Yes, I think I will have to "get over it". It just seems like sacrilage (sp?). So do I hear you cheering, "Cut it up... cut it up... cut it up...." Lol.

I didn't think I would like it either but was persuaded by a friend to get the text, AG and CD's (review in car or act in my place on busy days). My kids love it. I love it. Tried SL1 in the middle - we all hated it - back to SOTW1 and haven't looked back. In fact, SOTW2 is all planned out (before you gag, I've been in bed for 2 weeks recovering from surgery so I have had a LOT of free time to do such things). If you try it and don't like it, it will resell quickly.

Work with me here.... Do you cut the spine off the SOTW AG or the WWE workbook so you can put the instructor pages in a central binder, copy the student pages, etc? This goes against rule I have ever been taught about books (like books, respect books, be nice to books). Help!

:iagree: We have been a half semester off in grammar for 2 years and it has been fine. I let my dd take a break from grammar this semester so we can really focus on her narration, picking the main idea of a paragraph type skills. She'll pick up R&S 4 in the fall and be "back on track". We love R&S grammar.

It is my understanding from TWTM that if your child is doing a good job with written narrations in science and history AND doing R&S, you are doing fine with writing at this point. But if you want a seperate writing program or if your student is struggling with dictation and narrations, she recommends testing the student to do WWE, which you said you don't like, or Voyager? It is in the book. I wish I could get it right now but I am recovering from surgery and not allowed out of bed. You mentioned spelling issues? My dd had them too. She'd pass the test on Friday and 2 weeks later she couldn't remember the spelling or the rule. We moved over to spelling via a dictation program (free on Google Books). She has made huge strides in spelling since then. The book is Dictation Day by Day: A Modern Speller. If you google it, you should find it. Grades 2-6 are out there for free. Feel free to PM me if you want or need to know how to do spelling via dictation. Good luck! It sounds like your guy is doing fine from what I understand of our kids at this level (I have a rising 4th too).

Tested out, compacted, and work through the summer. sometimes we have to slow down and do more drill to master facts, but we clip along at a good pace.

I've been sewing for over 30 years. I have run my own custom quilting and embroidery company. I still make and sew clothes for my kids, home decor, the works. I love sewing (when I can find the time ;)). I have sewn on cheapo machines, quality machines and everything in between. Here is my take: A shop will try and sell you a Bernina or a Viking. Bernina and Vikings are great machines - but they are like a BMW - an expensive engine and paying for name and luxuries you may never need or enjoy or use. (Not knocking BMW's or Berninas or Vikings, all are GREAT, just making a point to help my illustration.) Walmart carries Yugos... they'll run for awhile but because much of their innards are plastic, they will break and then you won't get support and Walmart will laugh at you. They typically aren't a lot of fun to sew on because they don't run as nicely as a quality machine. I don't know about you, but I like the reliability and life of a Honda. Strong engine, will run for a LONG time, good customer support, etc. You will find this with a Brother (from a Brother dealer, not Walmart or online) or a Janome. Both are reputable, well built machines - when bought through a sewing store (read quilt shop not Joanns - though many Joanns have Viking shops in them). You will get a LOT of bang for your buck and have a nice reliable machine that you should truly enjoy sewing on. Yes, most stores will offer free how to use the machine lessons and a FEW will offer free intro sewing lessons - and can usually be negotiated as part of the purchase. Now, from what I am reading in your post - YOU AND your daughter want to learn how to sew. Sewing machine stores (read quilt shops) offer lessons galore every month. You MIGHT be able to take a class together (some shops won't allow an 8yo in certain classes, some will so be sure to ask). I hope this helps.

Here is the link to the diagnostic test: http://wtm-pdfs.s3.amazonaws.com/wwe/wweevaluations.pdf The link is on Peace Hill Press -> Language Arts -> Writing with Ease -> Instructor Text link, about 2/3 of the way down.

:iagree: But I have to learn these things day by day. I'm getting it and I am glad I am figuring it out while she is 3rd grade and not blind until middle or high school. :001_smile: I am so grateful for TWTM book but it has taken time to really understand how to use it, the why's, etc. I'm getting there, step by step.;)

The TM instructs us to practice skip counting, practice math facts, etc. It also tells the teacher when to hand drill sheets to practice math facts. The other useful thing for the TM comes around 3rd grade - the answer key. Checking 1+1 isn't a big deal. Checking 4 digits - 4 digits with borrowing... well, that just gets plum tedious. Used TMs can be found pretty cheap on Amazon. And from a mathematical background, I agree - I don't think it teaches kids to think mathematically which is why we are bailing and heading over to MM.

