O.k., I'm commenting because I have similar questions. I have used Saxon K this past year and discovered that I really don't like it. I didn't know why until I started reading about the confusion that the spiral method causes. The light went on as I was reading and I kept thinking, "this really sounds like what Saxon is doing in my son's work." Sure enough, I googled to find out if Saxon follows the spiral teaching method and it does. Here's my experience in the Saxon K level only: They teach a concept like teddy bear counting. The kids play with the teddy bears and count to 3. The next lesson they might talk about shapes. The next lesson they talk about graphs. Soon they are doing a matrix with shapes. And then you come back around to counting again. Half way through the year they do another lesson on recognizing shapes. Hello! If they are being taught to do a matrix with shapes, do you think they should've gotten shapes already? I was very frustrated since I wanted to encourage my son to advance in the areas that he did well, but there were no unit studies for me to find that topic quickly and continue teaching it more thoroughly. By the time we finally came back around to that topic, the magical teaching moment was gone and nothing but boredom and sometimes frustration was left. I found myself reworking the whole curriculum. This was no easy task either because the lessons are scripted. I had to read a lot of scripting to figure out which lessons approached which topics if I wanted to learn a creative approach (i.e. which manipulatives to use) to teaching a particular concept. It would've been better if the program had an outline at the top or something. I'm going bonkers with this program. I've been looking into Singapore, but I'm concerned that it is so Mastery focused, that my son could master a concept, but then forget it because the program never returns to review it. I believe in the Mastery method first with a smattering of review to keep the student sharp (but not the kind of review that the spiral method uses). I do not believe in spiraling because that method does not allow a concept to sink in before cluttering the child's mind with new ones. I think a concept should be taught well and then brought back to the memory periodically with review. Does anyone know of a resource that does it this way? A math program that uses the mastery method mostly with periodic review for sharpness? I'm not huge on drills for drills sake. I want the child to get why a concept in math is true so that he can potentially figure out the next step without being taught. But I think drills ARE important for having the basic math facts under your belt AS LONG AS you know when, why, and how to use them.

Could you tell me about the tiles? Are they specially colored or do they have blends or could I get away with any old alphabet tiles?

All right, I know that no curriculum is going to prove magically right for every child. I realize that probably every program is going to need a little help from the teacher and that it is my responsibility to teach rather than leaving it up to books to do the teaching. However, I'm getting a little overwhelmed. I was homeschooled K-12 and did ACE, BJU, and A Beka growing up. I hated math. I was hoping that maybe a different approach for my kids would make it more palatable for them than it was for me. So I've looked into Math U See, RightStart, Saxon, and recently, Singapore math. I've used Saxon for K level for my 4 year old son. I was getting half bored and half overwhelmed with teaching it with him since it hasn't really gone fast enough for him. Apparently, either he gets the "magic" of math that I never got and thus needs a more intensive program, or the Saxon program is working miracles faster than it intended itself to. I'm teaching two or three lessons a day as it is because he catches on so fast and wants more too soon. I thought I was sold on getting RightStart Math for my kids next; but my husband brought up some concerns that if the kids are like him in learning style, the curriculum will not work. If they are like me, it will probably work great. But I'm concerned about getting an expensive program and finding out that the whole thing just tanks on me because my kids learn differently. After reading reviews for HOURS and HOURS and HOURS for the last couple of days, I'm thinking he may be right. This is a program that is really geared toward a certain learning style and could leave some serious gaps in learning if the student's mind cannot conform to the method. Come to think of it though, that could be true of any program. So I feel like our only hope is trial and error. But that costs a LOT of money that we don't have. Sigh. So, I'm wondering if I should just go with a traditional approach like A Beka or BJU but supplement by incorporating the RS abacus and math games and Saxon math manipulatives and drills and such. Or do you guys know of a blogger or website specializing in math supplements and creative math teaching methods for when we hit the "walls" of learning that I'm so afraid of? There are tons of sites out there for Reading, but I'm sure there have got to be lots for Elementary Math too, right?

I'm very interested in that many of you are saying you started with your children in K or even in Pre-K. I realize they do have a beginning reading program, but are you saying that the actual spelling can begin as early as K level? Should I really get this sooner? My son will be 5 in June and is well into K level studies now. He is not reading yet, but can read some blends.

It looks very interesting and sensible on their site. But then, it is their site; so of course they will advertise it that way. I'd like the opinion of some who have been through the trenches with this program before I bite the bait. My children will not be ready to start this program for almost another year, so I'm just feeling out the waters right now. If you have used this and have been able to compare it to other programs too, I'd love to know how they all compared in your minds. Thanks!

Thank you for the suggestion of going through Rainbow Resource. The prices are better there! All of these suggestions you guys are giving are great, thanks for the input! I think I will start with RS A since I plan to use it with DS#2 regardless, and I can start with it for DS#1 right now, but evaluate the progress and either speed through it or go ahead and get Level B if I think he's just too far along for A. It won't be a waste either way.

