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I know Chalkdust has great dvds with their courses. How do they compare with the Jacobs dvds? Are their dvds for Foerster? Where would be the best site to see or buy these courses? Thanks so much for your help as we make our first venture into high school math! Lillian

I am looking at Foerster's Algebra 1, Jacobs Elementary Algebra, and Chalkdust Algebra 1 for ds in 8th this year. He just completed MUS Pre-Algebra and is ready to move on. He is a very good math student, understands it conceptually, and does well with the actual working of problems. However, he is not, at this point, interested in a math or science-related occupation, but we want him to have a strong math program for high school. He is very bright, but he does not work quickly. Could you compare these programs or comment on them? I do like the idea of a DVD to teach the course. I could study ahead and teach it, but I don't have time. I would rather be in the role of helping him if he needs it. Thanks! Lillian

Understanding the big picture well describes dd. I'm going to look at a placement test for Singapore. Lillian

Anyone else?

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Hi, I'm about to take the plunge and try IEW next year. It will mainly be for my ds in 8th and ds in 7th, with dd, 5th and dd, 4th listening in. My boys have done a lot of writing, and I'd like to downplay the style part some. Mainly, I'd like to move my oldest up to doing essays and other longer papers and give him practice taking notes, etc. The next boy just needs more structure with his writing. So I'll get the TWSS, but I'm not sure if I should get the SWI B or C? I'll probably also get the American History writing lessons. TIA! Lillian

I have done a program with dd with a neurodevelopmentalist for the past two years which has included me doing Spectrum Math with her. I do a problem and then she does one just like it, so I model the problem and she sees it, instead of much explanation. We just finished the 4th grade book. Now for fifth grade, I'm looking at Rod and Staff Math, Teaching Textbooks, or something else? She's now ten and understands math mentally very well, but she has a hard time remembering the mechanics. She doesn't want to do much on the computer, but I've been told she can do TT mostly from the book. I'd like her to have some more explanation than she's had on the whys of math, but not too much. Also I need for her math to take me as little time as possible. Which of these do you think, or do you have a better idea? Thanks, Lillian

then I'd do P 4/5. I've done that core three times. It's very good too. I've done both with my youngest, who just turned 6. She will do K for 1st next year. I actually just started it with her, and it will be perfect. I bought P 3/4 when it came out just for her, since I had read all our picture books so many times- LOL! I'm so glad I did. They are both great! HTH, Lillian

I ordered the Sentence Family for dd #1, and I may get Winston Grammar for dd #2. I'll look at the Sentence Family first to see. Lillian

How long did a day of Winston Basic take for you and your ds? I'm going to check out Sentence Family too. I had thought about R&S a year or two behind, but I'm not sure that would make sense to dd #2. With my youngest, dd #3, I can probably do R&S like I did with my boys. Thanks! Lillian

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I have used R&S English for my two oldest ds for several years, from 4th-7th grades. They will complete the program, at least through 8th, and I feel they have a very good background of and understanding of the English language. Next I have two dds, who are a different story. DD #1 is in 4th grade and is dyslexic, so we've done a lot of intense phonics followed by another program to help her develop in various ways. Now I'm doing FLL 1/2 quickly with her plus a lot of copywork. I've done FLL 1/2 with dd #2. This year in 3rd, I tried FLL 3 last fall, but have flopped around with her in Grammar. We are ending the year with R&S 3. She understands most of the individual lessons but doesn't have the retention her brothers did. She's bright, but isn't a detailed thinker. She's much more a hands-on Science girl. So while I think R&S is the best, I'm not sure what route to go. I want to begin something in the fall we will stick with. I'd like to teach them together, but they're very competitive. My thoughts are to finish what we are doing now, then begin with R&S 4 together or separately and keep going as long as it takes to finish. My other idea is Winston Grammar Basic, as long as it takes. I think DD #2 would like the hands-on aspect, but R&S is so thorough, I hate for them to miss it. Thank you for reading this far. Ideas? Lillian

My two ds completed Latina Christiana 1 and 2. For various external reasons, we did not do Latin this year. They have just weekly reviewed the vocabulary. Next year they will be in 7th and 8th grade. I am looking at either First Form Latin or Henle Latin. They will do it together independently of me. What are your recomendations? Thanks, Lillian

This sounds good, especially the working independently part! Thanks, Lillian

If you've used this Latin program, what does a typical week look like, both for your student and for you? Thanks, Lillian

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Just curious. How did it work out? Thanks, Lillian

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Just curious. If you did, how did it work out? (I like different parts of both programs, along with Sonlight books- LOL!) Thanks, Lillian

I'm having a hard time finding the right fit for LA for dd, who'll be in 4th next year. FLL didn't stick with her like it did for my boys. This year we've bounced between FLL 3, R&S 3, with some LLATL and other copywork thrown in. She is the lazy/ gifted type, feminine but not too girly, and reads all the time. I think she might really like this, but I don't have a whole lot of time to give it. I can give it some time, but not a lot. How much time does it take you at the lower levels? Thanks, Lillian

I am trying to decide on Algebra 1 for ds, who'll be in 8th next year. He's done MUS from 3rd (Gamma) - Pre-Algebra now and has done well. I am looking at MUS, Jacob's, and wondering what else I should look at. I can help him, as can dh (who's an engineer), but I need for ds to be almost completely independent. We'll have a lot going on next year! He is very good at math, but doesn't work quickly and is much more of a history/ literary guy. Are there any sites where I can see a sample of Jacob's Algebra? What would you recommend? Thanks, Lillian

I am researching upper level math for my ds, who'll be doing Algebra 1 next year in 8th. He's currently in MUS Pre-Algebra, but he's a strong math student and ready for a change. He will probably go through Calculus in high school, but he's more of a history/ literature type guy long-term. I've looked at Chalkdust and Jacobs, both of which look pretty good, and Teaching Textbooks, which we don't care for. With everything else we'll have going on next year, I need him to be pretty independent. I can help, as can dh, who's an engineer. Any thoughts on these or other texts like Lial's or old Dolciani? Thanks for any thoughts or links you can share. Lillian

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