We started CWP 4 the summer after MUS Delta. I forget how many we did per day, but that's when ds declared that they were evil :eek: Now, we do MUS 3x per week and 3 CWP the same days. I think I figured out that that would allow us to finish approximately the same time as MUS. It works better a little at a time, imo. I imagine that the bar diagrams are taught more in the regular books, but I don't really know. We just worked through the examples and muddled through the problems. Eventually, we both got better at them. Now I have to make sure to work the problems before he does so that I can help if necessary (it happens regularly). Sometimes, I have to go out to the Singapore website and ask for help (that happens regularly, too). The forums there are nice, helpful, and set up similarly to this one.

I used a teen babysitter one afternoon a week before I went to the rec center option. Dh did and still does provide childcare on Tuesdays.

and I'd still use it today if it was available. I work part-time from home. When we started hs'ing, dh was in school, so he was my childcare provider. When he graduated and got a ft job, I needed childcare. I used a local rec center. 200 kids in 8 groups of 25. Not ideal, but it worked. Ds (an extroverted only child in a nearly childless neighborhood) had a consistent group of kids to play with. I had time to work and run an errand without him. This year is junior high and the program changes. Much less supervision. Too many pre-teens with too little to do. Not a good environment. So, no more. Sigh! I encourage you to find the help you need. I completely understand about the mean mommy. I CANNOT do it all alone. Home day care providers take in after school children. Sue

My 12yo son would do no art, music, drama at all if it was his choice. He went to Kindermusik in 1st & 2nd grade. He has taken piano lessons starting in 3rd grade. This has been at my insistence. But, whenever he complains, I give him the choice of anything in the fine arts area: another instrument, choir, band, drama, art, maybe there are others. He always decides just to stick with piano. As to poetry, he's been exposed a bit. Nothing formal. I remember doing formal poetry study one year in high school. Sue

Ooh! Ooh! I can answer this. I came looking for something to tell me how I got a reputation. It shows up when I look in my profile or user control panel thingy! I was so proud of myself for getting a reputation.

We used Story of the World volume 1 through 4 starting in 2nd grade. I thoroughly enjoyed this curriculum. Honestly, the best part of this curriculum is learning history myself for the first time. I used to say that history was my weakest subject. I learned more in my son’s first year than I learned in my entire school career. I feel so good knowing that my son is being presented with history in a logical, engaging, and painless way. This curriculum allowed a history-ignorant mom to give her child a great introduction to world history and a love and enthusiasm for history as well. The readings are perfect for early elementary age – not too simple and not too difficult. The activity guide is a priceless resource, and we used every bit of it. That is what made the program so rich. Ds used the coloring pages while I read. We used the review questions usually verbally, but one year, I used the review questions to give my son practice in writing complete sentences. Doing narration and summary paragraphs helped with writing, although this was my son’s least favorite part. The map work was helpful. We borrowed many of the supplemental books from the library. We even read most of them. The activities and projects were fun and really helped to bring history alive and be remembered. We met with other families 2x a month to work on projects. Besides gathering the library books and project supplies, there really is no other preparation needed. For some people, this curriculum is too secular. For some people, this curriculum is too Christian. I prefer secular resources, and I thought SWB did a great job of introducing the different world religions in an unbiased manner. I highly recommend this program. It spoiled me. My only complaint is that that there is no similar program for logic age.

We used RS4K Physics Level 1 for 4th grade. My son is not particularly science oriented. Neither am I. Pros: • Excellent quality student's text • Some of the experiments were fabulous (rolling a matchbox car down a ramp into a line of banana slices pinned to a piece of cardboard to see how much force is needed to smash the banana) • Experiments did a great job of adding math into physics Cons: • Expensive curriculum • 10 week program • Some expensive supplies • Some experiments didn't work (especially when I bought those expensive supplies) • Some of the material was over MY head Overall, I found it expensive for a 10 week program. If I am going to have to supplement a 10 week program to make it last a year, I may as well create the year long program from scratch. My 20/20 hindsight.

We've been with MUS since K. I have a degree in math. Ds picks it up quickly.

I got it over the weekend and only made it through the first chapter. LOL! Of course, I'm only pulled in a dozen different directions. I plan on using it as a supplement to MUS Algebra. We usually torture, I mean supplement, with Singapore's CWP, so he'll probably love this.

Definitely need to use it in a group - probably the larger the better. We have used MindBenders, Perplexors, and the Dandy Lion logic series. I'm searching for something more formal for 7th.

