Jann, Thank you so much for your reply and recommendations. I do think some of the problems on the review was just plain laziness. After I helped him find a few of the topics on the review he was able to go back and complete the problems. Initially, I just looked at the blanks he left in this section and couldn't believe that he did not even attempt some of the first problems. You were right, they were problems 3-6 that he didn't remember learning, but I also think that knowing and remembering the names of these properties, ie associative, identity etc. are important to his overall math knowledge. Would this be correct? Should he be memorizing these so he can recall them in any problem? I guess that I'm having such a hard time because I loved Algebra and just "got it" the first time through and I can't understand why some of the basic algebraic concepts are just not sticking. Thank you again.

Thank you all so much!! You have given me some great direction and I will be reading these replies all very closely. He did complete Saxon 8/7 last year with mostly scoring in the 90% range. Initially I started him in Algebra 1/2 until he kept saying it was all review. I then figured out here that 8/7 was pre algebra. I think one thing that I was not aware of until recently was that he was using a calculator for some of even his basic math problems and now that I have banned him from using it he has slowed down a little and really has to think about how to figure the answer! I think I will have him meet with a tutor just to look over his work and see if there is anything obvious he can suggest. My ds tends to take shortcuts whenever possible and I have told him he needs to show each step of his work! Thank you again and I will post our progress after doing some of these things all of you have mentioned. :001_smile:

My 14y/o ds 8th grade is half way through Lial's Introductory Algebra and seemed to being doing well. He scored an 88% on test 4 but then when he completed the cumulative review for sections 1-4 he failed miserably. He seems to just do what is needed, move on and never really grasp the basic math terms. He can do the work, I just fear he is not understanding the why behind it. We had started Saxon Algebra last fall and the same thing kind of happened there so we switched to another text because I just couldn't figure out where his problem was. I had him start the Keys to Algebra, but found that moved so slowly compared to how quickly these texts seem to move. I am struggling to know what to do at this point! My options as I see them are: -stop here and go back again and review with Lial's or Key's -hire a tutor (actually have a PMS algebra teacher next door) -take the summer off and restart ? again in the fall -put him in FLVS so he will have a different teacher than me Any input I would really appreciate. Maybe he just isn't ready for Algebra. He has always seemed to excel in math, but Algebra is a different story. I also have dd 7th grade who is in Saxon 8/7 and I don't want to go through this again with her.:001_smile:

The plan as of today for fall: MFW- AHL (Bible, Literature, History) Apologia Biology- using Red Wagon Tutorial's DVD FLVS Geometry Logic- Fallacy Detective Music- Piano, guitar theory PE- local HS sports still not sure if and when we will make it to Geometry but that is another post to follow :001_smile:

The number of problems I assign varies from lesson to lesson, but generally I assign 2-3 odd problems per section concept and if he has any problems with those I will assign the rest of the odd ones in that section. I love the fact that there are so many problems to choose from but usually I feel he understands the concept well enough to move on after completing 15-20 problems in each section. The review sections are great also and I have him complete all the odd ones at the end of each section review. I hope that helps. I think if you are correcting his work with him you will know where he needs additional practice and can go from there.

I am finishing up PR 2 with dd 9 and we will jump right into PR 3 in the fall. I can't say enough about how I love it!! I have tried so many other LA programs but nothing compares in my mind to PR. Is it time consuming? You bet, but I see the lasting results in my dd's spelling and writing across the board in all subjects. I only wish I would have found it earlier for my 12 y/o dd. I'm still considering the Bridge to Latin Road for her, if I can find it used at a good price. :001_smile:

We are also going to try and add a science with Preparing next year. My dd loves science and so we are going to use 106 Days of Creation as time allows. I'm glad others are adding to HOD too, it makes it seem more doable! :001_smile:

Janet, I am in a similar situation to you. We used MFW this year with the ages you see below and I felt the same about the workload for a 3rd grader vs an advanced 8th grader. I started to add work for the older two but then wondered if I was giving too much busywork? I like the looks of MFW AHL from what I have seen and heard on line and I am planning on using that with my ds next year. However, part of me wonders if it will be too much for him also, especially the reading. I don't have AHL in hand but plan to get it at convention.....I think:confused: I'm curious to know what you are going to use instead? I'm glad I'm not the only one with this concern. I really liked MFW but am planning on veering away next year with my middle dd into HOD Preparing. I think it will meet her learning needs exactly where she is at instead of her just tagging along with the older two. My dd 4 just started MFW K and loves it. I'm not sure what I will do with her as far as staying with MFW or switching over to HOD. I am looking to next year as a kind of test year with HOD to see if I like the learning and teaching styles better than those in MFW. Part of me loves the idea of a scripted schedule like in HOD but the other part of me fears it because the flexibility in MFW's schedule was something I really liked. However, maybe that was because I was combining three kids :001_smile:

I think that this type of study is for a certain type of girl. I could see how it wouldn't be for everyone and could be disastrous for the wrong girl. I have four girls and would be thrilled if they all wanted to use it but wouldn't get too upset if it didn't appeal to them. If Where the Brook and River Meet is a hit with my dd next year we may try Far Above Rubies for HS. :001_smile:

We also loved Artistic Pursuits. Level 1 book 1 has short scripted lessons and uses a variety of mediums. You can order a kit of supplies for each level here http://www.artisticpursuits.com/1122sup_k31.html

We just received this in the mail for my dd who will be in 8th grade next year. It looks great and she can't wait to get started. I may actually assign her some HS credits if she works real hard and at HS level. I'm glad to know there are others out there using it for MS :001_smile:

Katrina, First of all :grouphug: I actually took a day off of WTM to spend the day with my kids!! Field trips are great and we all needed a day off. My heart goes out to you for so many reasons. I remember the early days of homeschooling when my kids and I didn't get everything done as planned or how I wanted to. However looking back my kids really did not suffer. I too, love to research curriculum and have pretty much changed our main history, Bible every year. I have used AWOA, Noah Plan, SL 3 & 4, TOG, ATI, MFW. There was something to like about all of them, but never enough to make me stay. I see now after 6 years that my personality is one to research and plan, which is okay as long as I am not neglecting my husband or children. Sometimes I just have to take the little prodding from the HS to stop looking and start living. He is in control and will lead me to where I need to be. My children are learning and for the most part enjoying the process. However, I find that if Mama isn't happy, no one is. Take some time off the researching and planning and love on your kids. They grow up so fast!! People like us may never find the "perfect" curriculum and that is okay. Our children will not suffer from it and will turn out okay:001_smile: Have a great day!

:iagree: I tried this for a little over a year with my dc. We used the first and second levels and found it to be super easy in spelling, weak in grammar, especially explanations .Not for use with a visual learner or teacher. It's strengths are writing and editing punctuation. The writing checklist is similar to IEW which we are now using. I would not use this again.:001_smile:

We used this with MFW ECC this year and my kids and I learned a lot from it. I wouldn't say they begged for it, but never said it was boring either. I liked that MFW had all the answers right there in the TM to all of the questions, because some even stumped me. Overall, the readings were short and explained things thoroughly for us with some nice illustrations and easy experiments that my 9yo love to do and looked forward to. My older kids also liked the advanced section at the end of each chapter. You don't read it every day or even every week. Like others said it is a great compliment to the living books that you use. Have fun with ECC :001_smile:

Great idea:001_smile: I am going to start making mine as soon as we finish up our year. I also know they sell colored index cards which would be easy to fill in each day as you move along through your curriculum. Write, laminate and put on your ring. The kids could even make out the cards as part of their work. I was just hours away from going to a local CC meeting last week when I decided that CC is a great concept if you have one or two children and want to use their materials as your main curriculum. Not me, I just want to use the concept. So thanks for the idea, can't wait to get started!

How about Character First? http://www.characterfirst.com/programs/students-families/ It was written to be used in schools, businesses, etc. They have a sections for using at home also. It is secular, but is actually written by IBLP which is Christian. It is available in many levels, colorful and lastly wonderfully written:001_smile: If she wants to add Bible to it you can steer her to the IBLP store http://store.iblp.org/ which has Bible based resources that go with Character First. We use the set of beautifully illustrated Character Sketches books....highly recommended. http://store.iblp.org/categories/CH/ There are even coloring books that go with these!

Thank you both for your suggestions. I am going to convention in a few weeks and will take a look at them all :001_smile:

Thanks Julie, I took a look at the links and they were helpful since I have never seen Smarr's grammar before. It is still hard to know what to do. I don't want to add too much to AHL because from what I hear it is a full program in itself. I guess I will take a look through it after it arrives and see what I think.

She is a visual hands on learner but enjoys learning independently, doesn't like a lot of helpful correction on her writing from Mom:001_smile: When I suggested getting out the Easy Grammar 5 book again she cringed and said, "Mom, I am in seventh grade." I explained the whole level vs grade thing but she opted to finish an Abeka 7th grade book her brother never finished. That was last week so I'm not even sure how that will go. I know she basically needs to start over because if I randomly ask her what the "verbs" are in this sentence she cannot identify all of them.

I am wondering how much grammar is taught in MFW AHL? My ds will be using this in the fall and after reading all the recent threads on grammar and how important it is I feel like I want to supplement with R&S. We have been all over with grammar with him; Abeka, Applications of Grammar and others. Basically he has a good handle on diagramming and such, but I know he could use further work, at least his writing indicates it. Any thoughts?:001_smile:

I am trying to figure out the best grammar to use with my dd 12. She has never really grasped grammar despite using Abeka, Easy grammar and this year All about Grammar. Her best work was in Easy Grammar 5 last year as a 6th grader. I use PR with her younger sister and have thought about going through that with her or using the Bridge to Latin Grammar, but the time issue is a consideration and where would I start? My other thought is to start Rod & Staff but then again at what level. I read in WTM to start at level 5 if they have had no previous exposure to grammar, but she has been exposed, I just don't know how much she really understands :confused: She likes to write and I can see that her sentence structure is suffering because of lack of grammar skills. I also have used IEW which has helped but has not totally fixed the problem. The bottom line is she needs grammar! Thank you for listening and I am all ears to suggestions.

I haven't used that one but I now wish I would have used something to reinforce general science for my dd. Next year I am going to order the prerecorded DVD's from Red Wagon Tutorials http://www.redwagontutorials.com/WelcomeV3.0.html for Physical Science and Biology. I now see the value in having our children watch or listen to the lessons taught by someone else. My dc were constantly mispronouncing the new vocabulary wrong and I had to correct them during our review sessions. There is so much new vocabulary for them in these advance science courses and I would hate for them to be ignorant in their vocab because I failed to expose them to the correct pronunciations. Hope this makes sense:001_smile:

I am also planning on ordering the prerecorded DVD from Red Wagon tutorials http://www.redwagontutorials.com/WelcomeV3.0.html This doesn't say it comes with the schedule though so I may also get the one from MFW since we will be using this next year for HS so thanks for the info about their wonderful schedules. We only have tried the Saxon math schedules with MFW. This year we used Donna Young with general science and found her schedules helpful and they are free:001_smile: What are you planning on doing for labs? I would like to maybe get together with some other homeschoolers for this....no frogs in my house please!!;)

I think that is a great idea! Yes, we are going to use PR 3 next year. We are just finishing PR 2 and I am so wanting to jump right into 3 but unfortunately my kids are looking forward to a light summer :001_smile: I'm not sure yet exactly how I am going to incorporate PR with Preparing (I will skip DITHOR even though I think it is a great concept) but it will give me something to ponder on and play with over the summer! I need to tweak and plan something.......:001_smile:

We used both the All in One English for 7th grade as recommended and I found it to be very simple and basically a review for my daughter. She finished it by Christmas and I had to come up with something else for her to do. She is not strong in grammar but was able to complete this book without much effort. The next book up was a bit better "Applications of Grammar." This we used for 8th grade and it challenged my son but did not have enough problems or review to really become grounded in a new concept. We used IEW and Lightning Literature 7 and 8 instead of Writing Strands and Progeny Press because they were more the type of LA I wanted my kids to have. Don't let the LA stop you from using MFW! It is a wonderful program and so easy just to substitute your own LA.:001_smile: