, but it wasn't too horrible. All in all, I survived, but I'd be happy to not ever do that again. I'll post results if they're anything interesting.

Cool - Thanks for all the info! I'll let you all know how it goes. I'm not an anxious person by nature, so I doubt I'll have trouble. At least I'll go in prepared. In a best case scenario, nothing will be wrong with my spine and I'll know what getting an MRI is like and I'll get to see what I look like on the inside (and verify I don't have some alien in my chest like Sigourney Weaver did ;-). In a worst case scenario, at least it'll be clear why I have such a lack of sensation.

My older daughter is a great speller naturally. I did spelling with her in 3rd grade and then continued half-heartedly through fourth, realizing that it was just busywork. I gave up then. Now she very rarely spells something wrong... like once or twice a week? I'd continue if she needed it, but she just doesn't.

I have had numb hands for the past 6 months and just to rule out anything awful, I'm going to have a cervical spine MRI tomorrow. I'm curious what it's like... and I know this sounds weird, but I'm kind of excited to see what I look like on the inside. I hope I get to see the scan! So... anyway, ever had one? what's it like?

We are awaiting a new foster placement, but still feel twinges of sadness about the previous little guy. It's a hundred small things... like how every time we drive down a road in our town that has speed bumps, we remember how he always yelled delightfully "bumpie bumpie!!" or how he loved dancing with a certain silly move or how he would only drink out of a cup with his name on it or whatever. But I remind myself... even though I know his life with us was healthier and happier than his life with his mom was or will be, we always knew he would be returned home and my kids were prepared for it... and really our job was temporary and we gave that little guy some stability in a really rough time in his life and we gave his mom an opportunity to sort herself out... Anyway, I do remember him fondly and I'm a little sad and I hope he's doing well and I do know how you feel.