.

Thanks!

I got the 8th Edition "Beginning Algebra" through interlibrary loan. Son is scoring around 91% for the first couple of lessons. He is finding the lessons someone confusing on certain things, though. I know there is another series/format for this curriculum; is the other easier for the student to understand? I am finding that I am just not a good teacher at this level. Are the DVT's worth it for Lial's? I saw Jann's previous thread with ISBN's, but before I order, I wanted to make double sure that the one I get is the easiest for the student to understand. *I am so stressed about hs math.* :001_huh:

CLE math. I <3 it. :)

Saxon. Personally, I think CLE is better. I am a Christian, therefore do not mind the content of CLE, but knowing how hard it was for me to find a math that fit my kids, I would be hard pressed to switch even if I was not. My oldest is completing 700, I think it has prepared him well to move to Lial's Algebra this month.

I just ordered Hake 5. I am not sure if I will use the writing program until it arrives and I can see it. For those of you who are doing WWS, did you do WWE before WWS, or can WWS be started w/out any experience beforehand?

CLE 100 is a 1st grade curriculum, I would wonder if your ds is simply not ready for it. My 7.5 y/o dd (2nd grade) is doing the 200 series, and it's a good fit. I am of the camp that math needs to be gentle and fun at that age. Doing too much, too soon can cause math frustration and resistance, and that is so hard to overcome in later years. I'd put it away for a year, but that's me. I'm not familiar with MUS, but maybe they have a K program that would be better to do this year, and then next year do CLE 100? I would not do both.

I ended my misery and just ordered the Hake set. As it had grammar, writing, vocab and spelling, I couldn't resist. I know most don't love the writing portion, but some do, so we'll see. My ds doesn't gravitate toward writing, so I just need to get the job done.

Which child are you considering this for? I ask because I see that you are using CLE Math, and if you are just finishing either the 700 or 800 series with your 14 y/o, TT pre-algebra would not be new material. I would go to TT Algebra, or another curriculum altogether. Take the placement test. Check out the high school forums, I recently asked about high school maths after CLE myself. We are trialing Lial's Algebra, after having completed CLE 700. It looks to be about right.

Yes, I forgot to list this one. I have looked at and considered this as well. I am repeatedly seeing that the grammar is used more frequently than the writing. Would I need to purchase the whole package regardless?

I've been scouring the threads all week, it's time to just post and ask. I need a LA for my 5th grader, or reassurance about what we're doing. It's our 2nd year hs'ing. He does not have a strong foundation in language arts. We did some CLE LA last year, and while I liked it, I don't think it was a good fit for him. He has retained nothing. I know this is a subject that builds, and it would take more than one year for results to show, so this is not a reflection on CLE. It's about finding the right fit for my son. This year, we've been working through Intermediate Language Lessons. It's on the easy side. We have Writing Strands, but I have not been overly rigorous about it as I wanted to get the other subjects rolling well first. I want to tackle that more aggressively in January. My choices: Stay the course with ILL, start WS over (or something else?) from the beginning and just plug through. Start Analytical Grammar as a 6th Grader, continue through 8th grade. Switch curriculums. I found an Easy Grammar 56 workbook at Half Price Books. I would need the TM for it. Not sure I like the looks of it, but w/out seeing the TM, I can't decide. Here's where I'm hung up, and need the most advice. I am starting my 2nd grade dd in FLL2 and WWE2 in January. Would it be insulting to do them together-at that level? If he is able to pick it up quickly, could I move at a faster pace for him? Looking at it, I think it would be a good place for him to start. But where does that leave him over the next several years? I don't mind back-tracking now, and know that it will serve him well in the long run if that's what he needs. But i'd like him caught up by high school. Help?

:iagree: My ds#2 didn't talk until he was 4, so major speech delay. I remember being very anxious through those years of speech therapy. Now, in 5th grade, he speaks clearly and you wouldn't guess what his early years were like. But, he has one mis-use that I just find endearing. Instead of "mine" he will say "mines". I know he will outgrow it, and we do correct his language when necessary. But that one, I will admit, I don't correct nearly as often as the rest. It reminds me how far he's come. Grammar, well, i'm currently stressing out about it, so I am listening to this thread with interest. I want them to speak and write well, I want them to have a foundation. But I know that the minute they pass necessary tests on it, they will kick it out of their brainspace to make room for something more interesting. ;)

I think so? I read this last night, and held off posting to think about it. ECC is a good geography program. If you get the full package, you get some good books, some good missionary stories. The kids will learn mapping and geography, which is the goal. The book basket definitely adds the fun, though. I think it would be hard for me to do any homeschool curriculum w/out library access. We are a one-income, on a budget family, too. Could you do as Crystal suggested, make a trip to a library every few weeks? At ours, I can request books on-line from home. If you did that, and just went every few weeks, would that work? If not, one of the things on my list to buy would be a cookbook for kids-with a focus on foods from other countries. I've never used it, but what about paperbackswap? Used books from amazon/ebay?

I wanted to chime back in for a minute to suggest that if you are looking at CLE, order one light unit to see if you like it. It's less than $4, IMO, money well spent to see if you like a math curriculum or not. The TM is necessary at the ages of your kids, with the scheduled flash cards and the teaching, but if you are just wanting a feel of the program, you can wait on that.

Vanicream. I get it by the 1 pound tub at Walgreens. It has no fragrance, no dye and it is THICK. I use it for dd for an occasional eczema flare-ups.

Another CLE fan here. :) I have one doing 200, one moving into the 500 level, and one finishing up 700 level. We have done Saxon 1, Saxon Algebra 1/2, R&S (various levels) and finally landed at CLE, with this being our 2nd year using it. I've done other CLE subjects, with mixed results, but I REALLY like their elementary math.

So, coming out of the corner to face my fears.... What I could use help with: Feeling like yep, i'm one of those moms..."hs'ing without a teaching degree?". Yep....w/out any degree. I've seen the looks on my teacher-friends faces that i'm going to mess my kids up, because "there are just things you cannot teach at home". I am looking strongly at MFW AHL. The other two will do MFW CtG, so we'll be on the same historical period. That could change, but I don't think it will. I need help with the extras. Science? Apologia Biology? He's doing physical science this year, it's going ok. I can't say he loves it, but he doesn't complain. Math...I already posted about that, lucked out with finding Lials' algebra 1 at the library, we will give that a go for a couple of weeks. If he sticks with that and completes it by fall we'll move to geometry. I need a foreign language. Latin? Oh, where to start? So, here's my latest thorn (now that I'm figuring out math): Language arts. He has had little/poor instruction at school, not much retention at all in grammar. He has been doing Applications of Grammar per MFW, but it is.not.going.well. He manages to do it, but doesn't understand or remember a lick of it. I need something else. I will back up several years in a curriculum if I have to, but i'm dreading that. I'm considering Analytical Grammar. He can be taught, and is willing to learn, but AoP is just not making sense to him. Writing: oh boy. He LIKES to write. He just needs it cleaned up. Writing Strands has been ok, but i'm looking. The rest, well. I'm just muddling through trying to figure out when to do testing, how to write transcripts, how to keep neat records, etc. I'm sure there is a lot more I could write, but i'm sleepy and trying to purge some of these nerves before bed. :)

Thanks, creekland, I was coming to ask about when we need to be ready for the PSAT, SAT and ACT. I think we're getting there with curriculum. Going to post mine soon for critiques.

I'm here, but still shaking and trembling in the corner.

Would you mind sharing how you did this? I'm not feeling the love for WS either.

I would recommend doing Apologia's General Science with your 7th grader. ECC's science is too light for that age, IMO. Then in 8th, physical science and it will set you up nicely for high school. I also recommend adding in a writing curriculum across the board. Take a look at WWE. I just got WWE 2 for my current 2nd grader to start, and I wish I would have started at the beginning of the year. I just want to recommend that as you dive into ECC, do the notebooking, the nature walks. Play the geography game that is included, even if you are intimidated as I was to start (my knowledge of geography stinks). The book basket is awesome. :) ETA: It is fine to get started with what you have listed to find your groove. Then, when you are comfy, add in the extras, the foreign language, even the writing. I would not overwhelm yourself to start. btdt. :)

Have you been able to sit down with a copy of MOH? I own MOH 1, and am contemplating exactly what you are, so am interested in this thread. I had tried to do MOH a year or so ago, and it just didn't click with my family. I don't know if it was because I was overwhelmed trying to figure out the hs'ing thing, or if it was the material. Constructing the timeline just about put me over the edge, but I have a friend who loved MOH, esp. the timeline. Anyway, I will be sitting down soon to take another look at it to see what I think now that we are in a groove with the other subjects, and now that we are 1/2 way into MFW, to compare. So take this with a grain of salt. I just wanted to recommend that-if possible-you sit down with a borrowed copy of MOH to gauge if it really is easier. I'm thinking doing MOH, combined with other sources, is going to be as much, if not more work than just doing CtG and digging in and having fun with it, whatever pace you need to. ETA: Gratitudes post underneath mine now makes me really think I need to take a harder look. And pray. Lots of prayer. :)

Thank you! I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help, navigating this unknown territory. :) I will start a thread asking about CLE transition.

I'm hesitant to return to Saxon, so I am really exploring other options. I think he could get through it, but I just don't think it's the way for him to go. I didn't think about doing Alg 1 and Geometry the same year. Is that really a possibility? Do you mean fast-tracking one then moving to the other or doing both at the same time? My last math in high school was trig, so I can be taught but it's been a long time. LOL My concern is that I can feel the clock ticking. I know I need to make smart choices for him now, I really want to steer him in the right direction.

I'm not without sympathy, my family has all sorts of boundary issues as well. :glare: If you are ever wanting help with establishing some, there is a really good book, appropriately called "Boundaries" by Drs. Cloud and Townsend. As the holidays approach, i've been re-reading my very highlighted and noted copy so I feel a bit more prepared to handle my family. ;)