So all the manipulatives are really valuable, then? Well, that's good to know now instead of later before I frustrate myself trying to substitute other things. Also, it's good to know that the drawing board isn't necessary. It was listed as a Level B item, but I couldn't imagine a 5 year old using protractors and a compass just yet. :) The list did say that the Math balance was optional . . . so maybe it's o.k. to skip those lessons. Though, I may get it anyway since I'll have two kids of different ages learning the same things; so the more hands on, the better. Thanks for that input! I was wondering about that. He turns 5 in June and I would not be starting until this coming school year. I did the little RightStart quiz to see about where I should level him, and it kept telling me to put him in level B since he could already count and solve simple math problems. But his reading is still in the beginning stages. He recognizes all the letters and usually gets the individual sounds right, but he is only just beginning blends and has yet to recognize even one sight word, so I don't think he is anywhere close to really "reading" at this point. My 3 year old will be 4 by the time I get this program underway. Maybe if I start with Level A, they can both be at least occupied in the same level simultaneously (though I certainly won't have too many expectations for the younger one till he is older). Putting two in one level, if it works, could really help me out with my sanity, since I'll still be chasing my littlest one around too. That way I can pace the purchases and have a little more mercy on the budget. Do you recommend going with the Classic or Standard Abacus? If I get two of the standard ones (one for each boy), are they going to hold up to a couple very active and curious little boys? If they get left out and my 4 year old has two minutes of unsupervised activity, he will try to take it apart to see how those beads got on there to start with. I can just see it now! :tongue_smilie:

My son is 4 years old and we have been using K level Saxon Math this past year informally. It was really just to keep him busy since he loves solving problems and using the manipulatives. He's caught on fairly quickly and has a good foundation, but I am already bored with the program. I like the classic approach that RightStart seems to employ by using a simple version of the time honored abacus as a tool. Plus, I've already been impressed that some of the things my son has not been able to understand up until now with quantities will be made more clear once he can visualize them sensibly in patterns. So I am planning make the switch from Saxon to RightStart level B for my son this coming school year. But I'm a little overwhelmed by the large number of manipulatives that are needed for the course. I'm wondering if I really need all of them. I have lots of manipulatives already from doing Saxon Kindergarten this year. Do you think that I really have to have all the items RightStart suggests too? Or could I improvise with other things that I already have around the house? For example: Colored tiles: I have some colored tiles . . . do I really need their set of 200, or will a couple dozen do the trick? Geared clock: I have a learning clock that is not geared. Can my children learn without the gears? Geometry reflector: wouldn't a mirror work? Wooden Cubes: I have lots of linking cubes. Do I really need these particular wooden cubes? Couldn't I just adjust the requirements in the book to match the manipulative I already have here? Geoboards: I have 5x5 geoboard. Do I need to use their 7 x 7 or could I make up my own activities to match the 5 x 5 in this grade level to begin with? Basic Drawing Board Geometry Set: Will he need the safety compass in that set right away, because I already have everything else? Maybe I can find a safety compass at Staples or something. I hate to get a brand new complete set when I only need one piece. Fraction Chart: Surely there is a place to download this for free. Does anyone know of such a place? If so, can laminate them myself. AL Abacus: I think I can easily build one out of wood for less money. We have the tools to make one out of wood and paint the beads. I plan to make my own Place Value Cards too. And I can get popsicle sticks for the tally sticks anywhere. Math Card Games: to get the instructional book and the cards is $50!!! Good grief! I can see the 6 sets of cards as being worth $25, but the book is another $25 on top of that! Do I really need the game book at this age? Can I get that later? Other than that, I will need the textbooks and CD (which I plan to get second hand if possible), the Math Balance (maybe, but maybe it won't be necessary), the Abacus Tiles and the Base Ten Picture cards. All of a sudden the price list doesn't look so devastating. What do you think?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Your suggestions are all great! I have my work cut out for me, but you all have given me a great base for starting research. How do I find out about HS groups in my area to connect with them and get to look at some of the phonics curriculums they use or go to their sales to compare different phonics materials in person?

DS1 is only 3 1/2 yrs old, so I'm in no real rush; but DH and I would like to begin building our library and begin collecting and evaluating curriculums in preparation for when we begin hs-ing him and his younger brothers. We have little $$ to work with at present and will have to just pick up little bits here and there as we can. So my goal is to first accumulate the books and materials that are MOST essential to the core curriculum during preschool-first grade years. (For example: book lists are great, but I need the best books on the lists highlighted in case we can't afford to buy all of them, KWIM? That way, I can build a basic library now and rely on the public library for the rest till we can add to it more.) I want whatever books and materials we do get to be durable, thorough, reuseable, and flexible so that I can use the materials for all of my children as they build the foundations of reading, writing, and arithmetic. I realize this is a tall, idealistic order; so I'm really interested in advice. Also, my son is very interested in letters, numbers, and "school" already. I don't want to push him, but I would like to take advantage of his interests now. Casually introducing a routine of daily learning would be great now when it isn't too important rather than smacking him with a regimented routine later on. So, I'm looking into pre-school materials already. There are tons of materials online and elsewhere for pre-schoolers, but I see little structure or scope and sequence to the materials. I just see modge podge learning objectives for this age. I really don't know what to start with and how to build on what he learns. At present, we read, teach Bible stories, memorize Scripture, sing, teach basic living skills, build, do puzzles and other manual coordination exercises, color . . . etc, but none of that really has rhyme or reason. It just happens as it happens. I guess that's not a big deal, but I like to be more organized for my own sake. How can I structure his learning better?