I haven't noticed any problems with different sized lines in different applications. The girls just go with the flow :). If anything, the larger lines seem to slow them down, which seems to be a good thing in terms of the handwriting looking good. I think the idea above of splitting the lines is a good one. I did get them age appropriate lined paper from ZB (for FLL1/2), but we are still using workbooks and student pages for WWE1 and 3 and FLL3. (Would you really have to retype if you wanted them to copy on separate paper? Couldn't they still copy from the workbook?)

I found the Sculpey difficult to work with for my dds 6 and 8. I think it would be better when they are older. The Crayola Model Magic was pretty good, but I'm sure there is something else out there - I am going to ask my daughter's kindergarten teacher, who used a LOT of something this year. Will report back.

I've been trying to decide as well. I've finally come down on the side of AoPS. It just seems so...right (kind of like when I first read TWTM). If my kids can handle it, I think it will really give them an advantage in life, both with the problem solving aspect, and the familiarity with discrete math. My current plan is to go through Key to Algebra after SM 6B just to get an introduction to the basics, and then tackle the AoPS Algebra book. I also plan to go through all of the AoPS books, not just the mainstream sequence. All that being said, though, I think that NEM is a really solid program as well. Certainly that's what made the choice tough - Singapore Math has been so great; I feel disloyal going with something else for the next phase. But I truly believe that AoPS is the "wave of the future." NEM is a tried and true, very rigorous program, but I don't think that it can inspire a love and passion for math the way I am sensing AoPS can. Of course, if my kids can't handle the AoPS approach (try to solve the problems first, before you know how to do them), then we will go with NEM, without any regrets. (OK, maybe a few regrets, but I will keep them to myself:)). I have more time than you to decide, LOL, but I am totally obsessed with math curricula... HTH

:iagree: Best homeschooling book I've bought, without a doubt. Helped to crystallize my whole educational philosophy. When I read it, I thought "of course this is the way I want my kids educated!!!" I even bought a second copy so I can lend it out, and still have my own copy to refer to. ;) And I love all of SWB's lectures.

The student pages are 3 hole punched.

I have both. I would say that a plan for teaching writing is the updated, expanded version. They are similar. There was very recently the same thread, in which you might find more details. I enjoyed both, but there is a lot of overlap. Sorry for the vague response...

Same here

Math - Singapore Math Grammar - FLL3, and maybe MCT Writing - WWE3 History - SOTW1 Spelling - Spelling Workout Science - Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding Penmanship - Getty Dubay Reading - various books Language - Mandarin Chinese, maybe Spanish also Extracurricular - tennis, ballet, art, chess, piano

I'm planning on Key to Algebra after SM6 and then Art of Problem Solving Algebra (textbook, not online class) or NEM if AoPS turns out to be too hard.

It was Catholicmommy who was going camping :001_smile:

I think if you and your dc are eager to start Latin, there is no harm in trying it out. I also think there is no harm in waiting until later if it would be hard to fit into the schedule. I have regretfully decided to wait until later, just in the interests of simplifying. We will continue with mandarin, which is really hard for me to teach as a non speaker! I'm still looking for a good curriculum! We are going to try spanish also, figuring its a good age for them to pick it up. I think Latin is worthwhile, but really you lose nothing IMO by waiting. Good luck! I'm happy to be a sounding board if you want to discuss more!

Hi J, I am not an expert, but thought I would offer my opinion anyway :). I think what is most important about (and the main reason for) teaching a modern foreign language at this age, is the exposure to the spoken word. The reading and writing are not that important now; they can be learned later if and when they are needed. But being able to hear the tones, and speaking without an accent, those are much harder, and maybe even impossible, to acquire later. I'd suggest that you, as a native speaker, simply schedule time in your day to speak with your son in Chinese (maybe 20 mins, 3x a week). Have simple conversations. He can ask you to tell him words he doesn't know, and those can be his new vocabulary words. From what I understand, there's not a lot of grammar in mandarin, so seeing the words is not as important. I think this would take the stress out of it for you, while still keeping what is important. You could also just speak Chinese to him at non-school times? Latin is taught for a completely different reason; that's why the reading and writing are important for it. Hope that helps,

No, you don't need both. ETA: you don't need both, but I still found it worthwhile to listen to, if only for the extra anecdotes. The one about girls vs boys toilet training was priceless... :) I love her lectures.

I have the textbook, which covers all four years. I read the introduction, which I found useful and interesting, but I don't use the book anymore. I just use the workbook, which gives you everything you need - a script for the lesson, and the selections for dictation/copywork and narration, and student pages. I also bought the student pages separately and threw them in a binder. The student pages are in the back of the workbook, but it's really hard to use that way. Either you make a copy of the student pages for each lesson (which you are allowed to do for all your children), or you let your dc use the workbook, while you try to sneak looks at the questions/dictation, etc. in the front, which I think is totally unworkable :001_smile:. So, the most economical option is to just get the textbook, Strong Fundamentals, and then pull your own selections for the copywork/dictation, for all four years. The least economical is to get the textbook, workbook, and student pages, and then you have everything. I think what makes the most sense, though, is the workbook, and a set of student pages. You have everything you need; there is zero preparation/guesswork required. If you get just the workbook, you have to make copies of the student pages anyway. If you are interested in hearing what SWB has to say about writing in the textbook, I'd suggest downloading one of her audio lectures (Writing in the Elementary Years is great). It's all there. I think you asked about the line spacing in the workbooks. I'm sorry to say I'm too lazy to go measure, but I think it is similar to the Zaner-Bloser progression from first to fourth grade. Hope that helps.

