SOLD! I like books that spark questions and learning together. I am LOVING the approach and DD has been asking me everyday for more math. I am kicking myself for not purchasing earlier for DS, because he is my mathy kid. Thanks for the tips!

This is helpful thanks! DH and i both teach the singapore way, though I only very recently heard of these books on this site. We have been using MM because it is the only no frills curriculum that I know of that models this strong number bond concept. The only reason I am switching is because we just find MM so visually un appealing. I plan to purchase the HIG and workbook/textbook and then I guess I can decide if all necessary when it's time to move forward

Ok got it. So the workbook you use during the teaching portion? I guess it makes sense. I just only have 1A to look through and it just seems a small repeat of the workbook in color.

I found this store in a town about 40 miles away from me that had a HUGE consignment section, and many of the curriculum I was wondering about. I actually drove there :o I left with nothing but 2 pencils which were decorated in dollar signs, but I did get to look through a lot of stuff, all of which I found some problem with LOL. AAS- DD is still learning to read and this keeps her busy. I leave a lightweight 2x3 whiteboard with all the tiles and I lean it against the edge of the couch because she likes to sit on the floor and play with it. I use AAS for DS too but we use it MUCH differently. I already bought all the levels. I suspect DD will always like the hands on part, DS does not. He actually likes to read the lesson himself sometimes and ask me questions. I just give him the old fashioned spelling list type and we talk about the rules of the lesson. He's a decent speller as is. We do use the dictation but we count that as handwriting practice. Also, since I didn't use a formal spelling thing with him until now (2nd grade) i wanted him to just go over the 1st level rules incase we missed something. He loves teaching little sis so that's what he does! I must say he is a fine teacher LOL. Of course I step in when needed and it's not every day but he does help her out a lot, and it's too cute. MCT- I'm not sure about this. I LOVE LOVE it, have it, use it, but I still don't get it LOL. I always feel like "but what do we DO?" "Where's the worksheets, where's the outline?" I think that is why I like it. We diagrammed the Transformers theme song last week. The writing is a little above our comfort right now but the books are just SO fun to read and easy peasy to take out as reference. I use WWE2 just for more structured practice but not every day. It's a pretty easy book to just use however many days a week you need it. Also, DS pointed out grandma's use of a linking verb properly at dinner this weekend so I'm not too worried about the lack of formal structure here. I have LITERALLY bought every.single.math book available. Most I did not even use, just sent back or resold. I've pretty much complained and stuck through most of what we have, because everything out of the box needs adapting in one way or another for each of my kids.

I've gone back and forth with MM VS singapore for DS and am going to get the SM books just because I think we need something different to look at. For whatever reason the presentation of MM doesn't work for him. I just purchased 1A workbook and textbook for DD and she LOVES it. I must say, it is much easier on the eyes than MM. I'm starting him in 2A, but why the workbook AND textbook? In looking through DD's 1a books one is colorful and the other is not. DS is used to plain old worksheets, and I'm guessing he would rather do more out of one book, than have to juggle 2. I can always use MM for more practice if needed. He's a quick to catch on type, and I just *know* 2 books will bug him so is it necessary? I DO plan on buying the HIG just because I really stink at explaining math I have come to realize. DH is SO to the point, but I lack that ability to get my point across with few words LOL.

Me three. My attitude is tops, or it stinks and they follow suit. I would like to be perfect, and I keep my wits about me but sometimes I let some tension show through and really I'm just honest with them. They are very attached to mama kind of kids and sometimes I let MY hair down and say mama's havin a day guys. But as far as just a general unexciting moment or weeks when it seems like no one is too enthused I usually try to get us out of the house. We have packed up books and drove to the downtown library and ice cream after plenty of times. I don't have specific things that work all the time, but I just try to find opportunities. For example: My mom is sitting for her CPA and needed a few more university classes. The kids hang out there every Wednesday after she gets off early, and knowing that SHE has studying to do, so I purposely let them "slide" a little during the day and/or before on a thing or two and then send a special grandma and kids snack and books in their bags. I will do something like an extra math practice s heet, spelling/vocab lists, a few pages to read or our copywork/cursive practice. They think it's FUN to study with grandma and are proud to show her THEIR school since she studies too. RIght now she is taking an astronomy class and I've worked up some grade appropriate material and she is trying her best to kind of give them a little science class out of it. They are studying clouds, document weather at different times etc. It is out of their norm and once or twice a week so it's fun, plus mom is cool for giving a "shortened" day LOL. My husband is really great about making math come alive. He started working with each kid for about 30min-an hr or until they have tired once or twice a week in his work office and they think it's too cool. He sets up a chair and the white board and acts like a silly teacher. He works remotely from upstairs but still it's cool for them. We did an ongoing game in math with money counting. This was during a month we planned to buy an extra special toy and planned to spend a good amount (like around $100 each....not the norm here but we hadn't bought them anything in a while) but did not tell them that exactly. We spent a few days really getting good with counting money then started a game. Every day we several piles of coins, some with bills. They counted and got to "keep" every one they got right. We made some easy, some more difficult and the point was to always get some, so if needed we would fudge a little. We wrote down the amounts and at the end of the week we told them we would double whatever they "win." I'd love to hear about other schooler's fun ways to change it up :)

I have to find the book for info on author, but DS is just about finished reading "How to think like a scientist." We just chat about it. I use it for his reading aloud to me, where he reads a page to me and then to himself. We used our garden as a HUGE ongoing lesson/experimental process and documented as farmers NOT as students. We also have a living aquarium with live plants and DS and his dad built the entire ecosystem. I am guessing if I gave him a worksheet with questions he would have lost interest LOL. But he can explain the full cycle and everything it takes to maintain to anyone. I have 5 and 7 year olds, and we do science as a group. I don' t keep a "science folder" for each with proof on paper, it would just be impossible to do even more written work for them at this age. DD draws pictures and she enjoys writing some and will take dictation. DS will do some of the reading/explaining. We try to implement the scientific method and talk about how our minds naturally follow that outline. I just try to pick a topic, and think of a way to experience that and DH usually has an idea for a cool experiment. ETA: I just remembered. DD collected some rocks for her brother, and he is in the process of turning them in his rock tumbler. we got a nice one from the hobby shop. Then we are using them to add to our fairy garden." Lots of option to teach about earth science and rocks there. We are just in the midst of getting together a plan to learn about more of our states history. Since we live near Mt St Helens, volcanos and things related will be a large portion of that study.

Forgot to say, that i HAVE used a couple of other brands by the scrapbooking stuff at the craft store, but I don't remember the brand. One was pretty good, but I did find the lid not entirely sealed (probalby my fault) and it was dry as a bone.

Don't get me STARTED on glue sticks. I use the double sided tape, glue dots, or the little squares of perforated double sided tape. I also have different spray adhesives for large things. I don't know at what age I want them using it alone. Usually I put it on a tray and they just do it on the porch really quick if they insist on spraying themselves. All of these are in a scrapbooking section of the craft store. They may be pricier than cheap glue sticks but those things are single use if you ask me!

I do this too!

Even as an adult I find is so refreshing when some things are easy breezy. I have an accelerated boy and I have to remind myself to let some things just be simple. Take a step back and when you find she is needing a challenge find an area to do so. Seems like you have a great plan :)

ok I think I solved it then. I can use the worksheet generator when needed. It is not all the time, but for example on the sheet we were doing with regrouping, he really gets distracted by seeing the cubes on paper every time. We start that way, but when doing the work he does better with just the numbers

Maybe I'll try the worksheet generator I forgot about that.

I always loved the learn to draw books. Try to find things picture based that incorporate straigt, curvy and organic lines. Have you looked in to a pre/k arts class? That would be a great way to gain some control with a pen/marker/pencil etc on paper. I was suprised how our writing improved after starting an hour focused art class per week. ETA: I am not sure if you are using anything formatted....but it really helps to teach like letters. Such as start with c, a, g,d, all which start with a c. Then i, j, l....etc. S is actually a really hard letter to form within the lines

We are using 2a/b and I notice there are worksheets by TOPIC. I looked at the contents of adding/subtracting 2a/b and it teaches by example in a different way than our light blue complete curriculum 2a/b. ARe these just extra practice? I'm finding that DS has a confusing time looking at all the pictures of black sticks and cubes printed on the paper. He wants the work with JUST numbers and I don't blame him, but I was thinking we'd need extra worksheets then. He somehow gets very visually distracted with looking at MM worksheets which is why I keep looking at SM.

Wait, how does SM not teach math facts? :confused: We use MM and they are similar method but do you mean drilling for memory? Because SM and MM use number bonds/families to mentally understand the relationship between numbers and for later on regrouping and facts over 10 this is VITAL. I personally do NOT favor the spiral approach in Horizons, but if that IS what you are looking for it is a good program. I was taught with Saxon starting with algebra when I was in and around 7th grade. Then I went back to public school, spend a year learning nothing new and then they made me take algebra again in 9th grade when everyone else does. I stuck out the honors program but I STILL think I learned more in the 7th grade Saxon with my tutor. I cannot speak of the lower levels as I have not used them. We are in 2nd grade and using MM, and 1A and B for DD 5

Isn't it funny how the initial way you learn basic math facts sticks? I could add for you numbers until the end of time lining them up in a row from a very young age, but didn't know why. I never did math in my head the "SM" way until last year when DS was 1st grade. I used to want to crack DH on the head with my teacher's guide when he tried to explain to me the proper way to teach math facts is the number bond/family way. I thought he was crazy. DS gets new things quickly, and we use math facts as just every day practice instead of the only thing we do that day. DH is more creative than I, and he deals with the practical math applications. When I am working with DS, I just always remind him when I see him mental counting to "try and make 10 first." He struggles when doing it with subtraction, but we are practicing. One thing I like to do is oral drilling, just for a few minutes at a time. This helps us move forward but still practice. I still suck at basic math LOL

Ok I have to reiterate then after reading you plan on (re) learning along side them. I don't remember a lick of grammar. I had good marks in English and LA classes so I must have to some degree, but i definitely couldn't teach it on my own and some of the lesson planned books are just painful for us. The MCT grammar books are just so fun to read. True story: Today for our writing assignment DS wrote out the Transformer theme song and we are diagramming. He is doing pretty good on his own with it!

This is probably not helping at all, but I absolutely cannot stand K12 math. I remember looking at the 1st grade just thinking it was strange and all over the place.

What is AG? ETA: oh activity guide LOL! Yes I have that. I have some great art work type things for DD to do along with it(she is Kinder) and DS is NOT into crafting and coloring. The lapbooking idea sounds good. I know it makes it easier, but very uncreative that DS would rather read something and answer a list of questions than do something creative LOL.

I finally realized nothing out of the box is going to be to my liking. It may work, but could be better. With two kids I've also realized I am going to have to face the fact that they may need different sources. MM is working though we are using it very differently now. DS needs new concepts quickly and short bits of review, very different from some kids. DD is 5 but boy is she quick. She will have nothing to do with math unless she can count butterflies and animated p ictures so I just bought Singapore 1A and B. I don't know what to do about SOTW. We are reading it, but haven't done any work associated. I can barely remember what I read it seems so dry to me. I know that is terrible. It is a well written book and many use it, but for some reason it doesn't hold our interest. I am considering using it just as a time line since I already have it, and making up my own curriculum to go with it

We do both here. My husband thinks it's very important to be able to use electronic resources as well. I think it's important to have the hands on skill, but face it we live in a digital world and why not introduce THOSE skills as well. BOth my kids have their own laptops so we have the digital dictionaries as a quick click icon on their desktops

I just wanted to mentioned what was going on with us and what worked. My DS is 7 and doesn't really complain about writing, but it is hard for him and he is slow at it. We were using HWOT and that seemed to be the problem. It was the LOOK of the text. It is hard to write that bubbly or straight and doesn't look natural. This may not be a problem for a lot of kids because so many use it, but just so you know there are other sources. I noticed DS was literally drawing every letter, with so much thought that it was taking like 10 minutes to write one little sentence. I recently purchased the Getty Dubay italics elementary series and LOVE LOVE it. It looks like more natural writing. A little sloped and certain letters more curved, such as the letter y. I stopped using HWOT for copy work, and just started having him write in other areas. Though it looked pretty awful he was writing without so much intense thought and didn't look so stressed. This is just something that made it EASIER for us, as he is still pretty slow with writing, but it definitely changed the outlook for us. I am actually working on the adult course, which may be helping him as well.

LOL I would recommend this to anyone who isn't good at LA's (ME). I enjoy literature, but the thought of dissecting words and teaching how to do that puts an awful feeling in my stomach. DS is only 7, and we have not done much writing yet, but it is a wonderful read. We are most the way through Grammar Island, Building language, and about to start Music of the Hemispheres. I think the writing may be a little over his head yet, but I am grateful this was our first and only introduction to grammar. I JUST got WWE2 because DS is a very slow writer and I cannot ask him to write several sentences AND be creative at the same time yet. I fully plan to continue with MCT, and when other skills pick up move on with it. He actually likes diagramming the sentences so we will do that. It's just a joy to read and doesn't make my head hurt. I do not expect everything to sink in to it's fullest right away and we plan to use it as a reference as well. We did not purposely study grammar in 1st grade at all. This year we are going slow with it and enjoying the process.

I agree. I bought the set but haven't taken it out once. I like doing this together, and I don't see the point of two copies unless they are using it independently, in which case you STILL don't really need it. There are small bubbles with extra thoughts on some pages but otherwise the same.