Hi All, I am looking for a program that is very user friendly, open and go type curriculum for studying fallacies. I am looking for middle school/lower high school level. What would you recommend? If you would like to share your experiences, that would be awesome too! Thanks so much! Michelle

Hi everyone, I posted here even though my ds is going to be in 9th this year. He is behind in math and at the pre-algebra level. I have been looking at the Learn Math Fast books, but was hoping for some feedback from any users before I purchase. Anyone use this program with an older child that is behind in math? Thanks greatly! Michelle

My dd *really* enjoys the MindWare Logic Links. We started with these before getting into the logic books with grid/stories. I think it gave her a very good foundation before using the other logic books. They publish quite a few levels, so it is not 'easy' so to speak :)

Can I start a 6th grader into Analytical Grammar if he has NOT had much grammar experience? Or would you recommend starting in Jr AG? I can not decide. I want to just go for AG because I will have the whole program and I can do that following the 3-year track. But I'm not sure if the reading level is alot different in AG then Jr AG. Any experienced AG users?

What is BFSU? Thanks!

My dd and ds started at the cc this semester and I was pleasantly surprised by the option to rent textbooks for the semester. It was much lower, of course. For ex, psych 101 used was $114 and rental was $64. It was all done at the cc bookstore. If the book is not turned in by the due date (end of semester) and in the same cond., you are charged the difference plus an interest rate of 7.5%. Anything helps :tongue_smilie: Have you checked the campus bookstore to see if this is an option?

We will be filling out the FAFSA in Jan. b/c she will be graduating from hs high school in May 2011. Do homeschool students qualify for the FAFSA? Or does she need to get a GED? She will not be getting a high school diploma from a school. We have hsed her all though high school. Currently she is doing dual-enrollment at the local community college. Will that mess things up? We are in Arizona and all I have to do is file an affidavit of intent and educated in the 3 R's - very easy state to hs in. Advice and experience is greatly appreciated. My dd will be the first heading off to college and I have 5 more after her. I'm sure I'll be an old pro by the time we are done :lol:

After reading Angelas post above, I remembered that I taught double-digit mutliplicaton the old-fashioned way. I didn't like the way it was taught in MUS. But to me that was minor compared to the whole program. And I do that for each kid anyway - when I am teaching any subject, I teach what will get the concept across to the child - we know our children best. Now, the 'rule of four', which we called the 'criss-cross' rule, was repeated over and over that we will never forget it - we were fine with it. You have some good thoughts to ponder. Good luck!

We have been using MUS for 12 years now. My oldest is in Alg1 and I am anxiously waiting to purchase Geometry. I have 6 dd and they all use MUS. B/c I have used the levels a few times over, I don't have to look at the TM for the younger grades. I just look at the new lesson in their student text and it is very clear what the new concept is - a time saver. You get to know the MUS lingo/tips/tricks, which we love. A perk to sticking with a program :tongue_smilie: Love the set-up - the 1st 3 lessons (called Lesson Practice) are on the new concept only and the next 3 are Systematic Review pages. Meaning it has concepts covered AND the new. I teach the new lesson and then they complete 1 page/day with minimal (if at all) help. Books like Saxon, for example, have a new concept every lesson - for me, that was driving me nuts. I like how we practice and review for the whole week and then we start fresh on something new the following week. We are able to write in the student book - the left hand side is blank for scratch paper and to draw out pictures if needed. Our old MUS books are full of artwork too :001_smile: - reasonable cost - its very, very, very incremental - instructional help on DVD - This is needed for the upper level courses (for me), but I have to say, I am very confident teaching it after watching the dvds and the kids don't feel overwhelmed by upper level math. Math is their favorite subject. Now, when I was a new MUS user, I did switch around a few times. But I always came back to MUS. When my oldest dd got to Pre-Alg, she hit a wall. A few in our hs group were talking negatively about the upper levels of MUS at this same time. I thought it was the curriculum, so we went through Life of Fred. Now, I don't regret LoF - my dd had fun with it. But looking back, it was not the curriculum - my dd was not ready for Pre-Alg, so LoF just bought us some time. I've heard about state testing issues. You won't teach fractions till the 5th book (Epsilon). However, Az doesn't require testing so its not an issue for me, thankfully. I can flow at our - or math u see's - pace. A plug for the fractions book - it can be a difficult concept, but Epsilon is so thorough and its VERY important to get that down! When you do the next book (Zeta- deciamal/percents), you fly through it. So I highly recommend a good grounding in fractions - it will be used over and over. Hope this all helps ;)

Our family uses and loves IEW writing. I am looking at a grammar book for reference and to help guide me. Can anyone give me a review on this book? FYI, I have Blue Book to Grammar and Rod & Staff English Handbook - I don't care for them very much. Thanks :)

Thank you for the outlining concept - that makes sense :o

Fix it has other stories - not just Tom Sawyer. But anyway - we use fix it and Winston right now. We've used EG in the past. If you are using IEW as your writing program, Fix It goes well with it b/c the terminology is there. From what I understand, on SATs, your child is going to be editing, not looking for nouns, verbs, etc - its the editing skills they need and Fix It does that very well. Not to mention copywork and reinforcing IEW skills!

I have boys-4 of them-and they are not crazy about writing. With IEW, you will be able to give your boys a method to follow - some very concrete directions - and they will be so happy about that! For some it is difficult to get what is in your head down on paper. Anyway, the boys will appreciate the concreteness of the program - they will learn to use the 'style' (by using lists) and apply it to the 'structure'. It will take te mystery out of it -really!

You will be set now! The more you become familiar with IEW, the more uses you will find for it. And I LOVE the fact that it is not 'graded'. It really bothers me buying a book for each grade. The neat thing its that you can progress as slow or fast as you want to go.

Sorry - another thought - you are right, he is an excellent speaker and that is one of the aspects that make writing so enjoyable for us. On the student tapes, he is a friendly, funny, very likeable person and my kids will gladly sit and watch the 'new lesson' on writing :o) There is soooo much cuuriculum out there - this one will take you through high school and beyond. And its not so constricting - you are the teacher, you teach the METHODS and then your students utilize those tools and turn out some great stuff. I think they feel confident kowing there is a method to the writing madness. The later units are far from easy - they are challenging so you'll be good to go through hs. I have peace! :o