I think all of those look fine (but then again, this is coming from a woman who most frequently dresses like Sheldon from BBT or Ellen DeGeneres - lots of long-sleeves under tees, jeans/cords, snazzy tennis shoes, LOL). I have often layered a fitted t-shirt under a tank top babydoll dress/top for my little girls. It looks cute. Long sleeves or short sleeves work and when it's cold, we add leggings. Presto -- summer wardrobe turned fall. :) The key is *fitted* t-shirts. This look doesn't work with a bulky, oversized tee.

I don't think you'd get much of a curriculum if you took the Bible out of MFW 1st. All of the reading/writing/copywork is from the Bible (Proverbs, I believe, plus their Bible reader.) According to their site: I personally think MFW is somewhat weak in the Science area (though some disagree) and it's likely tied to Bible concepts (Kindergarten was, anyways). And MFW 1st doesn't do a "formal" math program, just a math workbook. Anyway, just my thoughts.... I'd probably go another route if I didn't do the Bible aspects. (Funny enough, I wanted to do JUST their Bible reader/notebook, LOL.... we have our own science/math/phonics. :p)

I have a young GIRL who seems to be showing aptitude for MATH & SCIENCE. DD is 6.5 and her science interest leans toward life sciences/biology. Next year, we are using Elemental Biology. Math we're using SM and MM concurrently, but may move on to MiF if it proves easier for mom to teach. ;) I'm looking products/curriculum/toys to encourage this passion/interest. What have you used that were big hits in these subjects? I am *not* math/science oriented (I've always preferred language arts) so what I *want to do* is not working for her... Feel free to share what worked for your young boys, too... Thanks!

Not a boy ... but that's about all my 6.5 year old girl writes. Writing is laborious for her, as well. Today her writing was: her name, 2x (handwriting practice) the letters A-H, 2x (handwriting practice) math answers underlining some things in her grammar book (sometimes her grammar book has her write 1-3 sentences, pretty short)

I like using things like this for comprehension...

I've been planning for next year, too (2nd). I'm most excited about (finally) adding in history (Elemental Adv. in America) and "formal" science (Elemental Biology).

LOL. We do not *do* anal gland squeezing. Our vet does that at our dog's 1x/yr visit and hasn't told us the need to do it on our own. So we don't.

A 2nd bath. Really. :p Sometimes DH & I say that the first bath just knocks the stink loose. The 2nd bath is what gets the doggy smelling clean. :) ETA: we use baby shampoo on our dog...

This thread has been very helpful (or not...since I'm now reconsidering math for next year. :p) Anyway, I'd like to get the opinion of some MiF users: Since the program is being labeled as Singapore Math for US public schools... does that mean it's SM watered-down? Or is it equally rigorous in content and scope & sequence? (I know it's kind of the "new kid on the block" but I'm sure someone else has look into this & done the research for me. :D :D) What do you think? Will it bring you to the same place in the end? As equally prepared for middle school maths?

Ah, one can never have too much detail. :p Thank you, that was very helpful!

So you've not needed the teacher's guides? I've wondered if they were necessary since that's the bulk of the price....

History: I started my DD with Singapore. When we hit a wall at the end of 1A, I moved to Math Mammoth exclusively for a month or so. I have decided that I prefer SM (DD does as well), but I want to keep using MM for review/supplementation (right now it's really helping with addition facts.) This HSBC deal is just too good to pass up ... but I am too lazy for a PDF curriculum. (I'm currently using pre-printed/bound MM from Rainbow Resource). I love the ease of just grabbing the book and flipping to where we left off -- if I have to go print copies before a lesson, it'll never get done (our printer is very inconveniently placed in our home, I have to carry the laptop down there, etc etc. It's also terribly slow and I can't imagine having to print out the whole workbook...) So, does anyone take their MM PDFs to an office supply store and have them fully printed and spiral bound? Do you still come out cheaper that way? This is my main concern -- that this "deal" will end up costing me more, with more work. What about store printed & then pro-clicked yourself? (I'm wondering -- in the long run it may be cheaper for me to ask for a Pro-click for Valentine's Day :p and then just have them printed and bind them myself...) Thoughts? Talk me into or out of ... something. :D

I've been looking at MIF, too, but I can't justify the cost! About 2x as pricey as SM and about 4x as much as Math Mammoth bought printed! Unreal. But it looks great. :p

Yeah, RR was cheaper :p so we'll give it a go first.... but if it doesn't show any improvement in her reading, then we'll probably go to DB next. I did go ahead and buy Apples & Pears (just to have a look at it, possibly for next year...) And DD hasn't liked ANY of the phonics we've tried, not even the "fun" ones (*cough*....AAR.... :glare: ).

I have this set. I really like the readers and the workbooks (I like these workbooks more than ETC, actually.) They've been good practice for DD.

Thanks for the feedback! I did go ahead and order RR (yay for Prime, it'll be here Thursday and I can read it over the weekend.)

I love watching Preppers. (Though, according to the show, my family is woefully unprepared.) We feel okay about it all, though... we have a friend who is a mechanical/electrical genius-type dude. His take on national disaster via EMP is that only electronics that are actually IN USE at the time of the pulse will be effected. So, theoretically, there will be a large # of devices that will be spared. Shew! ;) (I'm gonna hold to that theory, since it means we won't have to start eating our pets and carbon-filtering our urine to drink... :scared: ) Though that doesn't help with the zombie apocalypse or other global disaster scenarios.... hmmm....

PLEASE SEE POST #20 OR #24 BEFORE REPLYING. I am at a loss for teaching my oldest to read (she's nearly 7, in 1st). In the last few months we have tried several programs, but always hit a point where we cannot progress. She says she hates to read, doesn't want to learn.... but she loves books. I think her confidence is shaken and I'm sure it's mostly my fault for curriculum hopping. (In my defense, we stick with something a few months but when she makes no progress at all, I start looking around a new approach.) We are currently stuck in CVC-wasteland, with much struggling, letter reversal, guessing, confusion and tears. I've tried many of the "popular" programs with little success (AAR, HOP, Phonics Pathways, R&S, ETC, OPGTR).... but now I'm considering moving on to more remedial programs. DH had significant reading troubles in school and I'm wondering if DD has "inherited" some of that. (I suspect younger DD might be a quick-to-learn reader -- another reason I want to get older DD up and going before she gets "passed.") I've been looking at: Reading Reflex *top contender* Dancing Bears *2nd choice* ABeCeDarian *though I'm not sure about this* I'm also thinking of starting something like Apples & Pears (we currently do not do a spelling program, but I was wondering if this would help...) I really cannot afford any expensive programs (looked at Barton and Wilson, but those are way out of my league).... Thoughts? Reading Reflex fans? Can I do RR and Apples & Pears concurrently? (Or does A&P do better with DB?)

Thanks for the suggestions. We do use a lot of silly putty in our house. And gum.... though I never thought about drinking from a straw, might try it. DD is a thumb-sucker/nail chewer, too.... and we've been having a heck-of-a-time breaking that habit, but I never really connected it to her overall fidgeting/busy-ness. Hmmm, now to scold less and replace those with other (more productive) things... RE: sharpening pencils. My DD loves to do that too. I never thought about the kind with a shavings-catcher, duh! LOL, I just banned hand-held pencil sharpeners because I kept finding piles of shavings around the house...

Everyone says MM is complete and I agree, but for that price (assuming it hits the 50% mark), it works as a supplement too! We tried to switch to MM from SM and just couldn't do it. However, we're finding that we like to do a little from each program each day. MM has been great for reinforcing math facts, while SM is our "fun" math. :p

If your children manipulate fidgets during school time, what ones have you found to be the best? Specific brands you like? Tangles, hairy tangles, stress balls, etc? What does your child reach for again & again? My oldest needs some sort of physical outlet during school hours....we have a wobble disc, but I need something to keep her hands busy during phonics lessons (which are proving to be *very* challenging for us...) Thanks for any suggestions. :)

Just bumping this thread b/c the sale has started :)

Whelp....off to rethink my long-term science plans. :p :p

Time 4 Learning?

Next year I will be using Elemental's Intro with a 5 yo and 7 yo (K and 2nd). I chose this simply because it fit better with my overall plan with science. :p We'll be doing Biology the following year. My oldest does not like to write at all, so I felt it would be best to do a gentle, hands-on year with them together (it'll be the first "official" year of them doing "real" subjects together.) Intro. looked like it would fit that the best. :)