I've read places that it's not a full curriculum, then in other places that it's sufficient for a dyslexic who seriously struggles with math (likely dyscalculia). I'm wondering if I add something in addition to it - DynamoMath on the computer? Shiller Math? I can't do Math-U-See... it just doesn't work for me as a teacher. RightStart is a great program, but from what I've seen it'd move WAY to fast for my struggling DD. This is for 1st grade. I'm not opposed to spending money to give her a good foundation, but Shiller would be at the max of my price limit I can reasonably afford.

she's 6, and an immature 6. I'm going to try to build up to 4 10 minute sessions/day... I've often wondered if she's ADD, but I don't think that there's anything I could really DO about that. Hearbuilder, thus far, is far better than I expected for the price. In the working memory session, there are numerous options (remembering a series of words, remembering a series of numbers, remembering a description of a person, remembering details from a story)... as you progress, the program starts adding a 'delay' between when you hear the information and when you can answer it. There's also a following directions session, which appears to be similar. it goes from single step directions and progresses onward. I haven't really begun to explore the phonemic awareness session or the sequencing a story session yet. I knew her working memory was bad.. but I'm surprised it's THIS bad, KWIM? It's really something we're going to have to work through. i'm sure we'll find more holes as we progress..

We started the emory sections on the hearbuilder program, and she's really struggling. She passed the first level on her second try - remember three words in order when there are pictures of only those three words on the screen. Now we're on the second level, which is remembering three words in order when there are 6 pictures on the screen. It's rough for her. I have the Fistfull of Coins game coming, a few workbooks for improving working memory, and other stuff. I'll look at adding a metronome. This is an area we can make progress on if we're consistent in working through it, right? Even if it's just a little bit of work every day (she can't do more than 10 minutes.. even w/ LiPS, we do 2 10 minute sessions a day).

That's amazing! :)

Simultaneously going wonderfully and slugging along, which I anticipated. She's able to distinguish /p/ from /b/ now, which was an eye-opener for her. We're going very, very slowly - partly because her working memory is so poor, so it takes a lot of repetition to get things to stick. We're done the first three sets of "brothers", and we're stopping to review them until she has them down. I know that many people get through this fast - that won't be the case for us. Her combination of issues mean that we're going to move slowly - and I'm okay with that. :) I'm impressed with the materials, and also how easy it is to implement - especially for a program not designed for home use. Thus far, it's virtually completely scripted - can't get easier than that!

Nope, no Barton yet. We started LiPS this week. It's going both well and sloggingly simultaniously, which is pretty much what I expected. She finally identified that /p/ and /b/ are different sounds, which was an eye-opening moment for her that kind of melted my heart. But she's still doing b/d/p reversals, and we're having to do a lot of review for each set of brothers to get through. Right now we're at the point in the manual where it says to stop and review lip poppers, tip tappers, and tongue scrapers... I anticipate spending at least a few days on that until she really gets those sounds nailed down and the mouth movements sorted into their proper categories. I bought the Addie Cusimano workbook, a one-year subscription to Hearbuilder online, and I'm looking at A Fist Full of Coins right now. :) We're going to start digit spans (slowly)...

Thanks!

Are there any resources for improving working memory? Keep in mind I'm a newbie, and while I can make manipulative that go along with a program, I'm very anxious about making my own programs...

It's a nifty feature, but one that's not often used. :) On a Kindle, I think I might just create a secondary user name, put parental controls on it to lock out access to everything else, and just put the one app you want used on it. I know you can't actually delete the automatically installed apps like Safari, but you can block browser access, which should accomplish pretty much the same thing.

My kids would love this.

In regard to locking down the iPad to a specific app, I think the feature you're looking for is called "Guided Access". I can't do cute tiny url links, but check this out, it might be what you want: https://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=search&src=support_site.globalheader.search&locale=en_US&q=guided%20access

DD will be 4 in August... - Memoria Press Enrichment and Craft Suppliment for Kindergarten (with her 6 year old sister) - Bede's History of US, with added picture books (with her 6 year old sister) - Reading... unsure yet. I have too many programs and I don't like any of them right now. - Singapore K math (sweet, gentle, easy) - Science.. unsure. - Rod&Staff preschool workbooks (she's finished the "about three" series, so we'll move onto the A-whatever series) - Timberdoodle PreK

I got my LiPS materials! Yesterday, I made letter and colored squares on the computer, then had office depot print them on cardstock and laminate them. I'm going to put magnets on the back, and consider it good enough! :)

I'd have a safety talk, without punishment. I'd talk about never drinking and driving, always calling me for a ride (or having the number of a cab company and money for a cab, if they are away from school). After the safety talk, we'd discuss underage drinking, including legal consequences and other possible repercussions. I'd urge against it, but let the child know that IF it happened, they need to make 100% sure they are safe. I had friends who drank in high school and, in their effort to hide it from their parents, got into much more serious (legal) trouble. I'd make sure the other parent knew about the situation. Maybe a lock on the alcohol is necessary. I know when DH's younger sister was around that age (17 or 18), his mom asked DH to have a talk with her about safety in situations like that. Things like never, ever putting your drink down then drinking out of it later when at a bar or party. She was very thankful (later) for the advice (despite how uncomfortable it had been in the moment), and it served her and her friends well through the end of highschool and through college. While DH certainly wasn't encouraging her to drink or party, he gave her good advice on how to keep herself safe if she ended up in one of those places.

I would let the child, as long as it could be done openly. I would not lie, I would not have the child lie, and I wouldn't be secretly.

The only grocery store within 10 minutes of me is Publix Greenwise. I shop there, so I am a bit spoiled. It costs more, but I justify that because I'm not driving further.

? My DD3 is totally enmoured by the Rod and Staff workbooks. She blew threw the four Preschool ("About Three") workbooks in 4 days. She's now going through the A through G workbooks. She really loves these little workbooks. I'm not a workbook type of mom, in general, but these make her happy. So, what would be other workbooks she might like?

Only yearly, if that. My mom used to do it weekly or biweekly.

Lots of times, the first medication you try doesn't work for you. I might suggest trying to adjust your meds, rather than giving them up altogether.

I'm certainly no expert, but I would have diagrammed the second one the same way the first one was done. I have been taught that "the" modifies the noun or a pronoun, not adjectives.

I'm not a fan of Adam of the Road. We did it as a read-aloud, and I found it to be pretty boring. We loved the Witch of Blackbird Pond!

I probably wouldn't start him on a spelling program until he's reading fluently, but that's just me. Looks good, just focus on reading, reading, reading! I love the look of MP Enrichment - I'm using the K for my preschooler and 1st grader next year. :) Good luck!

Yotsuba is really cute for littles. :) Your kids have good taste. My DD loves them. :)

and congratulations on getting him in! :)

I think you're fine either way. Sister (as long as you aren't around a group of sisters who wouldn't know who you were talking to) or Sister+First Name. We refer to Priests as Father or Father+Name. It's pretty interchangeable. My brother's never gotten offended or upset if someone addresses him as just "Father". It's perfectly respectful and not at all uncommon. :) I'd imagine SisterL would be the same way.