Stacie, Oh, can you please elaborate???? Thanks, Beth

Just so you know ... the cards are now perforated to save hand fatique:D

Thanks all for the help. I am now on all the yahoo groups and of course, overwhelmed with information now ... but in a good way:tongue_smilie:

So ... I just received my pack with AAS :001_smile: and I am wondering from you experts who already use it, do you have any pointers to share and any getting started tips? Do you laminate these phonograph cards? I purchased level 1 and started pack. TIA! Beth

I wanted to chime in quickly because I am in a similar situation, dd13 will be going in to 8th grade. I have been banging my head against the wall trying to decide which math to put her in. We have spent the last two years doing Pre-Algebra with LOF, TT, and Key-to's. None of them have made me feel dd is ready for algebra. One of the biggest mistakes I made was not doing more hand holding with her. She seems to need me to really walk her through some stuff and she need constant repitition. She gets things fairly well but will forget what she hasn't used. For instance, I asked her the other day about a "prime" number and she replied "Wait ... what is a prime number again?" I wanted to cry .... So back to the drawing board. I pulled out the Lial's BCM that I had been resisting because I hated the way it looked. I know silly ... right? Ii is just so busy and distracting to me. Well, it seems to be doing the trick. So we are going to plug through that untill I think she has a firm grasp on all arithmatic. I am also considering doing a little MUS, I think that kind of thing would really help cement some stuff for her. Now, I don't want to discourage you about LOF because I know many others LOVE it and SO DID I, but for my daughter it was just not a great fit. She seemed to be doing fine and telling me it was going good but really there was not enough problems or review FOR HER. She also says now that she did not like the way the teaching is in the story and some is even in the problems. She really needs a just-the-facts-ma'am and lots of practice and review approach ... with that hand holding. I only have two kids so doing that is obviously easier for me then for you. Like I said, I think LOF is great, but I would just be cautious and very watchful while using it. It may be perfect for your son. One other example, I wanted to share is a good friend of mine used CD Pre-Algebra and then Jacobs and she said she thought the CD pre-algebra was tougher the Jacobs algebra and if she had it to do over again she would have skipped CD and just started the Jacobs as it contains a lot of review at the beginning. Something to think about ... David Chandler of Math without Borders advised me to use this list to diagnose areas of weakness in arithmetic and then do Algebra over two years, if needed. I hope this is helpful to you. I know how frustrating finding the right math program can be especially for a "non-mathy" child. There are many wonderful programs for math but finding the right one for your child can be daunting. Blessings, Beth

I really like MOH Vol. 1 and am strongly leading toward using next year. I am a little hesitant to try something that is for 4-8 grade. That seems like a huge age span. Can anyone share ways that they maybe beefed it up for 8th grade. I am considering purchasing Illuminations to go along ... but that is sort of the same age range. Plus, it includes a bunch of stuff I won't use( which is exactly why I stopped using TOG). In a quandary:confused: ... help please. TIA, Beth

Margaret, I LOVE Farmer Boy too! I wept at the end:blush: Beth

My almost 8 year old son LOVED them. We read the whole series over the last few months. He actually asked if we could start reading the "Rose" series next. In case you don't know, that series is about Laura's daughter. I think you said you were going to try the first one, and I have a suggestion for you. I think the first one is not one of the best, I would encourage you to read the first few. They get better as they go(with the exception of the last one, which was not really finished by Laura Ingalls Wilder) and you certainly get more invested in the characters. I hope you and your son enjoy them. Beth:)

Cathie, May I ask why you did not use the Manipulatives and what you used prior to MUS?

And how did that go? Thanks, Beth

She is 13 and I plan on having her read it(Penny candy) next year. So my opinions about the books are purely my own ... nothing yet to report about if they are enjoyed by kids.:)

Oh and I forgot ... I really enjoyed reading this interview with the author and CBD: http://www.bluestockingpress.com/maybury_interview.htm

I bought the Penny Candy book for my dd and I read it in a few hours. I liked it so much that I bought "Whatever Happened to Justice". I am almost done with that one. I have enjoyed both and recommend them. My .$02 Beth:)

The Mystery of History

For my 7th grade dd HITS: IEW-U.S. History Based Writing Analytical Grammar Sonlinght Core 100 Apologia General Science MISSES: Life of Fred: Fractions, Decimals and Percents(I loved these but dd could not retain anything) TT Pre-Algebra- also didn't retain anything(you can see a pattern forming... probably not curriculum just a learning style difference) CLE LA- For Ds 7: HITS: Right Start Level B-Teacher intensive but well worth it! Pathway Readers Reading aloud The Little House Series MISSES: WWE 1- I like the concept of this but would prefer to have a guide like it, specifically pertaining to a book we are reading instead of taking just a couple of passages out of a book. It seemed disjointed to me but I think it serves many others well.

:iagree:

Jenileigh, You may try taking a disc and watching it throughout the week and then doing the same assignment that was on the disc and then maybe do some of the assignments in the lesson plans over the next couple of weeks. When she has got that concept, move to the next disc. We really hated doing a part of the disc every week, as suggested in the lesson plans(although, I love having Jill Pike's plans). Stick with IEW, it really works and will get easier for her. Don't make the mistake of being overly critical like I was at the beginning. HTH! Beth

Christine, You are absolutely right. Dr. Wile does not recommend that they be done together in a co-op but the teacher was trying to be accommodating to everyone who had different editions. As I said, she won't do it again! :)

Marie, I have not used both but I bought the 2nd edition and participated in a co-op and the teacher had to make 2 different plans for the class because the students were mixed in what they were using. She said she would never do that again and everyone would have to have the second edition. My thought is, if you are buying it, obviously get the newest edition, usually they are always better. But if you have the first already or are getting it used or something, I am sure you would be fine to use to use the first. I don't think they are significantly different. HTH! Beth

:lurk5:Just seeing if anyone else chimes in regards to this.

Terri, No need to be sorry ... it is best to know everything that is out there. I actually just looked at it, and I kind of liked it(meaning as much as I can like anything to do with Algebra:)). I wonder how it would compare with Chalk Dust. I am thinking the Foerster text is better then Larson. CD is certainly more money... Anyway, thanks Terri!

Thanks Martha! I can see the same things happening to us.

JeniLeigh, Are you using the Lesson Plans for SWI-B or just watching the DVD's and doing the assignment that was given on the disc? I do agree with your assessment on pushing her through it and finishing even though she is bored. All schoolwork won't be exciting. And let me tell you I have a 13 dd and it does not matter what I give her, there is never any enthusiasm. I am not saying yours is like this but from talking to other parents with this age, it seems to be a common problem with Middle Schoolers:tongue_smilie: Beth

Martha, Would you elaborate on the year with Jacbos?