mo2, I'm using phonics pathways. We are not too far into to it yet, but I like that one (inexpensive) book takes us through all the levels. My ds loves the games. All the cutting and pasting in AR felt like busywork to me. We are gettig through PP much faster.

I tried this today when he was melting down over copywork and it totally worked! You should have seen his face when he realized it took him only half as long as he thought it would :) We also developed a code word for when he's begining to feel like he's losing control. He shouted it out today and I stepped in to help him and we avoided another melt down. Things went much better today than they did last week,.

I'm not sure just how accurate this is but you can type in a sample of the text and it will generate the corresponding level.

They are unit studies not a full curriculum. I just bought the matter lapbooking unit study and printed it out yesterday. I haven't tried it out yet w/ my kids, but this particular study is 4 once a week lessons based on readings from a book, completing the lapbook and doing some hands on activities. I think my kids will enjoy it :)

Great! Biology ordered :) I'm excited to use this. I think it will work well for us. I also ordered the matter unit study ebook. I figured for $2 I can't lose. It looks just like what I was looking for. I was able to get the spines from the library and it has some hands-on activities too. Looks much better than the worksheet oriented science kit I ordered from our resource library (blech!).

Thanks so much, I think I'll go w/ Bio :) Has anyone tried their lapbooking series? I'm eyeing their matter unit study.

I think it's pretty obvious that the OP was intended to incite a reaction as a set up for the new blog post.

Wow. Just wow. Could I get a side of judgement with that gossip, please?

My kids that I am considering this for are 5 and 7. I am trying to decide b/n Intro and biology. My younger ds isn't particular sciency, my older ds is but can't handle much writing. Is it better to bump the younger child to higher level or place the older child in the lower level? Any advice?

We sometimes go to various neighborhoods and pick up litter. The kids love it, the community appreciates it and it's flexible for us to easily slip into our schedule :)

Can I change my member title to "@itch goddess bee"? It has a better ring than level 4 worker bee" :lol:

I am using Penny Gardner's italics with my older ds who needs a lot of remedial work. It's working well for him and I like that it is available as a download so I can have him repeat lessons as necessary. It's also multi-level so very affordable! I am using getty-dubay italics for my ker, but I'll be moving him up to the Penny Gardner program when he's able to write on smaller lines. Getty-Dubay seems to be fine for him for now.

I'm specifically talking about school work here. My 7 y/o ds shuts right down when school work becomes challenging. He is very bright and I know the work isn't too hard for him, but he is a perfectionist and holds himself up to a very high standard. He is what some would call "spirited". When something overwhelms him he pretty well falls off his chair and becomes quite angry. He can be like this in other areas of his life, which I can usually settle him down by gently talking to him, but at school it becomes a hot button for me as it appears to be defiance when it really is not. He insists that he can't do it and won't even try. What often ensues is a power struggle and that is exactlhy what I don't want. What can I do?

Thanks for your feedback! So the content isn't overly American? Do you think my kids are too old (they will be 6 & 8 when I would use it)?

Do they work well for those of us who live outside of the US? Also, would they be suitable to use with a grade 1 and grade 3 student?

Haha..you just described my day :lol: I can commiserate! My baby is the clingy sort, she won't let me put her down for a minute without screaming so I try to balance all the kids while I have a baby attached to me in a sling. Oh, and if she's not attached to me in the sling, she is attached to my boob. Sometimes I wonder why I bother trying to get anything done. My house is a disaster...oh well...at least we did math :tongue_smilie: Things are crazy at the moment, but it's just a season. Right?

Anyone?

My son enjoys word problems and has asked me to get him a word problem book, this child is workbook phobic so I'm quite suprised at this request and most happy to oblige :) He's working through RS level C just wondering which word problem book this would correlate with? The grade 2 book?

I'm glad you brought this up as I want to use this next year with my kids who will be in 1st and 3rd. I was concerned it would be too easy for my rising 3rd grader, but it doesn't sound like this will be a problem.

Thanks, we love it too. I started my older ds in B, he was a year older and got it right away so I never had this issue with him. I'll try your suggestions :)

Ok, I'll just be patient then :)

Thanks for these, somehow I didn't come up with them when I searched. It sounds like MCT may not be the right fit for us next year. I'm still drawn to it though, maybe for the year after... :tongue_smilie:

We had an early and extended break in our year due to a new baby so we're only about 18 lesson in. Anyways, my 5 y/o ds is counting beads individually and isn't seeing the patterns. Will this just click or should I be working with him more at this?

Thanks for your feedback. The only two things that concern me about the program is that it looks teacher intensive and I can't figure out how to implement it. The lack of a schedule makes my head dizzy. I want things laid out for me.

I'm so undecided on language for next year. I keep thinking I've settled on my plan but I hear so many positive things about this program. Does anyone not like it?