Thank you for sharing what you do. I struggle with using lof as my only math book.

My 5th grader is doing LOF fractions. There are only 32 lessons (plus tests). Decimals only has 33 lessons (plus tests). This won't cover an entire year. Should I be supplementing LOF or just move him on as he finishes up each book, regardless of his grade level? I just can't picture my 6th grader starting pre-algebra and 7th advanced algebra. Also, do you feel it stands alone? I bought Lial's basic college math and thought I would just alternate every other day. Is this necessary?

Thank you for sharing your ideas, I am going to try saxon K for now. I know that we are probably going to deal with this for quite some time, if not always! I am going to do some research on right start and mus. I appreciate the ideas. I feel better that I have something to go from now and that I have at least decided on something to start with. Cactuspair, do you still use right start? Have you used a specific writing program to help your ds to form letters and numbers? Our OT recommended HWT, so we are going to begin working on that this year too.

pm'd you.

I am starting to get in a panic! I can't find anything to do with her this year. She normally goes to OT, but I decided that I could do just as good of a job, but here I am with no idea! I want a specific program, laid out for me. But...it can not include any writing. My dd can not write at all, only scribbles. I know there are lots of books out there that are manipulative based, but I want it spelled out for me, like Saxon does, minus any writing. I don't want 200 pages of counting bears, I am looking for some variety. Does this exist?

I actually do very little preparation. Where do you find the time to actually learn the math yourself? My oldest is my guinea pig I guess. I worried what would happen when we got to this point. I never thought about doing the math ahead of time. I just expect to have him open the book and work through the lessons without my help :blushing:. I didn't think the instructors guides were much help at all. That is why Saxon seems attractive to me. I feel like I can show him the steps if he can't understand where he went wrong. Teaching Textbooks is looking very good right now as well. It makes me feel as if I will be off the hook. So of course I have been reading up on it and that sounds as if it is a mediocre program. But what are my choices if I know I do not have the skill necessary to explain algebra to him? He did take the placement test for Saxon and placed at 6/5 and Teaching Textbooks at 7. Does this give anyone else a headache? Why do I sweat this and nothing else??

My 10yos finished up 4A last spring. He likes it a lot, but I am frustrated with it. I am not at all knowledgable in math and when he has a question I often have to tell him to wait for his dad to come home for help. What I am wanting is explanations of the problems. The teachers manuals that I have bought don't explain things well for me. I have been toying with the idea of switching to Saxon (even thought we hated it) at this level because it will at least give explanations. I also thought I would have to switch eventually anyway, as I didn't know of NEM was a good program. I am worried about upper level math as he will have to completely learn it on his own. I will be no help at all. Can I stick it out with Singapore? Is there a resource I don't know about?

Accelerated Curriculum has copywork on their cd rom. I got the demo cd and was able to access just some of the copywork samples. It is the biggest list of copywork I have seen (it is intended to go throught 12th grade). If you aren't familiar with this, it is similiar to Robinson Curriculum. But, Accelerated is only $100 or so. Just having it for a resource for the years of copywork would be worth the money. Just something I am considering for copywork.

I will be looking into the website, it sounds like something that would work for us!

Thanks so much for the ideas! I have been looking at Rosetta Stone, but because of the expense and the impracticality of learning Chinese at this point I have held off. I have not looked into it at the library. How would that work? Would I have to take him to the library everyday to access it? I don't really want to invest in a tutor at this point either. They do teach it at the public school, I don't know that the teacher is a native speaker of Chinese though. Would that be like having a tutor? Thanks for the Latin advice, what is LfC? Is it mentioned in the book?

There is a Country Inn and Suites in Clive (I think) at Living History Farms. I love that hotel! Just do a search for Country Inn and Suites in Des Moines.

Hello I am new to posting, but have been reading for a long time and love all the ideas shared here. My 10yo son is interested in learning Chinese (says he would like to live in Shanghi someday). We have been getting lots of Chinese language books from the library. My plan for him this year is Prima Latina and Rosetta Stone Spanish. To me this is the most practical road to take. My fear is that if I discourage him now that he won't want to pick up Chinese again in high school (like recommended in WTM). But, I do not think learning Chinese right now is the best choice. My thought is that I would stick with MY plan and just purchase him some simple workbooks on Chinese like we have been borrowing from the library just to keep his interest. But part of me says to go with what he wants and skip the Spanish for now. If the desire is there right now, I feel like I should encourage it. What would you do?