What does MEP stand for? Never mind. Mathamatics Enhancement Program. :o) MEP is not patterned after Singapore style math though, right?

Is there such a thing? I'm thinking DS would do better with a spiral approach.

We found AAR and FLL to be a nice LA combo to start the 1st grade year off. About half way through the year, when he was feeling more able to write, we added AAS and WWE. I've been very happy with how our language arts have played out this year. I don't know how OPGTR compares to FLL, but I love the low-key nature of FLL, the foundational stuff that's covered, and the poetry memorization. On the other hand, FLL is the one program out of those listed that DS does not like. But I figure that 5-10 minutes 3 times a week isn't going to cause any lonterm harm with him. :o)

We're halfway through the Standards edition 1B. It has really helped DS love math due to the colorful pictures and even the black and white "extra" pictures used to decorate some of the pages in the workbook. The program we used last year had none of that and I've found these pictures are a real plus for keeping up DS's enthusiasm! However, we're using the textbook, workbook, Extra Practice book, and suggestions in the home instructor's guide and I'm still not feeling that DS is getting the practice he needs on some of the concepts. I feel we need a program with more review. Is Math Mammoth the only Singapore-style program for this? My only issue with it is that I hear that it's black and white with no extra pictures to brighten DS's math day. Are there any other programs that would better fit what we're looking for....Singapore style and interesting format/graphics?

Is there really nothing? I guess the next question would then be, are there some really fun printable charts that anyone knows of?

Tracking DS's reading on the online Book-It tracker this year was way more exciting for him than even getting a pizza at the end. So now that Book-It is over for the year, I'm wondering if there is anything similar online to track his reading?

I have Volume 1, but am thinking I may end up doing two volumes with DS before moving on to Sonlight. What is your favorite volume of the four?

Up until several months ago, public school was most definately an option. "A year at a time, a child at a time," was our motto. However, after learning more about the implementation of Common Core and the privacy issues involved with all the data collection that goes along with it, public school is sadly permanently out of the picture.....unless the local school board overturns common core locally....which they can legally do....and which a group of parents are currently working on to see happen. So we're hoping. I really don't like having the public school option taken away.

OK, some clarification from the OP! I have two families in mind. One is a family where both parents work full time. The other is a family where the mother struggles with depression and energy issues and the thought of pulling and starting three kids at once is a bit overwhelming to her, though she does see some of the benefit of more parent intensive curriculums. As to why their pulling their kids out, curriculum content is part of it, but perhaps their even bigger reason is the privacy violations and data collection brought about by CC.

What is good and what would you suggest? We have a bunch of people in our community pulling their kids out of school next year due to the implementation of Common Core. Some are looking for curriculums that require very little parental involvement. What would you recommend?

Thank-you so much for the info! We actually don't use Saxon now, but DS and I grew up on it and really like it and I've had it in mind for the upper grades.

I just found out that they redid their curriculum to align with common core. Our local Public school is using the new books and a couple of the moms I talked with yesterday were NOT happy with the changes. Anyone know if Saxon will still print their old curriculum too for we homeschoolers who refuse to use common core aligned stuff?

The standards DS6 sets for himself are simply unreasonably high. It seems that every time he gets something wrong it's the end of the world for him. I've talked talked talked talked talked to him about how normal it is to get things wrong on assignments and how we wouldn't even be doing the book if he got everything right all the time. But all the talk and assurances of loving him the same when he gets things wrong is of no avail. He also cries really easily about these things, so if anything has any suggestions for dealing with a sensitive child who sets way to high of standards for himself, it would be welcome!

In my case, where my oldest will be a 2nd grader next year, is that a good time to start or do you think 3rd grade would be better?

I'd typically not be one to rush handwriting for a 4-year-od boy who is still more than a year and a half away from starting kindergarten, but he LOVES to write letters and doesn't mind worksheets to practice on. I'm tired of printing this and that off the computer and just want a book/program that's already printed. I like Handwriting Without Tears for K, and I looked at the preschool program, but it doesn't really involve the actual writing that he wants to be doing. Should I start HWT K with him this early and maybe do it again in a couple years? Or is there something else out there that might work? I'm going to be starting All About Reading Pre-reading with him (doesn't involve writing that I can see), and had looked at Get Ready for the Code since it has some handwriting....but I'm wondering if the combination of the two programs might be overkill as he already knows most of his alphabet sounds and just needs a little more review. So, yes, any advice for a little boy who wants to write?

Thanks! That's exactly what I'm looking for!

Hmmm... I like the Confessions of a Homeschooler ones, but I wish there were a few more parts....at least the brain and the major bones. Might be able to pull a brain off KELLis's link though. Any others out there with more body parts included?

I want to trace around DS and then have him color and glue in his organs, bones, etc. on the poster. Is there anywhere on the web that I can get such printables?

I was wondering if R&S might be a good option, but DS is not going to like all the writing it requires...unless something clicks in that department over the next few months. I finally dropped the copywork in FLL because it was causing so many problems. We do writing class copywork seperately, and he seems ok with that. But as a hole, too much writing = problems with him.

We're a little over half way through FLL 1. I love it! DS has decided he doesn't. I think we'll finish this level anyhow, but I'm looking for something different for next year. Any suggestions? What I love about FLL is that it's quick, repetative, stresses memorizing key definitions and word lists for parts of speach, keeps up with where the kids are in our public school, and has poetry memorization. I'd love something similar....but maybe more interesting for DS. Suggestions?

Any suggestions for books or curriculum that would be age-appropriate for a 1st or 2nd grader interested in the human body and outer space?

Chwck out the primary American History books at Beautiful Feet. We're doing that this year and LOVE the selections!

There's really not anything out there?

What's out there that would be like that? We love BF and are sad it only lasts 1 year at this age!

PS is closed here too. We'll just do math since we're behind there. Gonna use the time to take down Chritmas,