We did not start spelling until finished with ETC. Instead we did ETC and sight words work with a flash kids workbook, and that was the magic combination to get reading flowing over here.

Following along, as I'm having the same thought. I finally let myself drop the "test" books and am using the reviews and cumulative practices for that purpose. Still trying to consolidate a little and don't want to overkill, we are wanting to add more Khan and Beast and fun math, so I need to trim the Singapore down a bit.

Check around and learn about the home edition vs education edition. The one at HSBC is the education version, which requires software purchase. The one sold at Walmart, lego stores, etc. is the home version which the software can be downloaded for free. Each has different advantages, so you'll want to was up and figure out which works best for your family's goals. Robot square.com has a few good comparison articles.

An asynchronous LA is afoot here too. I'd love a box or all in one, but nothing fits. Spent some time researching many of the books mentioned and wow, some great choices I'd never heard of! Quick questions, is this the grammar cop referenced? http://teacherexpress.scholastic.com/grammar-cop I got several different google results and wanted to make sure I was looking at the one being praised here. Ds reads and has a vocabulary well above grade level, but he loathes writing by hand. Trying to cobble together an LA plan for him that meets him where he is. For a fun grammar read for the younger set, he's loved the Super Grammar book as an introduction; it's comic format.

Do the bookshark levels cover the same history as sonlight cores for grade level? Was considering sonlight b+c! but would prefer the bookshark version, if I can figure out which it is and it exists!

Anyone know how the bookshark levels line up? Interested especially in what bookshark level is b+c?

I'd love online content for BA, but hope they get the full spectrum of books out first, it's hard enough to wait on their publishing pace now! :)

Gil, can I pester you to add me to your distribution list, please? I'm teaching two rowdy boys also and would appreciate it! Good luck on finals!

We use Singapore standards. Also tried MM, used their topics books to supplement addition and subtraction facts. Best supplement for us has been Reflex Math (online subscription) to really cement facts. We dropped the extra practice book in favor of Reflex. We do it simultaneously with SM, so we move on conceptually in SM, but keep working facts drills via Reflex. It's working well here! If it is just everything needs upkeep/spiral style, the "Review" and "Practice" sections in SM2 are much more thorough than in SM1, in my opinion.

Same here, including the frozen. Not too worried about it, and have signed him up for a musical theater summer camp!

We use sm standards. I would like to use less books (currently use text, workbook, test, and ip, adding in Cwp over summer). Is mif Singapore in less books?

Agreeing with Farrar's assessment that a lot of words are spent on going somewhere, introducing characters, following a scattered storyline, and then there are short science lecture style paragraphs thrown in. We're doing it as a co op class, and enjoying it that way, labs and discussion together, etc. But in no way is it a full science program, in my opinion. I find the reading tedious, and would prefer to read well written nonfiction. Wild Kratts and similar shows do a much better job of integrating animal facts with a storyline. Way too many words with basically an encyclopedia entry thrown in a couple times a chapter. That being said, DS likes the storyline and does it as book basket reading. He enjoys the co op class, and I believe the teacher plans to cover the next volume next semester, so we will probably continue with it. Without co op, I'd drop it.

Next year will be year 3 of HS for me, and I always overbuy at conventions and book sales. I get wonderfully lost in the nirvana of a whole exhibit hall full of books, kits, charts, and curriculum. This year I've been keeping a list of things I definitely need to purchase (next levels of curriculum we are continuing), and of things mentioned on the forums and blogs, etc., that I want to check out. I'm hoping by not making so many amazon prime impulse buys, using my list, and waiting to check things out in person, I'll be able to curb my curriculum collecting habits into more reasonable form. I do, however, intentionally overbuy at used book sales. If the prices are good, I buy it even if I'm just considering it. Then I have it to look thru and decide against or for at my leisure. If I don't love it, I just sell it at the next year's sale for what I bought or close to it. I figure even if I lose a little money doing it that way, it keeps me from buying it for full price and then deciding I don't like it and having to sell used. Not the best approach, but I've figured I come out ahead limiting my impulse buys to used books. And the re-sale market is generally pretty healthy, so it works out and satisfies the need to splurge and collect without breaking the budget.

DS also hated xtra math. He would do it, but didn't enjoy it. He does like Reflex Math, as it is more game based. Still timed, but more of a personal best, beat your own high score style and a variety of games with interesting graphics, etc. He also likes Mystery Town Math, Math Zombies, Math Bingo apps. We've used SM1a and b, in 2a now. I also had him do MM addition and subtraction 1 over summer/as breaks from SM to get more fact practice in.