First, let's say he finishes this: 6th - Delta & Epsilon 7th - Zeta 8th - Pre-Algebra He will be where I was in 9th grade - ready for Algebra. That's fine. But, I wouldn't worry so much about getting it done by a certain time. I would concern myself with his understanding the material. It would be better to have a solid understanding of what has been taught than be where he is "supposed to be" without a solid understanding. Let me prepare you. Long division in the toughest concept a child must master in Delta (and in all of elementary math, imo). Don't worry if he has to slow down. Also, be comforted that it will be revisited in Zeta when they work on decimals and in review here and there. A tip for zooming through MUS: Give the test. If he does well (say only misses 1 or 2), skip the lesson. My son loved doing that. Here is part of a lengthy review I've written on MUS: Sometimes, people are concerned about the scope & sequence of MUS. If you look at the scope & sequence of some other math curriculums or what is being taught in your local elementary school, you may find it different from MUS. MUS uses a "mastery" approach. It focuses on single digit addition and subtraction in alpha, multiple digit addition and subtraction in beta, multiplication in gamma, division in delta, fractions in epsilon, and decimals in zeta, roughly 1st-6th grade. Other curriculums use a "spiral" approach. They do a little bit of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions in each grade with each year getting progressively more difficult. This concerns some people. If they put their child in school in 3rd grade, their child may have not seen fractions at all, whereas the ps'ers would have seen simple fractions. This does not mean that the 3rd graders who have been taught simple fractions actually understand them, just that they have seen them. But, because MUS focuses on one concept each year, I see that as one of its strengths. I think it really helps the child to know multiplication (for example) until they know it forwards, backwards, sideways, and upside down. I think it helps to CEMENT it in the child's head. Here is a link to a thread with my entire review in it: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=939 It sounds to me as if you have found a better way for your son to learn math. Relax. Know that others have used MUS all the way through high school and their kids did fine in college. You might consider wandering over to the high school boards and asking how those who used MUS in high school scored on SATs. Or search the old boards. You'll find people who say it's not enough, but again, they are looking at math/science/engineering students. Good luck!

I am very glad that I chose a midwife with lots of experience, a good relationship with a backup doctor, and a "gracious" personality. I can't think of a better word than gracious. One midwife I interviewed, while I liked her, could have been antagonistic towards the hospital staff had I wound up in the hospital. I did wind up in the hospital (it was not an emergency, everything was fine, but my water broke and the baby wasn't coming, so...), and it was nice that my midwife had a lot of experience because I knew that we had tried everything we could at home before going to the hospital. It was nice that my midwife had a good relationship with the backup doctor because he let her help judiciously. It was nice that my midwife had a gracious personality because the nurses treated her likewise. I loved my hour-long pre-natal appointments. We talked and talked and talked about everything. I was so afraid. I'm not anymore... Best wishes!

Hi Stephanie, I've used MUS from K and we are in Pre-Algebra now. I have a degree in math, and I am fairly certain that I will not use MUS throughout high school. I believe that MUS is great until high school. But, the high school levels are not as rigorous as several other math programs available. FWIW, ny son tested post high school in math when he was 1/2 way through Zeta. OTOH, I have a dear friend who's daughter uses MUS and she tests a little above grade level. So, genes are a factor. Do you think that it is missing something before Algebra? I would be curious to know what that is. From lurking on the high school boards, I have seen parents say that there students who did use MUS through high school did fine in college. Most were not in the math/science/engineering fields however. Good luck!

I ought to try to get them used. Maybe next one. Warning: The PH website is a mess. I called the 800 number and got the catalog. Every time I needed to check out the website, I would call the 800 number and act really dumb. They were very good at holding my hand to find exactly what I wanted. I think this is the best link: http://phcatalog.pearson.com/program_multiple.cfm?site_id=6&discipline_id=808&subarea_id=5383&program_id=21981

Math-U-See website is: http://www.mathusee.com. There is a placement test at the website. I think MUS is great! We started MUS in K and are now in Pre-Algebra. The advantage for the teacher is that the program is laid out so well. I spend a maximum of 15 minutes a week preparing for the lesson. Each teacher's book comes with a DVD or video, where Steve Demme teaches each lesson in front of a small group of kids. This helps me with ideas on how to present the lesson to my son. The DVD basically repeats what is said in the teacher's manual, but somehow it helps me to see it. I watched the video religiously for the first few years. Now, I just read the teacher’s lesson, which has the same information, and present the lesson to my son. Some parents have their kids watch the DVD with them. Some parents have their kids watch the DVD without them. The advantage for the children is that each lesson works on a particular skill and yet lays the foundation for advanced material. While they are teaching addition, they have problems like 5+A=12. Because of problems like this, when it came time to do subtraction, my son already knew it. They teach skip counting in K-1st. After they teach skip counting by 5s, they teach reading a clock to the 5-10-15... minutes. After they teach skip counting by 7s, they ask how many days in x number of weeks. So, they apply skip counting right away. While they teach skip counting, they have the children figure out the area of a rectangle using their skip counting. So, they are teaching multiplication before they have even heard the word or seen 5x3=15. While they are formally teaching multiplication, they have problems like 6xA=24. Because of problems like this, when it came time to do division, my son already knew it. In fact, he said 'This is the easiest thing I've ever learned'. Throughout Alpha through Zeta, they are solving for the unknown, which is preparing them for algebra. They use blocks as manipulatives. The blocks are kind of like legos in that it is easy to tell the number of each block. When they add 5+7, they take a 5 block, stack a 7 block on top of it, then side by side, they put a 10 block and a 2 block. It's easy to SEE the answer. They use the blocks to teach multiplication. When they multiply 12x13, they use a red 100 block with 2 blue 10 blocks on the right hand side to show 12 columns. They use 3 more blue 10 blocks on top to make 13 rows. They fill in the 6 blocks in the corner to make a rectangle. It's easy to SEE that 12x13=156. My son would use the blocks a bit at first, then he wouldn't need to use them anymore. He just knew how to do it in his head. Epsilon (5th grade) works with fractions. They have fraction overlays that really help the kids SEE fractions. They are a little difficult to describe, but I'll try. On the bottom, there is a white background piece. On the top there is a clear plastic piece with lines dividing the white background piece into halves or thirds or fourths or fifths ... In the middle is a colored piece that represents 1/2 or 2/2 or 1/3 or 2/3 or 3/3 or 1/4 or 2/4 or ... When you add 2/3 + 1/4, you set up the 2/3, set up the 1/4, then take the extra clear plastic piece divided into 4 and place it crosswise over the 2/3, SEEing that 2/3 is the same as 8/12. You take the extra clear plastic piece divided into 3 and place it crosswise over the 1/4, SEEing that 1/4 is the same as 3/12. Adding, 8/12 + 3/12 is easy then. I have found the balance of new material vs. review to be just right for us in the new program. There are 30 lessons in each book Each lesson has 3 lesson pages (new concept) and 3 review pages. The first review page had a “quick review†of a particular topic. This helps to refresh my son’s memory if he has forgotten the topic. The review of earlier concepts is very methodical. Sometimes, people ask about testing. Here is my experience. When my son was about ½ way through Epsilon (5th grade), I had to have him evaluated due to state law. He took the Woodcock Johnson test (national test which only took 30 minutes total), and the results were startling. His math calculation came out upper 8th grade and his math reasoning came out mid 9th grade! It took me a while to understand this. It does not mean that he is doing 8th/9th grade math work. It means that my son, working at 5.5 grade level, does as well as the average 8th/9th grader. When he was ½ way through Zeta (6th grade), he took the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement and scored post high school in math. Sometimes, people are concerned about the scope & sequence of MUS. If you look at the scope & sequence of some other math curriculums or what is being taught in your local elementary school, you may find it different from MUS. MUS uses a "mastery" approach. It focuses on single digit addition and subtraction in alpha, multiple digit addition and subtraction in beta, multiplication in gamma, division in delta, fractions in epsilon, and decimals in zeta, roughly 1st-6th grade. Other curriculums use a "spiral" approach. They do a little bit of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions in each grade with each year getting progressively more difficult. This concerns some people. If they put their child in school in 3rd grade, their child may have not seen fractions at all, whereas the ps'ers would have seen simple fractions. This does not mean that the 3rd graders who have been taught simple fractions actually understand them, just that they have seen them. But, because MUS focuses on one concept each year, I see that as one of its strengths. I think it really helps the child to know multiplication (for example) until they know it forwards, backwards, sideways, and upside down. I think it helps to CEMENT it in the child's head. Here are some of the negatives I've heard over the years: (1) It has no color, pictures, or games to make it “funâ€. That’s true. It’s more of a solid, straightforward approach. (2) The word problems aren't as challenging as they could be. We do supplement with Singapore’s Challenging Word Problems. I have a degree in math. My son picks math up very quickly. But, this program is so well laid out that most of the time, the learning is easy. Once in a while, it’s a little difficult, like multiple digit multiplication and long division. But, the approach is so incremental, that they learn little by little until they know a whole lot. I hope this has been helpful. Believe it or not, I'm not a rep. Just a very happy user.

I couldn't even see the dust I was supposed to be dusting. Now, I dust about once a year. I can see that it needs it then. Sometimes, dh breaks down and does it himself.

Analytical Grammar website is http://www.analyticalgrammar.com. The videos at the website are wonderful for learning about the program. We are using Analytical Grammar for 6th-7th-8th grade. 6th grade has 10 weeks of daily grammar work (parts of speech and diagramming), then review 1x every 2 weeks. 7th grade has 7 weeks of daily grammar work (phrases and clauses), then review 1x every month. 8th grade has 17 weeks of daily grammar work (punctuation) and then you are done. It can be completed in 1 or 2 years as well. We have completed Season 1 and are reviewing the rest of the year. Pros: ? Clear and concise ? Pick up and go (little to no preparation required from mom) ? Teach lesson on first day of week and student can work on their own for rest of week. Only checking/correcting required from mom. ? Each lesson has a theme (American flag, humorous Johnny Carson story, women & math, Mexican-Americans, Martin Luther King Jr., Jewish Americans, fairy tales, etc.) which makes the lessons more interesting. ? Sentences are much more complex than Shurley grammar ? Novelty of getting a letter grade on test ? Comfort of letter grade for perfectionist mom (ds is missing some but still getting an A) ? Student book turns into a reference manual when you remove student exercises. Cons: ? None that I have found ? Some say it?s expensive. I spent $120 but will use it over 3 years. Disclaimer: I have a master?s degree in Operations Research, which is concerned with all things efficiency. Part of the reason I love AG is that it is the most efficient use of my time and my child?s time. This leaves time for other wonderful things like math, history, music, and sports! I suppose if you are a good teacher and you teach grammar year after year after year, you learn to make your lessons more and more efficient. That must be with the author, Robin Finley, did.

Thank you. I'm putting it in the 'return to library' bag right now. If I could find a smilie, I'd put it here.

I guess my goal is to be able to read and discuss a book with him. He tends not to want to discuss anything with mom, so I need to be able to draw him out. I have investigated Teaching the Classics a little. I was so excited because I found that right after we read The Bronze Bow, and there is a free teacher's guide for it at the website. I used it to discuss the book with him. I was so excited!

NEVER MIND. I found it!

And I'm fairly computer literate!

In the student's book they have "Go Online" boxes for various online activites. For example, we watched a 3 stage rocket animation. On the test page, they have a "Go Online" box for Self-Assessment. You go to phschool.com and put in the code in the box. The tests are actually 10 fairly lame (imo) multiple choice questions. You can do a 2nd or 3rd or 4th test, but the questions start repeating themselves fairly quickly.

Several recommended reading this book. I am trying to prepare myself for literature study sometime in the future 7th? 8th? 9th? Ds is in 6th now. I find the book thoroughly discouraging. The author's tone is one of a literature snob. He sure wants me to know how well read he is. Is there any hope for me? Math is my strength. Give me permission to drop it. I have Deconstructing Penguins waiting in the wings.

I usually have ds read a section a day. He does the corresponding Guided Reading pages, but I don't know if I'll continue with it because I don't have the answers and won't be getting them since they are only in the very expensive All-In-One Teacher's Resource. It takes too long for me to figure out the answers on my own. I do have the Teacher's Edition. I have him write out the answers to the question at the end of the summary and do the chapter test from the book and online. We've done a few of the experiments. Not as many as I think I *should* do. Probably won't change though. Sue

We used Noeo Biology 2 for 5th grade. I thought most of the experiments were lame. Here's my review: We used NOEO Biology II with our 5th grade son. He is not particularly science oriented. Neither am I. I have mixed feelings about the curriculum. The advantage is that it is all laid out for you. The reading is not too difficult for a 5th grader. In fact a bit on the easier side since it's targeted at 4th-6th grade. It is not time consuming - we spend perhaps 30-45 minutes 2x per week. After a week or two of guidance, it can be done fairly independently. It?s secular, which I prefer. The disadvantage is that it not very challenging. The "experiments" were fairly lame - mostly looking at something under the microscope and sketching it. There are a few kits that come with it. Dad and son did the kits on eggs and owls, and they were good. Okay, my son thought the owl pellet was really gross. There is a long section using the Body Book, which is all cut-and-paste. The plant kits were decent. But, what I found with Noeo is that there is too much freedom for my unmotivated student to do a mediocre job. Because all he has to do is read 2 pages and write about them, I find that he reads the pages and picks out 2-3 sentences to write down. I need more accountability. If I want to quiz him about what he?s read, I have to read the pages and determine the questions to ask on my own. That, coupled with the lack of hands-on activities, is disappointing.