I mean, does it teach parts of books, the dewey decimal system, etc.? Sorry to ask in this thread, but this is something I was wondering about with FLL3. I was thinking to do R&S next year, but hve been re-thinking. This thread is helping me see the difference. Thanks!

My husband hates the number lines because he says, "When are you going to have a number line in front of you in real life?" BUT, I have been told by math teachers that it is a tool to be used for mental math. I agree that they should be used AFTER manipulatives.

I have been afterschooling with my children for about a year and a half and they are a similar age to yours. One advantage I had was that they get out of school at 1:00 here (though afterschool sports keep them at school until 2:45 some days). Having said that, I found it important to recognize their limits. After they have spent a full day at school it is somtimes difficult to be energized enough to do math, English, reading, spelling, etc. On a day that they look extra tired, I expect less output. Also, on heavy homework days we do less work. On the other hand, on days they look more energized or have less homework, I will expect a lot of work (and they usually meet my expectations). It usually evens out. Another thing I use are days off. If they have a day off from school, then we do about an hour or two in the morning. I find that we don't usually have big events planned every time anyway. A morning for work and then an afternoon of play is usually better for them to keep from watching too much T.V., etc. Another important decision I've made is to keep my curriculum VERY open and go. That cuts down on prep time and leaves more time for working with them. With all of that said, I think about afterschooling with kids in grade 7 and above and I think it would be quite difficult to find time/balance. It really does get busy. :)

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. I'm really looking forward to Miquon. I'm considering taking a break from other things for a few months (starting in June) and just doing this. :)

I saw a thread on a similar topic, but I wanted to ask again for clarification. I am looking at both Miquon and Singapore Math. Can anyone tell me if there are kits available for either/both of those? If not, can you tell me what is REQUIRED, not just suggested? Thank you!

I used 100 EZ lessons with my two olders and had they are both amazing readers. They decode far above grade level and have both been in spelling bees through school (I afterschool presently). Having said that, I am on lesson 52 with my youngest daughter and I have decided to use ETC primers and Bob Books, too. She just isn't enjoying it enough to continue with only that curriculum. I never noticed any issue with the blends (sh, ch) presented hooked together. By the end of the book, the language is exactly as it looks in a regular book. It is easy, straightforward, and gives all sorts of practice. It is worth a look at the library.

If asked to choose, like others have said, I would not know how to live like Jesus if I didn't read the Bible. When it comes to right behavior (acting like Jesus), there is only one place to get the answer: scripture. For our children, we can find lots of sources to help them understand right behavior (I'm assuming here that the statement "living like Jesus" means behavior that is moral or "christian"- I could be reading this wrong). At the end of the day, however, what is the reason we treat others kindly, care for our neighbors, etc.? The purpose is found in scripture alone. I would like to add that I agree that it is no good to read the Bible in an academic sense, but not truly hear and respond. Even non-believers can do that. We can trust that the Holy Spirit is working, through God's Word, to help us "live like Jesus".

No answers- but wondering about this myself. What are the real advantages of the label "gifted" and how many of us use that term too liberally? It is really a very small portion of the population. Looking forward to replies.

We plan to homeschool next year and have been after schooling to prepare. We are doing similar subjects. After spending some time here I can honestly say that the reason I spend time thinking about it is because I hear that the first year is slow. I want to avoid that and have a smooth transition. Well, as smooth as possible. God bless your preparations. I look forward to hearing how it goes for you. We plan to start in July, 2012.

It is this kind of nonsense that has sent me packing from FB. I don't do it, don't answer my email requests for "notifications pending", and I don't feel like I'm missing something either. It has become much less about "keeping in touch" and much more about one-upping everyone else, kwim? Sorry that this happened to you. :grouphug:

I am often on these boards just to soak up collective wisdom, get new ideas, prepare for next year, or challenge my thinking. But I often don't have too much to say for similar reasons as the op, and since I'm new to this I'm thinking: who will want my limited opinion re: curriculum? Recently I was slightly discouraged because of the post count discussion, but I appreciate the parents who are willing to take their time to post ideas, share, etc. for someone who may not be ready to "give back" yet. I don't plan to have a blog and I'm pretty sure I won't get to 1,000 posts any time soon, but I know that I enjoy what everyone here shares. Thanks for starting this thread.

I want to preface this with: I haven't read the book. I've only read parts of the book and op eds from newspapers, etc. I have also talked with MANY moms here that consider themselves to be "tiger moms" based on their reading of the book. When dh and I first heard about it, we discussed our current situation. We work with Chinese Indonesians. They consider themselves Chinese before they consider themselves Indonesia, kwim? Anyway, we considered the folks we know here and how many of them are tiger-moms/dads. What has this done for them? Well, in many cases it has given them the academic edge that is lacking in most of the western (U.S., Australia) kids at the same school. The work ethic here is very different than what we experienced in the U.S. (we worked at private schools there). At the lower grades, the parents are asking for more homework, they have the kids involved in nearly every extra curricular you can imagine, and every 6 to 12th grade student has a math tutor that works with them at least twice a week (not to help with existing homework, but to give them more work). On the other hand, they are a shame-based culture. Everyone, old or young, operates on avoiding shame. Ranking is very important, and appearances are everything (no matter what is underneath). I am inspired to require more from my own children because of these people, but I am hesitant to go for appearances and shame. A healthy dose of reality (read: sometimes that includes a feeling of shame) is important. Loving family relationships are important. Using your God-given talents is important. I believe it is more than one of these in isolation, it is all of them in appropriate doses.

