We've recently started using CLE LA 100 for my almost 7 yr old daughter. I'm finding it has some good points and some things I don't care for. One thing I'd say is that it probably isn't going to do for a child who hasn't got some solid reading skills to start with, so if you do use it, you might want to do it in conjunction with a phonics program or wait until your child is reading pretty well. We started it half-way through first grade, after my daughter finished ETC 4 and was a pretty good reader. What I like is that it is all-in-one and easy to implement. The lessons take less than 10 minutes for my speedy daughter and she is definitely learning. What doesn't work so well for us is that there are some cultural/religious differences (for our family) that make some of the sentences a little odd. Not bad necessarily, just requires some explanation. Also, I don't care for the non-standard diacritical marks that CLE uses. If I were creating a phonics program, I'd use the IPA - so at least your phonics knowledge can transfer easily to reading unfamiliar words in an English or foreign language dictionary.

:iagree: And then I would give her the identical problem with different numbers and have her figure it out using the same steps.

I was just thinking whether the term 'mastery' can really apply to science programs? In math, the idea of a curriculum being 'mastery' kind of makes sense because there are specific skills to 'master' (counting, adding, finding the area of a circle, etc...) and a limited number of them can be done by elementary students. But how do you master biology? There really aren't a lot of 'skills' in biology -- it is more about the knowledge and there is always more a person could potentially learn. But then again... ? Anyway, I'm curious what you find and hope you can find a science program like what you're envisioning!

I'm published - I co-authored a series of ESL textbooks published by Oxford. I can't say I've seen much money from it, but it was a great experience and I'd absolutely do it again.

Pantry moths are my arch nemeses. You have to be a bit crazed to get rid of them completely. I realized this in our second invasion when I found them in a container of Tums.

Since we do utilize the public school system a bit in out children's education, I'm certainly not opposed to it. But... I'd want to find out what kind of intervention they proposed. If all that they could offer was a once-a-week pull-out class, I don't think I'd bother. If there was a particular math class for kids with learning disabilities taught by a trained special ed teacher, I'd go and check it out. Anyway, I'd go to the IEP and see what the public school system had to offer and talk to a lot of people locally and decide then. If nothing else comes of it, maybe you can get some good ideas at the IEP meeting for things you can do at home?

Out of curiosity -- Are the student quest guides that good? I have the textbook (but not the guides) and was thinking about starting it with my older daughter next year. What are in the student quest guides that make them so great?

You might also check out Explode the Code 1 or even the books before it called 'Get ready/set/go for the code'. It worked well for us. Getting a hold of some Bob books would also be a good starting place.

I'd skip it for now and come back to it at the end of the semester. A 6 year-old's brain isn't always ready for all types of math (like telling time or having a good understanding of money), and sometimes ideas just need time to take hold. I'd just set it aside and try again later - I'll bet he has no trouble in a few months.

I've never used Galore Park Jr. Science, but we have used Galore Park Jr. History and I can say that the content and reading level in book 1 was not any more complex than in book 3... I don't think it was graded in that way. Also, the history books were very small -- we used three in one year. I think the science book is a little bit bigger, but keep that in mind. In your place, I'd use Book 1 this spring and Book 2 and 3 next year.

They aren't rhymes, but HWOT does a good job of putting words to the handwriting. There is the magic 'C' and 'Dive down - bump - swim back up' sort of thing...

Fiestaware!

My 8 yr old leftie loves to knit and I honestly have no idea how she does it since I didn't teach her! I'm going to have to check it out.

But, you know, once everyone has the mason jar, it's no longer radical or interesting at all and they'll have to find something new. I've decided around here if you want to be truly radical -- you just need to put on a pair of panty hose and carry a briefcase, or have your kids wear a Barbie backpack, or claim to be a republican, or be seen eating a twinkie. Only then can you be a true radical. I dare you!

Can you reface the cabinets that you already have? I'd avoid Ikea cabinets - or any cabinets you have to assemble yourself. My friend's lasted about 3 years before falling apart.

My daughter is kind of similar -- if she can't get something right the first time, she determines she is "bad at it" and there is no use trying. There is a lot of drama. I have reports from my mother that I was quite like this too at that age. Could it be hormone-related and temporary or do you think it's a permanent personality trait? I have no solution... just :grouphug:

I wonder though... is it so funny if you've never lived in Portland? All of the references to places... Or maybe you just need to live in a town that prides itself on its crunchiness...?

Actually... I've found the Saxon placement tests useless if you're debating between Saxon 3 and Saxon 5/4. The ceiling for the primary math series would mean that everyone who aces the test places into Saxon Math 3. The floor for Saxon 5/4 would have everyone who scored poorly on the middle grades would place into 5/4.

Oh. Oh! I love it. :)

My daughter started getting at around 7.5 and now at 8.5 has started wearing a sports/crop bra (there's not a whole lot there - but they are noticeable...). Our pediatrician said that it's early, but not at all abnormal to have breast buds at 7 or 8. My mother says I was about the same age...

I would probably just go through the test, pull out the problem areas and spend a week or two reviewing them. Then start at MM4.

My daughter takes about 45 minutes to do a TT5 lesson, but she's well-known for her daydreaming and doodling and distractibility. I'm sure she could do it in a half hour if she wanted to.

I think the Oxford Univ Press series called the World in Ancient Times is a really good series - secular, academic, well-written, uses primary sources, includes books on non-western cultures, appropriate for kids of various ages (but not babyish in any way). There are two other series covering up to modern times. I think it's aimed at Middle School, but could sustain your kids for a number of years... I believe there are student and teacher's guides as well, though I only have the regular textbooks.

Thank you! Since moving and no longer getting hand-me-downs, I realized I have no clothes for the girls in the next size up. So... For just under $100 - I got a hoodie and a t-shirt for me, and for my girls: 3 dresses 4 skirts 5 shirts 2 pairs of gloves These are my favorites: http://www.landsend.com/pp/RuffleDress~211659_1187.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::AL4&CM_MERCH=IDX_00004__0000000420&origin=index and http://www.landsend.com/pp/CorduroySkort~211676_1187.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::BKY&CM_MERCH=IDX_00004__0000000420&origin=index,

If it's for a native English speaking pre-schooler, I wouldn't bother... Irregular verbs are tricky for kids and their brains are doing a really good job of simply finding and sticking to rules like 'add -ed for past tense'. If your child is still doing it at age 7 or 8, it's worth fixing, but it'll probably pass on its own.