Oh thank you for posting that Amazon list! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Okay, when I first read this, prior to reading the other posts, I thought you meant you wanted to throw conventions about curriculum to the wind! lol

I agree. If you want something more scripted, look at Saxon and BJU. We find BJU to be gentle and wonderful (we do a combo of BJU and Singapore every year, both brands). BJU has additional workbooks available with extra drill and practice work as well. I believe Saxon has good review too. I agree with the previous poster's comment: there is a good possibility she's crying because she is frustrated, has truly forgotten, didn't get it "well enough" the first time. I don't say this to cause a defense mechanism to kick in. My dd had to go over basics over and over, go to another topic and then would come back and have trouble with basic first grade math. The good news is, she did "get it" in time - and now she is GREAT in math. We all learn in differently and maybe your daughter just hasn't learned the material the way she needs to. If you aren't "Mathy", as you say, she may not be either. If she is crying, I, personally, would stop, back up, take a break, try a different program, try a different approach. Above all, be patient with her. If she needs to be taught or exposed to material 7 times, 17 times, 27 times, or more, it's okay. I know it is frustrating for mom (you). Her needing to go through it again is not a reflection of what is to come, her or you. Hang in there. She'll get it. Have a great evening.

This was my thought too.

We have used and will continue to use the summer to practice math facts using games and such. I typically even grab a different brand of curriculum's WB to futz with. Each curriculum approaches math a little differently and focuses on different aspects. By using another brand, ultimately my kids are getting a very solid foundation in mathematics to prepare them for higher level math later on. In the end, my kids end up doing 2 math curriculums a year - the summer one always goes a lot faster because it is more review than learning. We also do a lot more fun reading together. We also use the summer to do art classes, miscellaneous camps, etc. I hope this helps!

Yes, shower board. It is cheap and will last for ever (so it seems). The dry erase board cleaner is about $2.50-$2.75 a bottle but it cleans the board SO much nicer than pure alcohol. I go through about a bottle or so a year. When you multiply that out it is still MUCH cheaper than getting a "real" dry erase board. And I, too, only wipe the whole thing down every week or two (sometimes more if my kids and their friends decide to play school). Oh, and I found if you clean it well and then wipe it down with orange oil or WD-40 (I preferred this one), it gives it a nice slick surface again for a few weeks so you don't have to use the Expo cleaner. My dh built a nice frame around it along with a piece of trim attached with a dip that makes a perfect marker tray. We had to hang the board and then mount the frame around it - it was a work in progress for sure. Good luck!

When I have my act together, which comes in phases with 3 kids, holidays, etc... I like to do a BIG cooking afternoon once every other week. I will do an eclectic blend of everyone's ideas: - set aside a weekend afternoon to cook when my hubby can buffer the kids for me - make multiples of casseroles - cook extra pounds of taco meat cooked and frozen to pull in a moments notice - prep crockpot recipes but not cook them (slice the veggies and put all of the ingredients, including the meat and marinade in a freezer container). The morning of or night before, pull the container, put it in the crockpot on low. Dinner is done when I need it. - marinate and grill chicken ahead of time I can thaw and toss on a salad, in a pasta, etc. I am sure you can figure out something. But I agree that cooking casseroles and such in multiples is a BIG help. I may not eat the second copy until the following month but once you do this a few times, you will build up a nice variety. Oh, the other thing I do that seems to help: put casserole in aluminum pan, cover tightly with heavy foil and use a sharpie to write the baking instructions on the foil (temperature, time to bake, etc). It saves me from finding the recipe card again. Oh, and I label the foil pan with the sharpie so I know what is in my freezer. Yes, I wash the foil pans and use them again next time. I hope that helps.