I think a BA in English Lit would be useful when homeschooling. :)

:iagree: Saxon is simple and thorough. The weaknesses of Singapore and Saxon are complemented nicely with the strengths of Saxon and Singapore respectively.

Cathy Duffy is one place to look for reviews on curriculums, but I'd look beyond her opinion and consider other sources that have done research as well. http://www.illinoisloop.org/mathprograms.html#saxon http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/05/03/ED201892.DTL&type=printable

There is not a lot of pure math, but there is math involved in the sciences that lead to becoming a doctor. Being strong in the sciences would be more important. I recommend Saxon. I'd have her take the placement test first, though. Here is some research that supports Saxon from Texas: http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=rev_math.htm'>http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=rev_math.htm'>http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=rev_math.htm'>http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=rev_math.htm http://www.textbookreviews.org/index.html?content=rev_math.htm

I do Saxon a few days a week for each of my children, and a mastery program (Singapore) for 3 days a week. It's a nice balance. The drill and repetition from Saxon, and the mastery approach from Singapore. I have not used MUS, so I won't comment on it. ;) Perhaps you could combine the best of two different curriculums that have worked for you...one as spine and one to supplement with. In our case we do different combinations. It really depends on the child and what you are comfortable doing as to which curriculum(s) would work best.

I have, from the start, always used two math programs. With my daughter I use two complete programs to try to keep her more at grade level since she tested three grade levels ahead of where she "should" be. She is an abstract thinker. With my son I use one program as a spine, and another as a supplement. He is more of a hands-on learner. My children also play chess with their father. My favorite curriculums are Saxon and Singapore. Each of these programs has its stengths and its weaknesses as do all math curriculums. We are a bit of a math family, so I don't mind doing all that math. Others may not enjoy it so much. ;)

I second Saxon. Saxon 3 is good. Saxon repeats a great deal in the beginning, but it later picks up. Saxon is more teacher intensive in the younger years. There are placement exams if you are interested, which are helpful.

I have no opinion on Abeka as I have not used it. Another idea is that you could have your daughter fill in a blank 12 X 12 multiplication table once a week. I created some on the computer and just print them off. I have my daughter do this in place of one of her daily drills.

The best way to begin to approach this is to think about what are the strengths and weaknesses of each of the math programs you are considering, and then work them in together to accomplish your goal. To be more specific, what I do is to look ahead a few weeks in each curriculum at what is coming up. I consider which idea(s)/approach(es) are where I want to take the student, and then I plan it out from this point. I would allow adequate time for presentation of the new concepts, review/reinforcement, and then a way to measure the progress (quizzes and tests).

You could go to the Saxon Math website and take the placement exam. http://saxonhomeschool.harcourtachieve.com/HA/resourcelist.aspx?ca=Placement+Tests&SRC1=37&SRC5=saxonhomeschool&SRC6=HSMath&SRC7=HS_02_Math48

If you purchase the Home School Kit, it comes with a test/timing sheets/drill sheets in one book, the student textbook, and a solutions manual. I find Saxon 5/4 less work for the teacher than Saxon 3. I really like it, and the transition went smoothly in our experience. It does train the student to work more independently. I also use Singapore Math so some weeks we only do a few days of Saxon, and I combine lessons which hasn't been a problem.

At the start Bob has 47 fewer marbles than Jason. If Jason gives Bob 15, the subtracted total will be 30 because now it will include the 15 more Bob has been given, and the 15 fewer that Jason will have. 47-30=17 The 193 total is there to throw you off - unnecessary information. That was my understanding. I don't think the child is expected to do this with algebra yet.

You could try the Saxon Math website and have your first grader take a placement test. I am a fan of Saxon, but I do their work one year ahead of grade level. My son, a first grader, is using it now (Saxon 2). I also like Singapore Math. They also have placement tests, and first grade is a good time to start their program as well. We do both programs, and they compliment each other nicely.