I'm sorry this is happening to your dd! I think that this kind of thing happens in schools (private and public) and the teachers have too many other issues to deal with . . . so, nothing happens to resolve it. Most parents probably chalk it up to "kids being kids", but that doesn't make it better for anyone. On a side note, and not to derail the conversation, this is one of the reasons that I have pushed for homeschooling my children. Not there yet, but looking at next year. I hope it gets better soon.

Good for him! Initiative is important, too, and it sounds like he is taking some ownership in this process. :)

When I used it last year, it did seem to take a long time. I had Saxon 1 and 2 (at the time dd5 and ds7). I did get discouraged by the length of time it took. It probably took about 1 1/2 hours. But I would/will use Saxon 1,2,3 for my girls again and I enjoy the activities we do together from the curriculum. Math is pretty important and it feels like time well-spent in the long run. ETA: We afterschool currently, but if I were homeschooling I would schedule math as one of the first subjects in the day. And I would do the meeting with both of my kids at the same time and then work individually after the joint meeting.

I started my two older dc in piano at 4 yrs., but the first year they played was so simple that I almost regret the money we spent. I could have done that with them at home on my own! For my dd4, however, we took a different approach. I bought a "Music for Little Mozarts" book and CD and we work through that slowly and simply a couple of times a week. I plan to start in her at age 5 with an actual piano teacher. My husband (a music major) and I both feel that piano is a good starting place because it teaches kids how to read music. After third grade (or age 9/10) the kids will be allowed to choose another instrument if they would like. Or if they have plugged along for 4/5 years, and decide music isn't for them they can stop. By that time they will (hopefully) have a strong foundation.

Some of the artists from the Usborne collection: Michelangelo, Manet, Kandinsky, Vermeer, Magritte, Rembrandt, Millais, Degas, Dali, Cezanne, Klimt, Munch, Matisse, van Gogh These are the typical famous ones. HTH!

I agree with boundaries. They should be respected once they are made known. As a parent we should help our kids understand boundaries and guard their own. My suggestion stemmed from a simple wondering what the boundaries are in a situation like this. If this were a devout Jewish family, for example, I would never have wondered. I was not judging- just wondering.

I think if you are strong in what you believe, you shouldn't let your children be given the right (while they live at home, are young, etc.) to decide their faith. I want my children to believe what I believe because it has eternal consequences and I believe it is TRUTH (not matter of opinion). BUT, if you don't have ANY beliefs or aren't sure, why not look at them critically and try to decide if one of them you believe. Don't we try to teach children to think critically in other ways?

Reading this, I was sad to hear that you fear your children will be rejected by a Christian family (and sad to hear that it had indeed already happened). I am a Christian- one who sees it as a blessing to share my faith with others. I am naturally drawn to other Christians, of course, but I would not reject friendship with a person of no faith/other faith. I would probably not engage them in close friendship because my faith is so much a part of who I am, but I would not reject their friendship altogether. I think most Christians would agree that God does not call us to separate living with the world. My suggestion is that you talk with the parents in a non-confrontational way. Maybe you could tell them the back story and they would have a better idea of where your hesitation is coming from. You could try just speaking to them from the heart with concern for your children. Just a gentle question: have you considered letting your daughter go to the activity and make up her own mind? It doesn't sound like you have an opposing viewpoint to guard. Just a thought.

I have looked over/searched through threads on this topic, but I think I need to just ask the question for my situation and get collective wisdom. My ds8 (newly 8) is a quick learner, picks things up fast, and doesn't seem to need a lot of review. We afterschool and we did Saxon 2 last year and he never complained, but it was never a challenge. We are using MM this year- same issue: never complains, but never too challenged. I have to add that my struggle with this probably comes from not wanting to buy two separate math programs- one for ds8 and one for dd6 (who could use lots of math repetition). Is Singapore Math the answer for ds8? How about for dd6? Any thoughts?

I can tell you that it includes the obvious and "famous" ones: DaVinci, Renior, Van Eyck, Picasso, Carvaggio and I think Warhol is even there (Pop Art). If you want me to get more specific I would be happy to do that. I'm on the other side of the world (Indonesia), however, and I'll have to get back to you tomorrow. I'm away from home now and can't check them until tonight. Just thinking for your age kids . . . have you seen the Katie books? They are awesome for introducing art. One of my favorites is Katie and the Impressionists- it includes Renior and Monet and several of their works. Scholastic sells them fairly cheaply- I'd love to have all the Katie books- but I think a good library may have them, too.

We like Artistic Pursuits. It gives a lot of help on techniques and then dc create their own work using said techniques.

Yes, we bought these in July and we are loving them. They are thick and can be handled by little hands (or even 8yo hands- not little, but not gentle!!) Not too pricey either.

I can't answer this because there is no group where I am, but I am seriously considering getting involved when we return to the states. I was just looking at the website. I would love to hear more about American Heritage Girls. :bigear: