One more idea... if they are doing okay adding with the help of hands on items...but having trouble understanding how those items turn into numbers on the page...maybe you could get them to create their own number sentences. If you were to take a piece of paper and draw a square, then an addition sign, then another square, then an equal symbol, then another square...you could use it to help them make their own number sentences. Put some chocolate chips, marshmallows, toy cars...whatever into the first two squares...then have them count the item(s) in each square and write the number into the corresponding square as they move the item(s) to the square after the equal sign. Then after they've written in the first two squares...they can count the combined total in the equal square and replace the items with the answer to the number sentence. If it were me...I'd take two pieces of construction paper and "laminate" them with contact paper. You could draw the parts of the number sentence that will not change (squares and symbols) with a permanent marker. Then they could use crayons, or dry erase markers to write in their numbers as they move the items around on the page. This way you don't have to keep creating new pages. :) Maybe you could use this while you wait for another curriculum to come. :) I hope it clicks soon! :001_smile:

I love the idea with the m&m's and marshmallows. Something they can hold with a sweet reward if they get it right sounds like a good motivator! :) You could also try their favorite board game and use two dice to move around the board. Even Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders could be played with dice instead of the color cards so that they could practice counting the dots on the dice to find out how many spaces they get to move. And...if they don't add them correctly they miss their turn. It would be a fun way of teaching them to add without it being with paper and pencil. Once they start to get the hang of it then transition back into the workbooks. One idea both of my boys enjoyed when they got to their addition and subtraction facts through 20 was to walk on a number line. We took a roll of paper and traced a plate on it repeatedly to create circles 0 through 20. Then they could walk on the spaces as he added or subtracted. It made it more fun for them. For ex: if the problem was 3 + 3 = They would start on the 3 circle and take 3 steps...the number they landed on was their answer. It was most helpful when they got to the larger subtraction problems to start on the number and take a certain number of steps backward.

I do not think it is a problem for a child to help "pay" for their own camp. I think you need to determine what the child has available as income. If your child is doing what you expect of them...and does not have the money to pay for camp...but you do, then the parent can choose to pay for it. If you are trying to teach your child to be responsible and set aside money for special events then you should make that clear in advance. My children are much younger...but we have a chore system set up with them and they "earn" an allowance each week. A certain amount of that money is to be set aside for tithe, and some put into the bank for future purchases or expenses. My oldest son, 8, knows that he is setting aside money for his summer camp, church weekend camp trips, etc. My husband and I have decided to teach him that his school work and his family chores are his job right now. From those responsibilities he earns money, prizes from the prize bin, computer game time, etc... If he decides that he is not going to put forth his best effort for his school work that particular day...or week...or if he decides to skip his chores and leave them for others to clean up behind him...he doesn't earn all of his rewards for that week. This is something that we hope will allow him to learn early on...the responsibility of doing your work well, the first time you are asked to do it. I'm sure our "prizes" will change as he gets older...but the concept of putting aside money for things he wants to do will remain. It gives him a good "reason" and reminder for why he has to help with his chores. This system works for us because we talked it over with our kids in advance, and they already know what is expected of them. "Ultimately," we are still paying for his camp at this point...through paying for chores and having him set it aside in the bank...but he knows if he doesn't do his work well...it will keep him from going on some of his trips. If it is something you haven't yet discussed with your son, you probably need to sit down with him and find out what his expectations are, explain what your expectations are...you may end up paying for his camp this time, or pitching in to help. If that is something you are not comfortable with, I'd take this time to discuss what your expectations are for the future so that the next time he wants to do something everyone knows in advance who is expected to pay for it.:)

Praying for the family!

I don't know how old your kids are, but are there some subjects that you could introduce to them at night, and then they could complete during some of their time at the cafe the next day...instead of playing the whole time. It might free up some more relaxing time at home, instead of completing the entire assignment in the evening hours? I attend a Bible study on Tuesday mornings so I try to go through, Monday night, and "introduce" the subjects my son can complete on his own the next day. He really surprised me and had completed his spelling, geography, math, and his history reading.

You're not crazy. Hold your ground...you are making the wise choice and your son will appreciate it about 10 years from now! :iagree: I agree with everyone else's comments. Have a heart to heart talk with your son and try to explain how harmful the situation has become. It seems like the girl has issues that are not being dealt with at home, and had started to seek out someone else to fill those needs and desires. As much as possible, try to explain to your son, that those needs and desires need to be met by another responsible adult mentor or a counselor who can help her work through those issues. If it has gone this far, his heart is going to be involved too and maybe explaining that girl needs an adult's help will help him to understand it is not healthy for him to continue to try to fill her "void." But...you are definitely not crazy and you want to make sure it doesn't get any worse than it already is.

I have to agree with everyone else. I was invited to join a co-op this fall, but in looking at the time commitment involved it was going to really cut down on our time to do our normal work. I realized it was going to end up causing more stress for myself, and the kids, to try to fit in our normal work around the other extra lessons provided. We are involved in a Wednesday night church program for interaction with other kids. We also try to get together with other families to play. We did join a homeschool soccer group that my boys love, but the understanding is that all their school work needs to be done before attending Friday afternoon. We spend time in the summer with other families by participating in the National Bible Bee, this provides interaction time for fun, as well as time talking and presenting their passages to other people throughout the summer and on the Local Bible Bee Competition day. As far as public speaking...there is a local group in our area that does drama camps during the summer, and then some of the children are invited to participate in a fall play production as well. We also have a local "international fair" that is open to homeschoolers. Each child picks a different country to represent, and presents a 20 minute presentation, talking, games... We plan to be "tourists" at the one held this spring and my boys, 8 and 5, and I will be able to see what is involved in putting together a presentation. I think I will want to involve my oldest in this next year. Maybe there are some other programs in your area that would be able to focus more on the public speaking part of their education without tying up an entire school day each week! :)

Some of you may already know about this website...but for anyone who may be interested and doesn't. http://www.classicsforkids.com This site had worksheets, games, "on the radio" past shows. There are many composers available and the stories are fun to listen to! I hope you enjoy! :001_smile:

:iagree: She is gifted...at least in reading. I agree with the post above though. It is a lot of fun to watch the gifted and advanced learners, it is hard at times to remember their actual age in regards to maturity level and development. Have fun teaching her on her level, and help her enjoy her desire to learn, but be careful to allow her to develop emotionally at her "real" age level. This is what I have trouble with when working with my two boys.

I am currently teaching a 3rd grader as well. He was not being challenged in any way while completing the Saxon Math 54 set. I went to the CBD website and gave him the placement tests for Saxon. I gave him one test per day...we started with 54 and he completed it 100%. I gave him the next page for 65 the next day and he only missed 2. I knew he wouldn't get more than 16 correct and "test out" of 76. So...we just talked through that test to avoid causing any frustration on his part. He did better than I was expecting him to do! :) - He'll still be going into 76 but it was helpful for me to be able to see where he fit into their program. I think we will go ahead and move forward...this way if he does hit a more difficult mathematical process we can always slow down without feeling any guilt, before pressing forward again! :001_smile: Here is a link if you'd like to use those placement tests. I'm not sure if other programs offer placement tests online or not. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=saxon+math&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1 I hope this helps you!