:iagree:

EXACTLY. I completely blew off copywork, dictation and narration thinking, "Well, my kid is a math and science kid. She doesn't need a liberal arts education." Guess what - it has NOTHING to do with liberal arts and everything to do with comprehension, being able to speak clearly, construct a sentence which reflects a complete thought, and summarize. It seems to me those skills apply to math books, science books, literature, history, everything. Once I realized this, we started backing up (you can still here the BEEP....BEEP....BEEP backup sound in my house). I watched a YouTube video of SWB working with her 13yo on dictation. I found it interesting that she recognized this student needed work holding information in his brain so she brought him back to WWE3 or WWE4 (can't remember which at this moment). Even the author ... our fearless leader in a sense... realizes sometimes we have to back up and WORK on a skill for the sake of the student's education. I would say she backed up a LOT for her son. If SHE can back up that much, we can too. I am working on all of the aforementioned skills with my dd. In the long run, I believe she will get a much better education and have an easier time doing it. And if I have to back up another level to meet her where she is at at this moment, you will hear the BEEP....BEEP....BEEP at my house again because I want the best for her, as we all do for our children or we wouldn't be home doing what we do. I hope my little view and understanding of this helps someone.

Boy does my heart go out to you on this one! It was like you wrote my homeschool story with my 9yo - but we were dealing with these issues for the past 2-3 years and then multiplication and division came no problem. Here are some of my suspicions of OUR issues which MAY help you, MAY not... 1. It became a power struggle between us. Not good. We started +/- in my early years of homeschooling and let's just say grace and kindness and patience were almost a foreign language to me back then. My best friend suspects +/- held too many bad memories of those power struggle days and so my dd subconsiously blocked it all out. True? Who knows but it seems reasonable. 2. Okay, so */ were going fine so... here is the reality - she eventually was forced to learn her +/- simply because you have to know addition to do long multiplication and you have to be able to subtract to do long division. Multiplication and division facinated her and I never had to worry about addition and subtraction again. SHE was finally motivated to learn the subject so she did (it has been known to happen). 3. My dd is a whole picture thinker - unless she understands WHY she has to learn it, don't bother wasting her time (note the change when long mult and div started). Spelling rules? Don't bother until she got into writing and suddenly spelling mattered. Stretching before ballet? hated it until everyone started learning to do splits... You get the picture. Hang in there. I wasted (I still see it this way) 2 years stressing over math facts. I shouldn't have. For whatever it is worth, Singapore is not known for sufficient drill. Even students in Singapore drill more with other methods than what is supplied in the textbooks and workbooks. If you want more drill, try Math Mammoth or Horizons depending on your approach to math. HTH... hang in there mom. He won't graduate high school not knowing his facts, really. And as lovingly as I can say this to a stranger, don't let it be a power struggle (that is a tough one, I know). :grouphug:

Try Elemental Science. Easy to implement. Super palatable. Super age appropriate. My kids love it. I enjoy it. Experiments are easy. It follows Classical and is easy to use for more than 1 student at a time. www.elementalscience.com There are samples on her website for each curriculum you can download. The author answers her own email if you have any questions for her.

Thank you! What a wonderful post! That was so kind of you to pause from your busy day and encourage the rest of us. 5.5 years under my belt and a cyber hug felt wonderful! :grouphug: to you!

We have decided to proceed and get the Lt.Blue series. OP have explained there are cumulative reviews and a seperate file of review worksheets inside each Lt.Blue level? My question is have any of you MM fans also purchased the gold/green series and found it useful. My dh says I can get it IF anyone has really found a good use for it WITH the lt.blue series. BUT if the MM users have found more than enough review within the Lt.Blue series with the cumulative reviews, review file, extra websites, etc, then he asked I not make the extra purchase. He is trusting me to be fiscally responsible (after buying us a laser printer, Meet the Master and 3 years of art supplies...he's a generous guy who really supports our family homeschooling. Your thoughts for those with both??

I completely stressed about the cost of printing .pdf curriculum. I calculated Staples was going to charge about $16.50 + $3 binding per year, double sided printing (assuming an average of 150 pages per semester). My jaw hit the floor, I posted to 2 boards and regrouped. I have 2 other curriculums I have to print also (Elemental Science and Writing with Ease). My dh let me use part of the tax refund to invest in a laser printer and even let me get an all-in-one black and white with duplexing, wireless, the works. It was Brother MFC-7840W for less than $230 on Amazon with free shipping (other sites were cheaper but wanted over $45 for shipping). Using off brand toner, it prints for less than a penny a page. The printer will pay for itself in no time. My best friend and her neighbor have the same model and LOVE it Ink is traditionally very expensive for home printing on most models. You'll be hard pressed to find many on this board not a fan of MM so from the sounds of it, you can't go wrong - as long as you can find an economical way to print it off. I intend to print each level as a book and just mark stop on the page so I don't have to think about it. If my kids get stuck on a topic, I can print off review pages as needed. HTH...

:iagree: The author graduated from an incredible university with a Chem degree - the university is one of the top in science in the nation. The author KNOWS science and has a clear passion for it. She has a VERY good grasp of what is age appropriate for work load, comprehension, all of it. She has selected some great books that pull in the interest of a 1st grader and a 3rd grader -even me, mom, has enjoyed the books. So the body parts don't line up perfectly - whoptie doo. We opted to use Draw Write Now for the animal art. The rest of the art is more than acceptable and much better than I anticipated for a homegrown elementary science program - especially since she has chosen Usborne and Kingfisher type books for the kids to read for their assignment - beautiful professional artwork runneth over in these books. Paige has done a GREAT job and we have thoroughly enjoyed our year of science. I have already purchased ES Earth Science for next year and gotten the books. I count the days until Chem, the author's passion. Elemental Science has been a grand slam hit in our house and we couldn't be happier.

Well golly! This gets better and better. April 1st can't get here fast enough!!!

I had NO idea there were cumulative reviews. That is great! Now I am excited! I can't wait to download it on April 1st and really dive into planning it. That would satisfy my need and concerns. I can't wait to have my dd go through the chapter on long division again. Last time she struggled with a topic from Horizons or Singapore (can't remember which), MM rescued my sweet girl. I can't wait to get my son on a mastery program because Horizons is simply drilling the poor kid to death. He is 6 and has his subtraction and addtion down pat, can carry and is in the process of mastering borrowing. Why must we keep on drilling? Ugh. Laser printer is on its way from Amazon. I download on April 1st and none of it can get her fast enough! :D

Background: My dd did Singapore for a few years and while she learned a lot about mathematical thinking and word problems, while learning the basic math facts, we needed more drill than it offered. Enter Horizons... drill, drill, drill BUT she learned those facts. Unfortunately she has stumbled on long division (2 digits into 3 and 4 digits seems to be tripping her up) and I don't see her learning that mathematical thinking she was getting with Singapore. I am considering MM to give more drill than Singapore and do the mathematical thinking Horizons seems to be lacking. I like spiral because roman numerals or some other topic will pop up out of nowhere and help put them into long term memory but then if she has one more assignment on reading a clock, I will cry for her! Does MM have enough drill? We only have levels 5 and 6 left for elementary math, all the more reason I want stronger mathematical reasoning being taught. Can you please weigh in on this, please?

I agree. AND it is possible the mom simply doesn't know what to do and has tossed in the towel. Sometimes it DOES take outsiders to lovingly call a child on bad behavior to show the child their are boundaries that exist outside the home and they are expected to live by them. I have had to do that with my kids' friends and a few drawn boundaries is usually all it has taken to shape up their behavior in our home. Good luck!

And that is one of the BIG reasons I haven't attended a conference in 3 years. I would rather grab CD's of the talks and have my own mini conferences at Panera on a Saturday.

We got a good, solid, textural (mountains are raised) globe from Walmart a few years ago for $10-15. I am bummed because my ds had such a good time exploring geography in his rough and tumble way, the stem broke and I have to buy a new one. I only see them at Walmart when back to school supplies are out so my son is saving his money and buying me a new one this summer. For now, we have the globe without a stand and we just pass the world around for geography lessons. :)

:iagree: No matter how hard I've tried, I've bounced more than Tigger through curriculum. Like everything - IT WILL GO ON SALE AGAIN. Buy 1. Try it - for more than a month. Get out of the honeymoon. Do you still like it after a year? If so, then grab it on the next sale, but for now, dip your toes. I wouldn't dive in head first. I've lost too much money over the years diving in head first. ;)