I've been stressing about this too! Fwiw, in one of SWB's lectures, she says she sends the other children to "sing in the bathroom" or run around the house, while she asks each child individually for their narration. I figure I will try that, and also alternating who narrates first, and see what works. HTH

Great thread - I'm in the same boat! My dd7 loved Secret Garden, but couldn't get into Little Princess. Loved the first two Little House books, but didn't want to go further. Now she's gone off on a biography tear instead. She loves the "Who is?" series and is particularly interested in the "girl" ones - Sacagawea, Maria Tallchief, Annie Oakley, etc. Had to get them from the library because she goes through them so fast! I'll second the recommendations for Mandy and All of a Kind Family. Also, didn't see Heidi, by Johanna Spyri anywhere. My DD's absolute favorite so far. HTH

When you do check the work, is it a disaster, or is it mostly right? If it's mostly right, I don't see any reason to stress about it. You just go back and review the problem areas, or go through those problems with them. One of the nice things about SM is that the reviews really do bring in all the previous topics in one way or another, so if there are areas with problems, it will be obvious! I'd also suggest getting the answer keys. At least for the US edition, there is one book with answers to 1A-3B text and workbook. While I'm sure you don't "need" it, it does make checking the work a lot faster. You could also just check the workbook pages more often, and the other ones less frequently, or on an as needed basis when you see problems in the workbook. Also, if you are sitting with them anyway while they do math, you can switch back and forth. So, one day, watch one child doing the problems. You can see what they aren't getting just by watching. Then, do the same the next day for the other child. Hope that helps

I haven't started planning yet. I did start reading through the lessons. It doesn't seem that bad. I will need time to wrap my mind around it, but I think half hour per lesson should be enough - maybe more in the beginning. But, I don't think I will be supplementing much. If the kids show extra interest in an area, then we'll get additional books, do activities, etc., but for now I'm thinking we go through this book once, and then on the next go round (the next level), we will go more in depth. I don't want to overwhelm them. We'll save our extra reading for history and literature. The beauty of this program for me is that it is so cohesive - it makes the connections for me, so I don't have to :). FWIW, Dr. Nebel also said he doesn't see much need for supplementation, aside from pointing out in the real world examples of what they've been studying, for reinforcement.

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, by Bernard Nebel I haven't started using it yet, but I'm another one that fell in love with it when I found it. It's organized so beautifully and makes so much sense. It's not an expensive book, and it come with free support via a yahoo group hosted by the author. It's meant for K-2, but has apparently been used with older kids successfully. I'm planning on using it with a 1st and 3rd grader, and hoping to make it through all 40 lessons in about a year or so. The next books are supposed to be out this summer, but I don't know if that will actually happen. HTH

Aubrey, I think you just don't worry about the missed topics until they show up later. From what I've seen of later texts, they review those topics anyway. HTH,

:iagree: I posted a full reply in the other thread.

I started with US editions because that was what was available. I've always really liked it. I agonized over whether to switch to Standards. I was suspicious of Cal standards, but saw that the publisher considers them more rigorous. Anyway, I spent time looking through the comparison of the scope and sequence, and I ordered both versions of 5A and 5B to take a look. I decided to stick with US, mostly because I didn't see anything truly compelling to make the switch from something that wasn't broken. Some of the major differences, like adding place value to the billions, I just found annoying. Others, like negative numbers, exponents, and square roots, are important to me, but I realized they are covered in NEM1, and would be in any preaglebra/algebra text. I also liked that there is a test booklet for Standards, but the reviews work just fine for that purpose, especially when you add in the ones from the textbooks. So, we stayed with US and I am at peace :). HOWEVER, I am very comfortable teaching math, and I have not yet needed the HIG (we're just finishing up 5B). I never used the textbooks until 4A. Mostly we've just used the workbooks. If you need the HIG, it does sound from the comments that you'd be better off with Standards. I have both sets (including HIGs) for level 5 - if anyone wants me to compare anything side by side, I'd be happy to do so. hope this helps!

Here you go - it's from School Specialty (formerly EPS at epsbooks.com). I don't know if it is sold anywhere else. http://intervention.schoolspecialty.com/products/details.cfm?seriesonly=900m

I also recommend skipping EB and going to 1A. You could probably just get the workbook. I have all the text books, and didn't touch any of them until 4B I think. OTOH, getting the textbook won't hurt, and you'll have the reference to decide going forward.

We use Kumon to supplement Singapore Math. Dd1 started at 5 and a bit, and dd2 started at 4. I'm a HUGE fan. It's a big hump to get over at first, with lots of resistance from the kids, but once you get over that and it's part of the routine, it's pretty painless to keep up with it. Dd1 has been able to fly through a lot of the Singapore math, simply because she knows her math facts cold. Dd2 is going more slowly, because she started younger, but she's still almost a year ahead of where dd1 was at the same age. It's pretty low maintenance, about five minutes a day (except when they are learning a new area). It's not a stand alone curriculum, but I think it's the perfect complement to SM, which really doesn't have a drill component. Hope that helps.