We have used TT for years and have loved it. My kids have great confidence in math which is a huge plus! However, I echo what a lot of other moms have said. It's not perfect and you have to WATCH what they are doing. I had one child skip almost a whole year of the practice problems because it didn't count against him. He spent the summer re-doing them. Also, because of TT, my kids don't think they have to do things on paper and try to do everything in their head. For the more advanced math (Geometry and Alg. 2), I prefer the older version of TT because it's too easy to just guess at the answers and get the right one, especially because it gives two choices. Having to grade their work daily, it keeps me accountable to checking their progress and being on track with where they are.

Thank you all for the great input! I'm learning a ton.

My 5th grade son is just finishing TT Algebra and I am looking for something more challenging for him for next year. It was recommended that he do AoPS pre-algebra. He's not too thrilled about the "pre-algebra" title, but when he took the placement test from their site, that seems to be the right fit. He is used to being "taught" a lesson with TT. What is the instruction like in AoPS. We can't afford their online class, so it would just be him, me, and the textbook. I had never heard about this program until a few days ago, so this is all new to me.

My 5th grade son is just finishing TT Algebra and I am looking for something more challenging for him for next year. It was recommended that he do AoPS pre-algebra. He's not too thrilled about the "pre-algebra" title, but when he took the placement test from their site, that seems to be the right fit. He is used to being "taught" a lesson with TT. What is the instruction like in AoPS. We can't afford their online class, so it would just be him, me, and the textbook. I had never heard about this program until a few days ago, so this is all new to me.

I agree with you about the foundation of algebra. I actually had all of my older kids take two years of algebra, using different curriculums. I will for sure be looking into the things that people have mentioned.

Looking at AoPS, a curriculum I've never heard of, would I just buy the text, or does it need to be done as an online class?

What is SM7?

My fifth grader has completed Teaching Textbooks through Algebra 1 with ease. I know T.T. is a little on the easy side, but I'm not sure I'm ready for my elem. schooler to start geometry or algebra 2 next year. He is still a normal 5th grader, even a little on the immature side. Does anyone have any ideas for how he could spend his year? I would love something supplemental that could challenge him, but that he would truly love.

I just don't want him to get burned out. While he is very bright, he is still a very normal almost sixth grader, a little on the immature side. I want him to continue to love math. At the rate he's going, he'll be doing calculus by 8th grade, so I figure if there's something a little on the alternative side out there that might be a challenge to him, this would be a good time to add it in.

My fifth grader has completed Teaching Textbooks through Algebra 1 with ease. I know T.T. is a little on the easy side, but I'm not sure I'm ready for my elem. schooler to start geometry or algebra 2 next year. Does anyone have any ideas for how he could spend his year? I would love something supplemental that could challenge him, but that he would truly love.

I too am trying to post items for sale and it keeps telling me I need one post. I honestly haven't logged in for well over a year, but do our previous postings expire? I also went to the forums and posted, so I have one recent post, but it still tells me I cannot post. Also, there are a lot of new features. Is posting an advertisement the same thing as posting an item to sell?

With the rising costs of college, the rapid increase of student debt, and the uncertainty of actually obtainign a job to pay off all that debt, we are really weighing the value of a college education at this point in time. Our oldest is a senior next year, and our current bent is encouraging her in her entrepeneurship, maybe enrolling to take some business and accounting classes without pursuing a degree, and developing her different home businesses. She currently has an Etsy store, raises meat goats, and is pursuing photography. Ultimately, she is really interested in being a stay-at-home mom some day. Our encouragement has been to find avenues in which she could supplement a family income without going into a financial pit of debt. Are we doing our child a disservice?

I try when cleaning each one to remember how grateful I am to have a house with such great natural light (we have about the same number of windows as you). When I get to the ones with the most fingerprints I try to remember how much higher those fingerprints are than they were last year and how much I will miss those fingerprints when the kids are grown. Happy Cleaning! Thanks so much for the great reminder to be thankful for our little mess makers. They grow too fast!

Thanks for posting this article. I was interested and horrified by it. It almost sounded as if the "feel" of the article was that Christian science publishers shouldn't be allowed to print these texts because they don't fit with the current scientific theory. The quote that these texts are "promulgating lies to kids" is exactly what I feel about secular texts. I am with you. Why should they care what the Christian publishers are doing?!

I have tried Phonics Pathways, SWR, OPGTR, and 100 EZ Lessons. This year, I started using Abeka. I love it! If I had it to do over again, I would definitely use Abeka. HTH.