DS7 is very similar. He will read anything he can get his hands on! Here's what we're doing, I'll definitely follow along this thread for suggestions and ideas also! 1. Book basket to guide the reading to include all genres, just choosing titles based on what our library has for now-- some science, history, technology, fiction, poetry, etc. Trying to compile booklists and gather for next year, but he goes thru books so fast, right now I'm just trying to keep the basket filled and fresh. 2. I picked up a Flash Kids workbook at B&N for $7 or so that works on basic comprehension skills. It's been a great fit because not too heavy on writing-- lots of match ups (words to meaning), sequencing, making inferences, retelling details, and other comprehension but not a "write a sentence about this passage" questions. Passages are mix of fiction and not fiction, and roughly equivalent reading level as Magic Tree House, Geronimo Stilton, etc. It's called "Reading for the Gifted Student." 3. Narration/summary of things he reads, once a day. I'd like to start him on some simple book reports, analysis-- looking for a workbook with templates or projects to do. Wanting something more fun/variety than "How to Report on Books" by Evan-Moor. If anyone has suggestions there, I'm all ears!

Can someone comment on Mr. Q vs. BFSU? Keep hearing about BFSU but want low prep and the tracks/threads seem like alot of time for the teacher to arrange everything. This is for 2nd-3rd grade, is Mr. Q a better fit?

We do 45 min to 1 hour or so of math with a first grader daily, also using SM. Here's what our SM looks like: 10-15 min on textbook,/Teaching/demonstration 15-20 minutes of workbook (1-2 exercises usually) or EP or Word Problems or Test AND mental math if called for in HIG 10-15 min fact fluency practice via games, apps, etc. I don't have IP or CWP, but will rotate those in next year. This year we use EP for review, etc., but want to switch to IP and CWP, just already had EP on hand for these levels.

We use SM, and have supplemented review with apps, games, etc. We school year round, so I tend to use SM until we finish a book, then use MM topics series until time to start the next book. So in 2013, our "grade level" year starts in January, we did Singapore 1A in Spring, Math Mammoth addition and subtraction 1 and a dollar days Math Mats:Money workbook over summer, SM 1B in fall, then filler puzzles and dollar days stuff until Christmas break. We started 2014 with SM2A, when we finish with it for spring, we'll do some MM 2, SM Extra Practice books, etc. until ready for 2B. One thing we are doing for coin practice and review is the kids coin saving challenge (52 weeks, so we do once a week, whatever coins are left in my coin purse, we count number of coins, add up the money, and record, easy way for DS to pad his piggy bank and review coins, etc.). Here's chart for 52 week coins: http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2014/01/14/1020273_52-week-coin-money-challenge.html

Thanks for the reflex link. Hadn't heard of it before, but signed up for reflex free trial today and DS enjoyed it. Is it ever on HSBC or on a sale? Apps we use and enjoy are Math Zombies, math Bingo, Mystery Town Math, etc. Will also check out Math Ahoy, Mathopolis and Dot to Dot Math.

Magic School Bus-- watch video or read book for first half of class, do the activities from the corresponding labs on scholastic's website. Most are fairly easy activities. Hands on Math-- cover the topics that aren't as level specific, like telling time, counting money, shapes/geometry, measuring, etc. World Geography & Cultures-- cover the 7 continents and oceans, with a little bit about a country or two from each continent, animal, habitat, food, etc.

Are JA materials available to homeschoolers?

Lego WeDo is for younger elementary, and a little pricey, for beginning robotics. Could also go with the technic or simple machines sets and just add a motor (sold just as the motor for $10 for the starter one on lego education site).

subscribing because our co-op did Magic School Bus this year and would love to do more of this kind of thing!

We use SM Standards and I read on another thread about Math Buddies, SM's online version of SM. It's new, and not cheap, so I'd love to hear of anyone's experiences with it! There's a teacher version that includes recorded video lessons ($360 per year) or a student version that has all the practice, assessment, etc., ($99 per year). Given what I'm spending on the SM text, workbook, HIG, tests and extra practice books in a year, the $360 doesn't sounds too crazy, and the $99 is a bargain. You can choose which version you enroll for-- Common Core, Math in Focus, or Primary Mathematics. Interested in anyone's feedback who has tried it, or considered it! http://www.mconline.us/LEAD/Login/content/ps_mb_1.html

We started with Addition 1 and Subtraction 1 books from MM in K with DS, who is average K age. It worked fine. I would occasionally scribe for him, but did that in all subjects except HWOT :) . We then followed up with a speed thru of Singapore 1A and hit his stride in Singapore 1B.