SO I'm REALLY struggling with math curric. switch to the unknown. Need help. Ok so we did Right Start for k and 1st and loved it, went to public school for 2nd and 3rd, then homeschool this year back with RS for 4th. RS program ends with 4th, but we may do RS G (geometry) as a supplement over next 2 years. My confusion: 1. My instinct ( from reading reviews) is avoid spiral, which I think rules out Saxon, also but I know some smart math kids who use it and I have smart math kid 2. A homeschool friend recommended Math U See, looked at Epsilon ( grade 5) and it's JUST fractions. Don't like the sequencing of concepts , and just looks painful to me. We may tackle this as a summer curric. to master fractions but overall definitely thinking not for us. 3. Singapore seems like a good switch over from RS, but I have never seen the curric. In my hands which is hard for me to decide on, and I know no one who is using it, just not sure about it 4. In my research of Singapore, I found suggestions for Math Mammoth and like what I've read - challenging, mastery not spiral, great mental math and teaching understanding and thinking skills vs. memorization. So, totally unsure, I think I'm leaning toward Math Mammoth at the top, Singapore in 2nd place Any advice that might help from you experts out there? A

What is CLE? I'll look into Math Mammoth and Singapore, I'm not familiar with any of these unfortunately. Any opinion on Math U See?? I looked at MUS Epsilon (fractions) yesterday, I liked the straightforwardness and simplicity of it, so I am considering that with doing RS geometry. I did do supplemental work with RS, she's strong in math and tests high for 4th. She loves math and I want to keep her enjoying it

We've finished RS through 4th and looking where to go from here - not sure about "spiral" vs. "mastery". Considering Abeka, Saxon or Horizons but I've never used any of these - completely entering the unknown!

Thanks for the reply - can you tell me more about the "Printing Power" workbook with the pictures - is that the name of the book and where I would find it to buy one. Thanks!

Please help me if you have any info/adivice on teaching a lefty proper writing. Do left-handers learn writing differently? Should they be taught differently? DS just turned 5 and his writing is very neat, but he's started making letters backwards and starts them in the wrong place. I used HWOT for dd, but it doesn't address any teaching variations for lefty. Do I teach him the same way I would a right-hander? Thanks for any help.

I didn't read the other responses so someone may have already suggested this. If you can run a sewing machine, you might consider making your own throw pillows. I have NO sewing training, but I'm creative enough to figure things out without a pattern (if you can run a sewing machine, it's not difficult to make a pillow). The trick is to go for the much higher quality "decorator" fabrics - ask where to find them in the fabric store. If you can do a decent job sewing, the results can look very high quality and 100% more impressive and coordinated than something store bought that's just "slightly the wrong color". ;)

When my dc were a bit younger, I had 2 girls (ages 12-13) who I paid $5/hour to "play" with my 2 kids while I was home so I could do other things in the house. One mother told me $5/hr was too much for her 12 yo with no babysitting experience, and flat out told me she wanted her daughter to gain the experience and responsibility and not have her daughter's focus be on the money (it was a shocker to me, but I guess and I can see some benefit to that). I briefly paid her $3/hr, but felt too guilty so I quickly raised her to $5 after she had some "experience". She's 16 now and I still use her :)!

I'm looking at several large WOOL area rugs. I live in AK so my shopping options are limited and I'm looking at buying on-line. I just received 5 P.B. rug samples that I ordered (1 foot square pieces). They are beautiful, but pricey (which I'm fine with IF they are high quality). I'm tempted to buy, but I'm worried about QUALITY. I have several wool area rugs that I purchased 15+ years ago from a high quality rug store. They've had no fading (even with direct sunlight on them), no shedding, they've been incredible rugs (just the wrong colors now). I paid about the same price as today's P.B. rugs. I saw posts on a consumer site with complaints about "toxic rubber smell" coming from the latex backing on some P.B. rugs. Another complaint was shedding - but it didn't specify if the fiber was wool. Anyone with P.B wool rugs - I'd love to hear from you!! THANK YOU! :)

Let me grab another cup of coffee and I'll get back to you on this...:)

My pet peeve is the "unfriendly" tone and treatment given to U.S. "corporations" and capitalism by our politicians and media. You can't tax and regulate to death U.S. businesses and expect a growth U.S. job market and economy - it won't happen. Businesses (and jobs) will either never be created, or they will move overseas. Why is this not obvious? :iagree::iagree::iagree:

Good to see you too! :grouphug:

I love that idea! Thanks for the "tip"!

Sitting in the car, your such a mean parents! IMHO, your kid doesn't need a doctor's diagnosis but a firm, attention getting consequence for bad behavior! Obviously sitting in the car and going to bed without his book and dessert isn't getting his attention. Normal kids do sometimes behave badly. Before you go running off to have him professionally "diagnosed" try sitting him down and explaining the consequences for bad behavior; clearly explain what "bad behavior" is and your expectations. When he breaks your expectations, implement a serious consequence that will "rock his world". Here's an example from my life: A friend's ds is "by nature" very selfish. Not getting dessert on the days he was "bad" was not enough to get his attention. He's the youngest of 4 boys and to get his attention the parent's made him be "last" in everything, and I mean everything. And this went on for 2 months. He wasn't even allowed to get up from the dinner table until he asked if there was anything anyone else needed (he's 7). He and his brothers are the most loving, considerate and hands down the happiest and best behaved children you've ever seen. The credit goes to good parenting.

I love our UPS guy! He always compliments the house or my garden, or some improvement we're doing. I've personally never met a bad one, they all seem happy and like they enjoy their job. It's NEVER occurred to me to tip him :001_huh:.

Need help from anyone who has given their young child an ipod. Is 7 too young? I got a cute little Nano for my dd7 for Christmas, but now I'm re-thinking maybe not a good idea for a 7 yo. We don't do video games, and I'm generally not one to indulge my kids in expensive gifts. But I thought, hey, I had a record player when I was young, why not an IPOD in 2009? Is this way over-indulging a kid? Are IPODs as "addictive" as video gaming? Any opinions are appreciated!!