This makes a lot of sense, thank you!

We currently live in PA, which requires testing starting in grade 3. Our DD is in grade 1, but I'm thinking of testing every year starting with grade 1 so that the mandatory test isn't the first she's ever taken, and so I have some sort of documentation should she ever end up going to a B&M school. The Montessori school she *almost* attended uses Stanford starting in grade 1. I have a college degree, but from outside the US (ditto for DH). She is working above grade level for the most part. I'd like to administer the test myself, and with minimal hoopla... Any suggestions? I'm looking at Stanford and ITBS, but don't really have a firm opinion at this point. I've read the threads that came up on a search here. :tongue_smilie: Finally, mandatory schooling (and reporting) here begins at age 8, so I've not submitted anything at all at this point. If I do test " informally" (i.e. for practice and my own information) now, will I have to surrender the scores when I start reporting, or can I just use them for my own reference and pretend she never took them? A silly question, but I'm just wondering if there's some scenario I'm not thinking of now and should avoid... Thank you!:bigear:

:bigear: (appreciating this discussion immensely)

We are using Adventures in America from Elemental History - I can't elaborate right now, but I know Angela/Satori has blogged about it.

Is the G3 sign up only in the fall? Darn! I though I read somewhere there was a winter semester sign up coming up. :confused: I've actually been waiting to buy brain pop in hopes of getting the combo through G3. Good to know if it's only in the fall- I'd be waiting a long time! :lol:

Congratulations!!! A new life is a blessing, I wholeheartedly agree :D, and, at the end of the day, you are only accountable to God. He entrusted you with this new life, and He will make a way. In the meantime, may all the negative comments just roll off your back - it certainly isn't easy...:grouphug:

Not the one who originally asked, but I found reading through this very helpful- thank you so much for taking the time to type it out! :)

Oh my goodness - thank you! :D

We're NW of the city - near McCandless / Franklin Park. My DH works in Aliquippa, Sewickley and Ohio Valley hospital near Moon. He can be called in in the middle of the night, so a relatively short commute is fairly important ... I agree about the libraries :)

Hmmm - why? I don't know those areas at all, so I'm genuinely asking :). We were thinking Madison because my parents loved it the short year we lived there - I was barely 3 yrs old; I'm sure things have changed some... ;)

If a child is comfortably working at a 1B - 2A level in Singapore Math, and is choosing pages from the very end of Miquon Orange (sometimes) and (mostly) Red in the first two weeks of consistent work with Miquon...how important is it that she use the rods? She's been introduced to them and is familiarized with them, but doesn't really use them. It seems the logical answer is to let her choose whether or not she needs a manipulative, but I have read they are also later used for thousands, etc. :confused:

Thank you all very much! Your answers- all of them - were very helpful! :) This gives me a much, much better frame of reference to start with. I will go look at the Wand as well.

:lurk5:

Help me figure this out, please.... I have read that BW does not have a lot of hand holding, but what does one need to read before teaching it? Is TWJ background philosophy, or a basis on how to teach? Is there some other instruction for the teacher? I've ordered Arrow for future use, and feel like I'm just not getting some vital part of the program. Thank you! :)

Wow - thank you all so much! Michigan seems to be a top contender. I actually intend to look at every single suggestion with my DH, though. :D We were casually thinking Madison, WI or Urbana-Champaign, IL. Interesting that the Hive is not really thinking that... :lol:

A quick --getting ready to start dinner with a baby on my hip-- thank you. But a thank you nonetheless! :)

Off to consult my map! :D :auto:

We are thinking of moving, and are looking for the ideal (for us) place to finally settle down. I will preface the list of "wants" with a disclaimer :D - obviously, I realize that no place is going to have it all and etc.... But it's fun to dream, and we're starting with a list of ideals, that may be totally unrealistic as a whole. I will appreciate all the suggestions I can get as well. We lived in upstate NY- climate and topography were ideal (job market was not). We currently live near Pittsburgh - cultural advantages are great, topography not so much... So... What city or state comes the closest to this: Snowy winters, not necessarily numbingly cold, Reasonable (not too too hot and muggy) summers, Ideally, we'd like 5-10 acres of somewhat private land, but not all on a 45 degree angle in the mountains... We like green - trees, forests etc. And lakes or rivers are nice as well. :) Must be near a major medical facility for DH's job. Would love fairly easy access to museums, good libraries, etc. Family is in WV and NC, so we'd hope to stay in the Northeast or Midwest. Friendly HS laws would be a huge plus (does it get any worse than NY or PA? Though I've not yet had to report yet- our eldest is 6). Please post your ideas/suggestions! Thank you! :)

Awesome- thank you! :)

Yes... I'm also doing some of this as well. It, um, depends on the topic... :) I'm skimming through this and trying to get an overall picture - I've looked at Core Knowledge int the past, but had forgotten about it... Thank you for the reminder! Does it seem to integrate the different sciences as does BFSU, or does it just seem that way? I have to go back and look at it more in depth. :tongue_smilie:

Thank you for the reply! This is exactly what I ended up doing! :D

OK, good. :D Welcome back, and glad to hear all is well!

We have, more than once - even to a different country (with a non-military job). That said, I really think this is a very individual decision, as different people prioritize different things. I tend to think through the worst case scenario and see which I just could not live with. I figure if the reality ends up being the best case scenario, then it will certainly be livable. Ironically, (and, I suppose further supporting the already obvious fact that all people are different), we are currently in Pittsburgh and dreaming of moving to Madison, WI. :lol:

Ditto this...

She seems to have suddenly become awfully quiet..... I hope everything is OK.