Thanks, all. I'll look into these... I don't know much about them, so some research is in the works. Do DIVE and Art Reed DVDs correspond to the Saxon lessons as they are laid out in the textbook? My son and youngest daughter do very well with Saxon, so I'm reluctant to give it up... I may just brush up on my math and teach them myself, but I'm reluctant to do that into some of the highschool math levels. From the very little research I've done, the DIVE and Art Reed are similarly priced, but one is from a Christian worldview and one is not, is that correct? Thanks again!

Hi, all! I am looking ahead for a good middle grade and up math curriculum. I am currently using Saxon, but I noticed that the Saxon Teacher cds are very expensive if bought along with the homeschool kit. Teaching Textbooks is around $40-50 cheaper, but is it worth it? What are the strengths of each? Where are the weaknesses? Any input or experience with these is welcome! I want to make the best informed decision that I can. :-)

Thanks!

I was just wondering if there's a way to delete old posts, particularly in the "sale and swap" board? I am sure it is there, staring me in the face and I am just missing it... Thanks!

I was thinking of doing a weekly or bi-monthly logic puzzle with my kiddos (2nd, 3rd, 5th grades) this year. Anyone have a favorite they would like to suggest?

:iagree:

You are most certainly not alone! I have never had any of those things done except for a massage--and the only reason for that was because I got a gift certificate as a "Christmas bonus" one year! I've also never paid more than $15 to get a haircut, never darkened the door of a tanning salon, never purchased designer anything (though I do have some hand-me-downs!), don't wear jewelry other than my wedding ring, don't even have an engagement rint, and never felt the need to do any of these things nor felt that I should. Sadly, I'm so oblivious that I didn't even realize it until my husband mentioned it! :blushing: So you are not alone.

The spiral approach isn't working for him. He needs the more repetitive practice that Saxon uses. I also have a friend who taught high-school math before homeschooling who uses Saxon and recommends it.

Thanks all! I'm just nervous because he bombed the placement test for Saxon. :-( BUT, I do know that he (a) actually can do several of the ones he missed and was being lazy; (b) was still recovering from a bad cold, and © has been more focused on bike-riding weather than his schoolwork lately. I think I wish I'd switched to Saxon in 4th for him, but I do plan to make the switch in 4th for my girls.

Has anyone switched from Singapore Math to Saxon? I will make the switch for my now-4th grader next year and wondered if anyone has any advice or experience to share. Also, is the 5/4 for fourth grade and 6/5 for fifth? Thanks!

I have been trying to buy curriculum for next year and had been told about the WTM forums. My problem is: I don't seem to have the time or the habit of checking regularly! I am horribly inconsistant. :-( So I just want to apologize for anyone who I have asked about something or who has asked me and it took me a week to get back to! Somehow, I need to remember to check...

I used the Plaid Phonics this year for extra practice, but I did not buy any teacher supplies--just the workbooks. I had used A Beka phonics in the past for my girls, so the Plaid Phonics was just for extra practice. I liked the way it was structured, but again, we just used it to review concepts that they already knew. It has a little grammar practice built in, too, which is one thing I like about it.

I may just go with the good, old, teenage standard of cash folded in fun and funky origami shapes... :-) Thanks for all the gift-card ideas, too! They are kind of a farm family in a very small town, so cash might be the best bet. It just struck me that there was a kid involved this year! I'm really, really glad I thought about it before they arrived. That would be horrid.

I have a Christmas gift-giving protocol question... What would you do with the 14-year-old son of your dad's live-in companion who is also a former stepmom? (She was my stepmom when I was a teenager, they divorced years ago, and have recently "shacked up"). They are all coming to visit for Christmas next weekend. What does one do?!? Buy a gift? Not buy a gift? Laugh hysterically at the absurdity of the whole situation?!? Thanks for your input!

Sounds like a migraine to me, absolutely. There are many good medications out there, but many of them have potentially ugly side-effects, as well. Ask your daughter if she has any warning signs that a headache is coming... Sometimes, migraines come with an "aura" that precipitates the actual head pain, often including visual disturbances. For me, I will be uncontrollably irritable about 12 hours before a migraine, and will sometimes get a sensation in my head on the left side behind my eye (where my migraines are) that is not painful but warns that one is coming. Hard to describe... Anyway my point is that if she has a warning, she may be able to take something and head it off (no pun intended). Some of my tricks include eating some protein with a little caffiene (tea works) will help. I also use large doses of magnesium (I have a liquid mineral supplement), as migraine sufferers have been found to have low magnesium levels just before and during a migraine for some reason. Failing those, I take naproxen. If all else comes to naught, I will take Imitrex. I would encourage you to help your daughter "track" her headaches and to see her doctor. Sometimes you can identify "triggers" if you have a record of what happened or what she ate, etc. just before the migraine. If the headaches are bad, a drug like Imitrex or Maxalt can be incredible. Personally, I do not take them unless nothing else works because I have known the "1 in 10,000" person (in the fine print of the medications) who had a dangerous reaction, although such reactions are very rare. For me, taking the medicine is much better than losing 2-5 days to a migraine. Try this link for info on how to track the migraines. Hope this helps!