My son uses Singapore 1B, and he also uses Saxon (first he used 1 and now he does 2) which has excellent skip counting exercises. My son began Singapore at level 1, so we didn't do the Kindergarten work. Do you have the HIG for Singapore 1A or 1B? Perhaps it has some recommendation in it about skip counting. I don't own the HIG for Singapore 1A or 1B so I don't know.

For my daughter (8) we are using R&S 3 and PLL (Davidson). There are things I really like in PLL, however, I think the R&S is more thorough. For now, we use both. I like R&S better than she does. I may get her FLL4 (and also R&S 4) for next year. I'm not sure yet. I'm still researching it.

My two favorites, and I use both for each of my children, are Saxon and Singapore. Saxon is great at drill. It also is very good at teaching pattern recognition, which becomes very important as you progress with math. It also is productive at reinforcing what has been learned in previous chapters (which may or may not always be necessary depending on the child.) Singapore is very good at presenting concepts, mental math, and word problems. I like the bar graph model that Singapore uses, and I make my kids sketch the bar graph even when they are able to solve the problem without needing to draw it. It helps to reduce the number of errors. Pictures or "seeing" math is important when attempting to solve complex math problems, so I also use a wide variety of manipulatives; and I encourage the drawing of pictures, especially on two or more step word problems. Using more than one math curriculum can be more work for the parent, however it also keeps math interesting and presents it from different angles which is very beneficial. ;)

I just wanted to add that when I spoke to a representative from Singapore Math, she recommended Intensive Practice over Challenging Word Problems as being more interesting and diverse. She said that the Singapore Math CWP should correlate to the grade level, for example CWP 3 with level 3 workbook and textbook. I do see wisdom in doing the CWP a year behind as well. It is a personal choice, and it depends on the child.

My daughter (8) is working on the CWP 3, which I think is more challenging the CWP 2. The point that they switch to two steps problems is when I think the level of difficulty increases. She worked through CWP 2 on her own. With level three, she usually stops to ask for clarification. Two step word problems are introduced in level 3 (of the text/workbook). I agree with others that it is reasonable to do them one year behind the grade level. (For example CWP 2 with level 3 text/workbook.)

Forgive me if this has been asked before. I have been wondering if he agrees with the Teacher's Unions general opposition to homeschooling.

I noticed in your signature that you also use Saxon Math. Maybe you could use Saxon for the subtraction facts that the Horizon's math is weak on. With my kids I use a Saxon/Singapore combination and it works great for us.

It depends on the child. I'm combining Saxon 5/4 and Singapore 3A for my daughter. She (aged 8) does Singapore3A for 3 days (text,workbook, and CWP 3) and then Saxon for two days. Whatever doesn't get done usually gets assigned as homework for the weekend. It may seem like a lot to some, and would be for some children, but she does great with it. I'm not saying it would work for everyone. I haven't used IP, because my daughter doesn't seem to need it. For my son (age 6), I combine Saxon 2 and Sing 1B. With his schedule I reverse and spend 3 days on Saxon 2 and two days on Sing 1B and CWP 1. It has worked for him so far, too. I adjust as I go.

I am happily using it, too. I bought both WRTR and SWR, and since there was an SWR seminar in my area I went with SWR and attended it. We are happy with SWR. The seminar probably wasn't necessary, but it was a confidence booster... ;) I still have WRTR and use it as a reference guide occasionally.

1. At what age do you start a typing program? Do you have a good curriculum recommendation? 2. At what age would you begin elementary greek? Do you have a good curriculum recommendation? Thanks!

My son started at age 5 with Saxon 1. I thought it was easy to teach, and I think most 5 year olds could handle it. I would combine lessons for him at times. The repetition makes that easily possible. He is now (age 6) doing Saxon 2 and Singapore Math 1. It is working great for him. With Saxon you know you are covering all the bases, and with Singapore you get excellent word problems. I usually try to do math every day, but you could probably combine lessons if you needed to.

WOW!:lol: