I'll be honest, I wasn't going to get HIG at all, I figured that I should be able to explain simple concepts to a 5 yr old - am I missing something? I am looking at 1A textbook and am not sure what is guide going to tell me about 1+1? Am I being arrogant?

Can I use HIG for SE with Textbook and Workbook 1A from US edition?

OK, so if I start with US edition for 1A, would it be OK/make sense to switch to SE for 1B and beyond?

So, what is the difference between Standard Edition and US Edition? I thought Standard was for CA? No?

I understand that math is not about giving the right answer, I never said it was. The problem is that he is having a hard time articulating how he knows the right answer, that's why it's hard for me to determine what is the best method to teach him. Unfortunately, my IL's have been telling him that "oh, you are such a smart boy" from the day he was born, so that's his go-to answer for everything. Hey, E - how do you know that water evaporates? Bc I am smart. Hey, E - how do you know what makes wind blow? Bc I am smart. You get the idea. It's very frustrating when he gives me an answer but doesn't want to explain it how he got it

I just looked on their website and only am seeing it textbooks and workbooks and teacher's guide, nothing else. Also, I am using US edition, is this correct?

We have been doing Math books from CTC, so he knows how to do simple addition/subtraction, etc. This is embarassing, but I really don't know "how" he knows how to do it - we would do pages of exercises and he answers it. He does it in his head, but I think he is using his fingers in his head if it makes sense... Hmmm, may be I am overestimating how much he knows, I think doing 1A probably WOULD be a great start.

CWP and IP? ETA: would you mind giving me a link? thank you

I FINALLY made a decision on what to use and got Grade 1(1A) textbook and workbook for my almost 5 yr old. After I looked through it, I realized that we would probably be starting somewhere in the middle of the book, bc he already knows a lot what is in it. So..............now I a bit confused - I thought the book is for 1st grade? No? And what does book Grade 1 (1B) teaches? Am I missing something? Should I just ignore the "grade" references and go by the material? And how long did it take you to get through their "grade" of books? Thanks!!

Oh, I am sooo "following" this - THANK YOU!!

that looks great, but I was already having a panic attack about spending ~$100 for K science - $219 is sooo much money!

That is so funny, in my family it's the opposite. My DH is right-handed and when our oldest was born, it was SO evident that he was going to be left-handed. My DH kept trying to change it. Like he would give him spoon in his right hand and he would try to hold his right hand while walking, little things like that. Didn't do ANYTHING. Boy is left-handed. So, now my DH has to figure out how to teach him wood-working and all other handy stuff bc according to him most of the professional tools are for right-handed people. My second son is 100% right-handed and again, it was obvious since birth My third one - I think also right-handed, but it's not as obvious. My mom is actually left-handed but was forced to write with her right hand in school. So, writing and eating are the only two things she can do with her right hand

Do they suggest/tell you what project to do and would the program be too much for a 5 yr old?

Should I be concern that I don't know what CWP and IP is since I just ordered Singapore?

Groupon is suppose to have 1/2 off on Magic School bus soon, this Sat I think

oh no!!!! that looks great, it will just add to my indecisivness :)

Thank you for the link, Heather

Thank you. We already do all those things, actually, I am just looking for something more structured.

Are you asking why "I" teach my 4.5 yr old and my 3 yr old? I guess if I wanted to be really techical, I "started" HSing when my oldest was about 18-20 months? He knew all his letters, numbers, shapes, colors, etc by the time he was 2. Nope, I am not a drill sergent. But he wanted to "play cards" with all the flash cards I had around the house. He couldn't get enough of those matching games, etc etc. I wasn't going to say "umm,nope, gotta wait until you are 5-6-7". So, then, how was I suppose to stop? If he knew that stuff at 2 - I couldn't exactly wait for 3 -4 yrs until he is in 1st grade to start teaching more stuff. I get very annoyed when people tell me that "at that age he should just play and you should take it easy". Where do they get ideas that he doesn't play, i don't know. But all his "studying" takes 15-20 minutes AT MOST and not even every day. I stop when he says "I am tired" and runs away to "play" with his solar system books or his dinasour books. I can't speak for other kids, but I think it's my job to find the balance between challenging him and allowing him to be a 4 yr old. And I am doing the same thing with his brother who is 3 But just so you know - we were going to HS before we even had kids. One more thing - I didn't start reading to my oldest until he was about 2, I think. He had NO interest in it what-so-ever. He wouldn't sit for it at all. So, I was worried there for awhile, but now he loves books.

I looked on MTM site and having a hard time understanding how exactly it works. They have slides, I understand, but what else? Would you mind describing it in more details? thanks

Any thoughts on Artistic Pursuits? Also, where does everyone get their art supplies? Do people really pay almost $100 for it?

No one? Really? :)

Thanks to some ideas and suggestions on my other thread, now I am trying to figure out what science curr I am going to choose for my 5 yr old. I've "narrowed" it down to the following: Magic School Bus - getting a kit /month and just adding books on that topic, etc. Real Science for Kids pre-level 1 - haven't decided which subject NOEO science - also haven't decided which subject. If any of you are familiar with those, I would love to hear you opinions and what kind of experiences you had. I need something with VERY minimal prep work, not too work-sheety and lots of hand-on fun stuff. If it wasn't for the expense I would probably get all 3 and just pull things out of each, but this is WAY too much money, so that is not happening. Also, I don't know how realistic it is, but I do have 2 younger kids, so it would be good to get something that I can at least partially re-use in the future

Thanks NMOIRA. I am going with Singapore. Again, thank you everyone so much for all the opinions and ideas. I truly appreciate it

We decided to HS before kids were born, but now looking at my oldest (almost 5yr old) - I can't even imagine NOT HSing him Our general reasons are: 1. I don't think schools provide a good education - they don't teach critical thinking, they don't teach learning skills, they don't teach subjects in too much depth and they don't teach A LOT of things that should/could be taught 2. I don't want my children to learn values and standards and morals from "other" people, I want them to learn them from my DH and I. 3. I want them to enter "real" adult life well prepared. I don't think schools do that. I think they make you conform while preaching that we are all unique. I think it's absurd. 4. Schools spend WAY too much time and resources on things that should have nothing to do with schools. I don't want them to tell my children what to eat. I don't want them to tell my children what to wear. I don't want them to worry about my child's self-esteem. But that's what schools do now-days Reasons for HSing my almost 5 yr old 1. He would be bored CRAZY in school 2. And while our K is still only 3 hrs I see no reason to spend that much time doing something that can be accomplished in 15-20 minutes. 3. Did I say that he would be bored?? Which in turn would not teach him any study skills but will actually make him hate learning. Yeah, it's not happening.