It sounds like you already have your answer! :) If you and dh agree this is the best course of action, than go with it and don't look back! I don't have any "words of wisdom" on how to explain your decision, but I hear your mother's heart. You want to do what is best for her and I trust you'll do just that. :) I like what ondreeuh said My dd has a summer birthday and we waited to start K when she was 6 so she is now an 11 yo 5th grader. I really struggled with the decision, at the time, but am glad I gave her the gift of time. Blessings to you! :grouphug: I know how hard these decisions can be.

Scroll down to HOLIDAYS for Christmas Unit study ideas: http://happyhomeschool.familyclassroom.net/Archives.shtml Christmas Around the World: http://techdirect.com/christmas/cele2.html http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm We've also used this: The Glorious Coming - A Jesse Tree Advent Celebration by Ann Voskamp http://www.lulu.com/content/413823

Thanks so much as I need to place a small order so am thrilled to get FREE shipping! :grouphug:

Thanks! :)

Do you have Craig's List? I was thrilled to find a steal of a deal on Craig's list just this week. I bought a lightweight Casio Privia xp-100 which is an 88-Key Scaled Hammer Action keyboard with touch sensitivity for $150. It retailed for over $500. It is lighweight so is portable. It will be perfect for lessons because it has the full keyboard and the keys are weighted so will have a similar feel to a piano. We used to have a small keyboard and not only do the the keys have an entirely different feel but it didn't hold up.

I have no wisdom as we are just starting Pianimals but I wondered what you chose to use after Level 1? Do you know if Pianimals plans to produce a Level 2?

:iagree: I use this timer, too! Bought it on ebay.

:hurray::hurray:

:iagree:Ditto for my 5th grade dd for all the same reasons! We did a trial run of CLE this summer, and although my dd balked at the length of the CLE lessons, she is making great strides in math. I'm curious to know what LU your 5th grader is working in after switching from SM? We switched from Righstart to CLE 400.

I've not used CLE 1 as we started in CLE 4 this year, but we did MUS Alpha. I LOVED it, but dd ended up in tears with the mastery approach as she could not get her addition facts down cold so we stalled out. We switched to RightStart B and it was a better fit. She does better with a spiraling review which teaches a variety of concepts rather than focusing on mastering one main concept (addition in MUS Alpha).

Have you looked at Christian Light? It is incremental in approach (teaches a new concept a bit at a time) and includes a spiraling review of previously learned concepts. It consists of 10 workbooks for the year and they teach directly to the student. There are online samples and a placement test at Christian Light Publications. It's important that student is placed in proper level so be sure to take the test. My friend just switched from Saxon to CLE because her daughter was getting overwhelmed by copying down all the problems each day. CLE has them laid out in an easy to read fashion in their workbooks.

I've already ordered it from CBD and am waiting for its arrival. You can download the first chapter at Apologia's website.

The website allowed them to be downloaded before WWE 3 was published, but said they wouldn't be available afterwards. I saw the link somewhere else recently, but don't remember where. Sorry! If I find it, I'll post it.

We've done 3 Light Units from Level 300 and are now in Math 402. It is extremely user friendly. Have you checked out their online samples? If you switch to CLE, be sure to give the placement test so you know where to begin. It's not unusual for a student to start "below" their current grade level.

Mystery solved! :) Thanks so much! Now it makes sense!

Please clear up my confusion! I downloaded the 6 week sample of WWE 3 along with the consumable Student Pages for Level 3. In the Level 3 Workbook, on Week 1, Day 1, it tells student to read the story (The Straw, the Coal and the Bean) on Student Pages, 1-2. Are the stories to be read ONLY in the Student pages? Or are they also contained in the workbook? I didn't see any of the stories in the sample workbook pages that I downloaded so I'm confused as I thought purchasing the Student Pages was strictly optional. Thanks for your help!

Logic-stage writing course (5-8)

The only reason I bought the TM is because it contains the answer key. Starting with Level 400, the answer key can be purchased separately from the TM.

Have you checked out the Five in a Row Forum? They are a FANTASTIC group. You'll find all the ideas and support you need as a FIAR user. http://www.fiarhq.com/~gbprnhrz/forum/index.php

When I needed help with placement, I contacted the author and she was great help.

Can you please elaborate on Tiner's curriculum set called "PAC"? I didn't see it on CBD. Thanks!

:iagree:with the great advice you've been giving about sticking with CLE, and slowing it way down. My understanding is that CLE is "advanced" so if your dd is in Level 400, it sure sounds like she is ahead so why not shorten her math lessons to see if it helps with her "brain freeze". My 11 yo dd sounds similiar to your dd in regards to "forgetting" math concepts she previously "mastered" etc... She tested into Level 400, but I moved her back to CLE (306-308) to shore up her math over the summer by giving her needed practice. She is doing well with CLE (gets good grades on tests, etc), but is really struggling with the length of the lessons as CLE takes so much longer than our regular math curriculum (RightStart). Because of that fact, she says she doesn't like CLE and wants to do RS instead. As for buying a Flashmaster....we have one and no, my dd doesn't "enjoy" using it but it is an alternative to flash cards and can be done independently which is a plus, but regular flash cards serve the same purpose. It has not been a "magical cure" in our situation, but is a great tool IF used consistently.

Homeschool Classifieds is easy to navigate. http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com/default.asp

I understand your concern. I agree that Apologia is great in regards to the "living book" aspect, but I've also been on the hunt for a science course that covers more topics in a year as my dd needs the exposure since we've not done much formal science and she is 11. :blush5: I've been perusing God's Design for Science but have also hesitated, wondering if it would be too dry. Science Excursion is a new curriculum that looks appealing particularly because it is science experiment oriented and includes everything needed to carry out those experiments so it'd be easy to use. But again, the books is in black and white and it doesn't seem to have the "living book" feel that Apologia has. All of this to say, that I have no real advice, but do understand your concern and you are not alone! :grouphug: