I'm using this book (from our library) with my recently turned 5yo. We started out with a letter a day for for a few days until I realized my 5yo was learning them faster than I could teach them. She whipped through letters and sounds in a couple of weeks (not using the book) by just pointing them out in books we read and I also asked her everyday about the sounds of letters. Plus, we play lots of games to help with sounds/letters and this past month she's been reading -at and -an words (with stories) with Hooked on Phonics Kindergarten - thanks to our library. Go at your child's pace and keep it fun.

We do the Mindbenders as well. My two kids also love logic games like the ones by Thinkfun - Chocolate Fix or Railroad Rush Hour to name a few.

Thanks, I just signed up my 5yo. :)

It sounds more like your husband didn't think you did well - meaning keeping the house clean. I think the problem is two-fold. 1 - your hubby is perhaps jealous that you're home all day "doing nothing" while he's at "work." 2- Since you have all boys he's probably concerned about the whole mama's boy thing and thinks school will toughen your son up. (Some) Men are not into the touchy-feely idea of "babying" kids. They approach life as a job - you just do it. My advice - clean up or at least pretend to (especially the rooms hubby spends the most time) - do the dishes or fold the clothes just as he's walking in the door. Also, maybe sign your son up for some kind of team sport that he might enjoy (that might cover the tough part for hubby). You could also make a "schedule" with days and times so your hubby knows exactly what you're doing and when - you don't have to follow it. Mostly, you need to feel confidant that you're making the right choices and doing your best. If you want to homeschool then stand firm, while taking his thoughts into consideration. Men like to be in charge so make him feel like he's part of the decision and you could also point out how the public school's reading and math percentiles against national averages are soooo low. And maybe join a co-op so hubby knows your son is around other kids. My 5yo hated going to preschool so we joined a co-op that she loves (because mom's there). It was good for her and my hubby was pleased too.

If you really want it but not pay $20 then Alibris has it for under $4 plus s/h (I just peeked at their site). :)

I actually have a copy I got from a trip to Italy. So I wanted to offer my help. I just looked and you can go to Amazon and Alibris for an Italian only copy. Good luck. :001_smile:

I can't wait to see it. :lol:

I didn't realize learning cursive was an issue. I thought kids learned to write in cursive as they would any subject. The article was a little shocking regarding the lack of cursive skills people have. It almost sounds like an epidemic. I wouldn't blame schools (as the article implies) since they are notorious for not meeting the public's standard. If parents are in touch with their kids academic life they should pick up the slack at home and help their kids out. I personally would never rely on a school to be the beginning and ending of learning. It happens at home in the beginning and should continue that way whether the kids are homeschooled or attend school.

I agree with Nancextoo..... My 7yo is in school (grade 1) from 8am-3:30pm and home by 4pm. Her school is very challenging and often the work she brings home is a year ahead. We do "weekend/summer schooling" for fun only and so I can put my two cents in. From my own personal experience I wouldn't put too much stock into what the other kids are reading. I'd hear tall tales last year about grade K kids reading 3rd grade books only to find out it was the parents pumping up their kids. Parents and kids will say anything to make themselves sound better. Don't let your kid feel down about it, she might be reading better than she thinks. My daughter reads at a very very high level simply because she loves reading and she sees her family reading. We're always at the library getting books. Read to her and have her read to you. Let her pick out books that interest her. You could try Hooked On Phonics (or any reading program at your library) and have her read through the stories and little books until it gets difficult. Always encourage her and make it fun not a chore or she'll lose interest. And also, pick a time when she feels the most alert like in the morning on the weekend. Sometimes I'll sneek in a "homeschooling" during the week but she's at her best on the weekend. Hope this help.

My 7yo is in first grade using EM. I have no real gripes against EM. At home we use Singapore Math which she loves because of the pictures and I love because it follows a logical sequence of learning.

Logic is one of the main components in a classical education and it's loads of fun. So why not introduce them to the young ones. There are similar "Building" books out there. We love the mind benders as well. Here's our list: -Mind Benders Deductive Thinking Skills Verbal K-2 (really fun, e.g. Levi is Sarah's brother. Naomi is Levi's sister. How is Naomi related to Sarah?) -Mind Benders Deductive Thinking Skills Beginning Book 2 Gr. 1-2 (easy and fun - using a chart to match up clues about people or things) We also do for fun: -Balance benders Beginning (fun but more challenging since the book is for grades 2-6 and all are based on algebra concepts - you're given shapes balancing on a scale and you select correct possibilities) -Math Analogies Beginning K-1 (really fun and easy (it's a mix of pictures, words and numbers e.g. picture of a little bird : picture of a big bird :: picture of a little fish: draw what comes next here) -Complete the Picture Math Book 2 Gr 2 (answer the math word problem and complete and color the pictures for the of it) And I have to add these two from Mindware.com - you have to check out their site -Math Perplexos Level A Gr 3-4 (they fun but take a while since they're more involved) -Code Breakers Level A Gr 3-6 (My 7yo really likes these, they're fun and easy to do. You given an addition problem with colored circles and an answer O + O=10 then O + O + O = 12 you match the colors with numbers. Sometimes I make my own up using shapes. These books are all reasonably priced and even more so with a coupon. Hope this helps. :)

First you should see if she understands the concept of multiplying. Review the Singapore Math books to make sure. It starts as early as 1B. I didn't think my 7yo was ready for the times tables but in Singapore Math 1B they introduce adding groups and she caught on really quickly (four bananas in three baskets). So I thought about getting a program just for times tables for the near future and I read about Times Tales. Their web site lets you download a part of their book. It uses mnemonic devices in stories to help you remember the harder to remember times tables. It seems a little strange to me but it seems to work according to the reviews. Another option: Timez Attack it's a free download First you take a pretest and then star the game. Your "person" goes through a dungeon or palace and solves times tables while collecting keys and meets a troll to see if you recall what you learned. You go through the whole place and end it by reviewing all the times tables. I am not into computer games for learning at all but I found about this one from a blog and checked it out simply out of curiosity. I didn't even think my 7yo would be able to do it, but when she caught on it was simple for her - she has a basic understanding on the multiplication process. I only let her play once in a while. The first time she played she by the end she knew the 2s and 3s times table. It might not be what you're looking for, but maybe it's worth looking at.

:iagree: I love their books but I feel the same way....do I really need to buy this...are my kids missing something. You can always look at sample pages to get ideas and make up your own problem. I think you can even download a sample book.

I bought something from ebay on Feb. 18, it was mailed the 24th and I'm still waiting. I emailed the seller and she told me she sent it Media Mail because it's the cheapest way to mail booksand she was trying to make money off the $4 s/h I paid. The post office told me it's the cheapest way therefore the slowest way - bottom of the list. Fingers crossed just the same. I think ebay sellers should really let buyers know how long it might take so we're not looking in mailbox every second. Good luck and let us know when you get your books.

Hi Not to get off topic but I noticed the mention of everyday math. My now first grader had it in Kindergarten and what I had read about really turned me off. In the classroom though she was doing tons of mental math and it seemed like lots of the activities and classwork that at least one grade level ahead which really bothered me (e.g. counting to 100 by October, using money in a classroom store, double digit addition). At the time I bought the math journals for grade and they seemed harmless. My daughter does great with Singapore math (started in preschool) but when she went to a private school for Kindergarten the teacher was so concerned that it took until March to count to 100 and that she still used her fingers for adding. The math journals for grade 1 look okay. We Singapore and Miquon here and there and would never use everyday math but for those that are not fans please clue me in to why. I'm not a fan either but I haven't had much expetience with it. Please give me your views. Thanks

Hi, I use the U.S. edition and am currently using 1B/2A with my first grader. We also use the Challenging Word Problems 1 which she loves as well. Singapore 1A does a good job with number stories for subtraction. The first chapter in 1B is comparisons of numbers with adding and subtraction. it's mostly number stories and subtracting methods (6-2=4, 6-4=2). Maybe you could just have him do the MM with the Singapore math as being a reward. He might even go through the subtraction faster. Or you could always start 1B by just turning the pictures in the book into number stories and then just do lots of practice and games with number stories - that way you're both happy. If he already understands the process of adding then he catch on to subtracting. Good luck :)

Hi, I'm new here too, but I've been reading posts for about a year. I've only ever used Singapore math for my two kids. My oldest is in first grade using 1B/2A + Challenging Word Problems 1 and my youngest uses the Earlybird Kindergarten books so I can't say for the older elementary years, but I like the approach Singapore math has and so do my kids. We also throw in a little Miquon math. You mentioned using Mammoth Math. When I went to the Mammoth Math web site I felt like I was looking at sample pages of Singapore math. Marie Miller lets you download 300 pages for free. I haven't looked at them yet though. I've read that the two series are similar, but MM says they have more practice problems. I haven't used BJU or Saxon, but I've read that if you use Saxon sometimes students are only able to do the problems in that book in contrast to Singapore math where you are able to apply your skills anywhere. I feel like people choose Saxon because it's more like what you'd find in schools, but Singapore math seems more fun and less expensive especially at Christianbook.com. Try a placement test at the Singapore web site and see where your kids would fit. Mostly see what your kids enjoy more and are having more success with. Good luck :001_smile: