The way I understood it, the "repetitiveness" was supposed to be the review built-in. I was thinking though, to actually do it "all"...how many pages would have to be done per day if math is done 5 days a week?? At least two, I would think? Or would you just do it according to "time" per day? Thanks so much for sharing! Blessings, Denise

No, these are the new full-color ones that can be used as a "stand-alone" curriculum. They look like they would work great as a supplement, though. Hopefully there's someone "out there" using them! :)Thanks! Denise

Please share your thoughts if you have seen or use/d these? These look like they would be really great to go with MCP or even McRuffy....for more "mental/conceptual" math. Kinda pricey, though, plus it sounds like you would need to have the spine cut off, since it's not perforated, doesn't lay flat, and is BIG.....or....you could have it spiral-bound (even more $$). What *I* want to know is, would it be WORTH it in the long run?? Thanks so much. :001_smile:Blessings, Denise P.S. Review at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and sample pages at cbd....since there are other books by the same name. These must be the new versions? I cannot find the grade one samples on cbd, so here is a really nice homeschooling blogger's review on the 1st grade level (with samples) and on the series in general. This is even better! You can check out reviews AND samples here. Hmmm. This math thing is gonna be the death of me, yet! LOL!

At the risk of all of you wanting to strangle me for mentioning yet another geography book.... I have to mention one of the things we did with our oldest two when they were younger. Check out sample pages of the book Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary here. Amazon has it also with free shipping. Anyway, I had art notebooks for each of our dc that had a blank space at the top and lines at the bottom. They would draw and color the "archipelago", the "atoll", the "badlands", the "bay", the "butte", the "canyon", the "cape", "continental shelf", "crevasse", "delta", etc...one or two per page, at the top and THEN...for copywork, they would write the definition at the bottom on the lines. The booklets they made turned out really nice, and they never forgot what those geography terms meant! I just found a couple pictures we took from their art books, but since they are in Picasa, I can only email them, not link them. :glare: Anywaaaay.....just wanted to share. If anyone is REALLY interested, I can email you the pics from our dc's books. Blessings, :)Denise

OOOOPS!!! :ack2::ohmy::blushing: Read that WRONG!! So sorry! We actually used A Child's Geography Exploring His Earth (the first book, written before Holy Land). I will go edit my post!:leaving:

We also have and used this. It is WONDERFUL and unlike any other geography book you will find out there. It also has some science as well. I didn't recommend it because it took us so much time and I got so wrapped up in doing the projects with the kids and I made forms to go with them...and to go with the books...sigh. It also seemed that some of the text was geared for a 5 year old and some of the concepts were geared for a 12 year old?? I don't know, maybe it was just me! I suppose that is done purposely, so it can be used with a variety of ages, maybe. We (or should I say, "I" lol!) loved the "Reaching Out to His World" at the end of each unit and the postcard writing, the books, and the projects! This book truly is remarkable. One thing I have to remember though, is I went through this curriculum with my most difficult, most stubborn, most "do I HAVE to!?" child...the child that just wanted to get it done and check it off the list. LOL! This is NOT that type of geography curriculum (especially not the way is "intended" to be used). It has Bible, science, language arts (including narration and copywork), service projects/studies, art, speech, and of course....geography ;). I would say, using this would depend on how much you are already doing and how much time you have in your week for "Geography"? If anyone wants those forms and can tell me how to attach them here:confused:...or I could email them. I would be glad to share. They are: Geography Book Report Forms (one informational and one for fiction), a simple Atmosphere Layers Puzzle to make, a Reaching Out to His World form, Our Weekly Schedule (what to do each day), the continents, Rules for Neat Maps (kids can keep in their notebook), world outline map, the pages of Geography Copywork from the guide, Living Geography Book List, and the Atmosphere Layer Cookie mixes I created for our dd when she did the curriculum. She has since used that twice as speech/demonstrations and still makes the cookies often. ;) Ok....TOO MUCH information, right? LOL! Feel free to contact me with any questions. My book is put away right now, but.....hopefully I will remember without digging it out! LOL Blessings, :)Denise OOOOPS!!! :ack2::ohmy::blushing: Read that WRONG!! So sorry! We actually used A Child's Geography Exploring His Earth (the first book, written before Holy Land).

I haven't ordered the new one yet, because my little guys aren't old enough for it. I know the new one has a poster and stickers (woohoo lol!). I guess with geography, unless its historical geography, I always want the newest, since it seems things/places/names, etc. seem to change so often in this crazy world. Sorry I am not more help on this. I would imagine samples of this newest version will show up online soon, but if you are needing it now, I guess if it were me, I'd go ahead and oder the newest one:glare:. Just my opinion, though.

:iagree:Thanks!:001_smile:

The Complete Book of Maps and Geography is my all-time favorite for elementary! It actually goes up to 6th grade. There are definitely lessons your 2nd grader can do, even though it says grades 3-6. You can see a couple samples and the table of contents at Rainbow Resources. However, that is not the most current version. Blessings, Denise

Thought I would go to the source on this one. I sent the author, Mr. Bryan Davis, a couple comments from folks (no names, of course) on this board to see what kind of response he would give me concerning his curriculum lacking "mental math". This is what he had to say... We hit the mental math pretty hard in the 4th grade level. We do a lot with the auditory skills too...... in ALL levels. These skills require a lot of mental math. From what I've seen of Singapore, it is lacking quite a bit on many concepts, but I've not looked at any of them very closely. What I see when I look at most math curricula is just a bunch of math problems, and very little of incorporating hands-on activities with the manipulatives. I also think we hit a much broader range of topics. I thought I might comment on this, too: "With MCP, There is very little effort to teach the concepts behind the algorithms, and from looking through a couple levels of McRuffy, it seems to suffer from the same problem." (quote from a wtm commenter) This sounds like someone who has just looked on-line at samples. We run the basic facts portion separately from the lesson plans, so it can be paced to the needs of the student, so they wouldn't see any mention of it in the lesson plans. Also, I'm not sure what version they looked at or the second commenter used. If it isn't the color math, I could see that. The color math is much improved over our old math. We've not heard that this was an issue from anyone else. SO.....to supplement or not to supplement:confused::glare::confused:...THAT is the question! LOL!

LOVE what I see! Also, the author is WONDERFUL! My skin crawls when I think of Right Start... so NOT....teacher-friendly... scripted, BUT...very teacher-intensive and Saxon's scripting is overkill-overkill-overkill! Sorry to sound so.....:thumbdown::angry:!! Just want to SAVE you from what I already went through. *I* am NOT mathy and didn't like Saxon's scripting:tongue_smilie:. We have been homeschooling for 20 years and I feel your pain with the elementary math programs! I have done EXTENSIVE research and McRuffy is what we are going with for our youngest two. You should...in my opinion;)....definitely check it out! Reviews here: http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=563 There are also plenty of reviews on WTM, too. Here is the website where you can see samples and contact the author (Brian Davis) if you have questions: http://www.mcruffy.com/Kindergarten-math-lessons.htm I have also read it is slightly advanced, so if you feel you need to start your 6yo in the kindergarten program, they will actually print the books for you without any grade references...if that bothers you/your child. Someone on this board mentioned having their dc tested with Saxon and TT after finishing gr. 3 of McRuffy, and they tested at 5th/6th grade level. Blessings in your search, :) Denise

:iagree:The teacher's manuals that go with ETC are actually REALLY good! This is the sequence WE have used with our first 4 out of 5 of our children. 100 EL, Pathway Books (all the way to at least 4th gr.), and Explode the Code (all). I can't remember 100 EL ever taking an hour, though. BUT...your dc is really YOUNG. Don't worry....just slow down. I don't think I would quit 100 EL altogether, though :glare:. You could cut each lesson in half and even do it every other day, supplementing with ETC and the Pathway readers on the other days. An hour phonics lesson for a 5 yr. old is WAY too LONG imho.....from experience:). You don't want to "sour" your dc on the idea of reading. Your dc is young enough you could put 100 EL on the shelf for awhile and just do some "fun" phonics. Then, pick it up again later. You will be surprised what your dc remembers! We also use a book with each child that I used to get at walmart. It is EXCELLENT and inexpensive ($10), called The Complete Book of Phonics by Amer. Ed. Pub. The walmarts where we are don't carry it anymore, but amazon has it...http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Phonics/dp/1561894508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317918939&sr=1-1 ...just make sure you get a "new" one, so it isn't written in. I highly recommend it. It is very thorough and colorful with some fun little projects thrown in and the lessons don't take long at all. We also use this fun kit....http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XNSH/sr=1-1-catcorr/qid=1317919312/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1317919312&sr=1-1-catcorr&seller= There is also a "sentence building" kit if your dc is to that level and beyond the word building. CBD also carries these. :)Blessings, Denise

They have 2nd, 3rd, and 7th grades left of the Daily Mental Math books for only $3.00 each. You can see samples...even every page in the book if you want to. These are great! A quick review every day that could be added to any math curriculum. I also ordered and really like these books they have for ONLY $1 EACH! Check 'em out ~ Early Phonics in Context (covers digraphs like ai, ow, ea, ir, ur, etc.) Do it Write Math (Gr.2-3...covers measurement, space, & number standards) Math Through Language (Gr. 2-3) and (Gr.3-4) Mathematics Activities for Homeschooling with Unifix Cubes (Balka PK-Gr.4) Early Theme Series books (bears, creepy crawlies, the sea---speaking, listening, reading, writing, spelling -Gr.1) Cloze Encounters: The Sea (Note-taking & reading comprehension Gr.3-4) Classical Literature Guides (Gr. 3-4) and (Gr.5-6) Recipes for Readers (Fun book reports for ANY books...cool...Gr.3-6) A couple more for older kiddos: Exploring Change is a cool book for grades 7-8 (comprehension and changes in society for the last 1000 yrs.) as is the one for substitute teachers...The Substitute Source Book....it actually has some really neat projects in it for homeschoolers. These would be great for summer or just as a little "change-up" for them. I also got these bargains: The quality is really, really nice! Magnetics Phonics Letters Set for $5 Syllable Word Buzzle game for $3 Large set of picture sound magnets and rhymes (word endings) - Kids can sort/match and then write the beginning of the words on magnetic dry erase board. for $4 More Than Less Than Using + and - math flipper (self-correcting Gr. 1-3) for $3 10 science magnifying jars set for $9 Well, hopefully you can enjoy some of these finds too! Shipping is a flat 10% or $5 minimum. So, you could save even more if you go in with a friend. If anyone can tell me "how" to put a link in a paragraph without the link actually being there (but another word you click on), I'd appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me! :D LOL Until then, here is the link to the DIDAX website: http://www.didax.com/shop/searchresults.cfm/CategoryID/1/Sort/Item/Order/Asc/ShowAll/Yes.cfm :)Blessings, Denise

:iagree:I understand the "many, many" different math curriculums! At least for elementary. We have been homeschooling for 20 years and I STILL have not found an elementary program I *LOVE*. HOWEVER....I have decided on and am super excited about McRuffy, so we'll see. I also "own" the now out-of-print Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten series, so I may pull some of that in with our 6 yr. old. We did some from those books last year, but he wasn't even ready for that. I may end up only using those if I find he isn't ready for McRuffy K. We have decided to put our 8 yr. old ds in the 1st grade McRuffy, based on the samples and the emails from Mr. Davis. He was SO helpful. He is also printing him special books with no grade-level references. Our ds is very sensitive to feeling "dumb" and he can READ! If he read, "first grade", he would be devastated. I guess the grade level isn't just listed on the front cover...maybe at the bottom of the pages? Anyway, Mr. Davis said it won't be anywhere in his book...and they are doing it at no extra charge! How awesome is that!? :) I also really like the looks of Teaching Textbooks and I am thinking we may just go straight from McRuffy to that. We have always done Rod and Staff for grades 4-7 and have been happy with it, then the kids would go into Teaching Textbooks Algebra. Back then though, there weren't any younger TT grade levels. I think my boys would enjoy the computer aspect of TT. Time will tell... Anyway, I appreciate you sharing with me. What I am still wondering from you (or ANYONE) using Math Mammoth...."how" do you supplement? Do you match the practice to what they are currently learning in McRuffy or do you use it for review of concepts they've already done? Do you purchase a whole curriculum or just individual books? I'm just kind of "fuzzy" on how you do that. Also.......the Singapore?? I understand if you don't have time to explain it to me. I could start another more specific post about this.:001_smile: Thanks again! Blessings, Denise

:001_smile: I would really love to hear more about this. I love Marilyn Burns and have been wanting to use the math literature idea, as my boys LOVE stories...and hands-on! I have been looking at so many teacher books from our library on that subject. So far: Math and Literature Books one and two (Marilyn Burns). These are really good, but seem to be lacking structure...for ME, in that the books/lessons don't seem to be divided in any particular "order" or operations. I don't know how I would actually use them with a math program...unless I read the whole book, took notes, and dissected it....which I do NOT have time for. LOL. One I absolutely love and used last year is called Mrs. E's Extraordinary Number Activities (PK-K) Each number has activities, read alouds, and reproducibles. LOVE it! I just wish there were books by Ms. Etringer for older kiddos :-(. I also have one I am reviewing from the library right now called, Math Links: Teaching the NCTM 2000 Standards Through Children's Literature (Evans, Leija, Falkner)...excellent....divided into chapters according to the standards. It also lays out each book, title, summary, time frame for the lessons, materials needed, mini and group lessons (some too classroom-geared for us to use :glare:), discovery and reflection activities, ways to assess, adaptations for children w/ special needs, lesson extensions (these are great), software and related literature (MORE books!), and reproducibles that go with the lessons. I wondered if an entire program could be created just using this book...BUT.... I just don't have the confidence to try it :001_huh::confused:. Plus, the book and lessons are geared for the classroom. ALAS...my absolute **FAVORITES** so far are these: Teaching Early Math Skills with Favorite Picture Books (K-3) Literature-Based Math Activities: An Integrated Approach (K-3) Meeting the Math Standards with Favorite Picture Books (2-4) Hands-On Math and Literature with MathStart Levels 1 & 2 (PK-K/1-2) I am definitely going to be using these, no matter what core math program we go with. If you are interested, you can check them out on amazon and look at sample pages. Except for the Hands-On MathStart ones...sample pages are here for those: http://www.didax.com/shop/searchresults.cfm/Keyword/hands-on%20math%20and%20literature%20with%20mathstart.cfm I was just curious what YOU were looking at...Marilyn Burns, etc.? LOL! As if I need anything ELSE to look at!! :tongue_smilie: Thanks so much for sharing!! Blessings, Denise:)

Thank you for sharing! Denise

Well, thank you for sharing what is working for you. Just when I think my research is about over, I come across something else I need to check out. That is the beauty (& sometimes the curse...lol) of homeschooling....SO MANY choices! I know we'll figure it out sooner or later! Thanks again! Denise P.S. Going to check out Miquon :seeya::leaving:

:001_smile:Thank you AGAIN for sharing!! I SO appreciate it!!:001_smile: Denise

I had to laugh and I wanted to clarify. I was not wanting to use McRuffy BECAUSE they would customize the cover for me. I just thought that was an added, nice "benefit" to using McRuffy. Honestly, I don't really want a 100% mental-math based program. I had looked at this http://www.christianbook.com/verbal-math-lesson-level-1-ages/michael-levin/9780913063095/pd/063095?event=BB&bookbag=1&item_code=WW before and really liked it. The lessons could easily be done daily even with the McRuffy lessons, as they don't take a lot of time. I also like some of the products from Critical Thinking Press. I was thinking about Mathematical Reasoning, but the books are pricey and claim to be a complete curriculum....so....maybe too much? I hope some others jump in, here! Thank you for your sharing, I really appreciate it! :) Denise

I would appreciate ANY opinions on this. I WAS actually going to purchase the new, 3rd edition Bob Jones math UNTIL I saw McRuffy Color math and talked to the author. They will even print a special cover (not showing the grade level) for my 8yo ds who is developmentally not at grade level. I didn't want him to feel "dumb"...ya know? Anyway, I have found 99% great reviews for McRuffy, reviewed all the samples, and it looks like something my boys would love and that I would love to teach. Going to purchase K and 1st. I also really liked what I saw with Math Mammoth, but ultimately McRuffy "won out". I just don't want to leave out the conceptual math altogether and I don't want to over-schedule either. :confused:HELP Please!:tongue_smilie: Ideas?? Thanks in advance!! Denise

Ok, quick recap for those of you NOT folloing my math saga/quest. My last two little guys: One ADD, one ADHD...diagnosed. There "may" be other issues, but have not had them evaluated...."yet". Our oldest is very immature for his age and it almost seems like the younger may be right up there with him cognitively. They have really not done much formal schooling at all. Just "unschooling" and plenty of teachable moments. I am trying to determine whether to purchase the 1st grade or 2nd in the BJU Math. The oldest is 8 and seems to have an almost photographic visual memory. The youngest is 6 (ADHD) and also the impulsivity and anger issues that go along with that sometimes. He is on some natural supplements that really help, but if the right buttons get pushed with him....sighhhh.:tongue_smilie: Any ideas/opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Denise

Thank you for sharing! Feel lonely yet? LOL! Not much of a response here. That is kind of discouraging. I wonder "how" new this curriculum is. I haven't seen it before. I never even thought of not using the teacher manual. I will check out the textbook samples. Thanks for that tip! Blessings, Denise :)

Hi. A few questions:confused: for you, if you don't mind.... How old is your child you are/were using this with? What grade level are/were you using? Do you think the curriculum is "overkill" at all? How long does/did your math time take each day? Do/did you have to "tweak" a lot since it is written for the classroom? This following description from cbd sounds EXACTLY like what I have been looking for. It sounds like it addresses every complaint "I" have had with EVERY elementary math we have tried for the past 16+ years!...... "a problem-based approach that builds on a concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract progression. Within each grade fewer topics are taught, but at a more in-depth level; visual representations, modeling strategies, and a development of conceptual understanding, place value, and computation fluency help students to understand the "how" behind their exercises." 6. Would you say that so far, you have seen the above claims to be true for this curriculum? 7. How long have you been using it/did you use it? 8. Would you say that your child is an average, gifted, or delayed/struggling learner? Thanks SO MUCH! I SO appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with this math curriculum! :001_smile: Have a GREAT day!! Blessings, Denise

Hi. A few questions for you, if you don't mind.... I am assuming you are using this with your 6yo? Is it K or 1st? Do you think it is "overkill" at all? How long does your math time take each day? Do you have to "tweak" a lot since it is written for the classroom? This following description from cbd sounds EXACTLY like what I have been looking for. It sounds like it addresses every complaint "I" have had with EVERY elementary math we have tried for the past 16+ years!...... "a problem-based approach that builds on a concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract progression. Within each grade fewer topics are taught, but at a more in-depth level; visual representations, modeling strategies, and a development of conceptual understanding, place value, and computation fluency help students to understand the "how" behind their exercises." 6. Would you say that so far, you have seen the above claims to be true for this curriculum? 7. How long have you been using it? 8. Would you say that your child is an average, gifted, or delayed/struggling learner? Sorry for so MANY questions! I think I will also repost them and see if there are others out there using MIF. SO.....don't feel like you HAVE to respond to this.:) Thanks SO MUCH for what you have already posted! I SO appreciate you taking the time! :001_smile: Blessings, Denise

Thanks for your input! I had to laugh:lol:. First time I've ever heard Singapore called, "weird". I DEFINITELY do NOT want weird ! ;) Have a great day! Blessings, Denise