My 8th grader is working through LOF Beginjng algebra this year. Combined with the zillion practice book I find it to be more than enough. She really has to think through the problems. How well do the scope and sequence of Saxon and LOF line up? I personally would stick with one program. I like math, and I think it would drive me batty to try to complete two different curriculum in one year.

Ah I see the unit comparison value of the 6/15 and 6/14 now from the above replies. I'd still do it my way though. The last Singapore book I went through was a 5B. I think I'm drawing inspiration from that.

Solving using the bar graphs I started with a bar of fifths. Underneath I started a bar graph using the length of 2/5 of the first graph to determine how long 3/7 is. I repeated that to cover 4/5 and bring my sevenths graph out to 6/7. My student should be able to see that 1of Ians "blocks" is equal to 1.5 of Roy's. At 4/5 and 6/7 the lines are even. Because I only have one more seventh block to add I come up short of the 5/5 length. 1/2 a seventh short. Since they give us a number for the shortage (55) I know that 1/2 of a seventh is now 55. 1/7 is equal to 110 marbles. And 110*7=770. Ian [_____][_____][_____][_____][_____]= Roy [___][___][___][___][___][___][___]+55 I wouldn't use their 6/14 and 6/15 fractions at all. It could show the student which fraction is larger or smaller but is unnecessary if the student can draw it out.

I did not buy God King but looked at it during my planning phase. We've read Golden Goblet. That was a clear favorite. We read Hittite Warrior next. My son liked that one a bit more than my older girl. Other books we are reading this year to supplement our ancient history study include Adara, Rise of the Golden Cobra, Within the Palace Gates, and The Bronze Bow. The only one I haven't opened yet to preview is Within the Palace Gates. So far I think they're all good :)

My baby is 6wks. Homeschooling has not been what I hoped since he was born (nor for most of the year with my morning *eh hem* all day sicknes). Days have been missed. While subjects have been put on the back burner. I'm just now feeling able to get back in the groove. My husband had knee surgery 2 wks after I had my son. Somedays that's a big help cause he's home and can help with schooling. In someways it's worse. I love my husband, don't get me wrong, but being his nurse on top of caring for a newborn AND trying to homeschool and care for two other children 2wks pp nearly did me in. My kids have done a lot if workbook work and reviewing. I had put together a weeks worth of work for them prior to having the baby. I should have put together 6-8wks of work!!

For 5th grade this year we are using Math -- Singapore 5A/5B w/ workbook and tests Supplements: IXL and Mental Math workbook History -- STOW V3 w/tests (given open book) Bible -- Awana Science -- Truth in Science Language Arts -- IEW level B Fix It Grammar Phonetic Zoo Extras: Irish Dance, piano, painting, drawing, typing, acting, and Latin at the end of the year

We just switched from WS to IEW this year. For us, the change has been phenomenal. Last year my niece (long story, but she lives with me and I teach her) seemed to like writing strands but by mid year was just kind of filling in he blanks and still could not write a cohesive essay or story. She wasnt reluctant. She actually loved writing but lacked structure. IEW is a perfect fit for her. Learning how to construct a key word outline has helped her in her other subjects too. Her paragraphs are becoming much more cohesive already after less than 2 months. It's a keeps for us! My ds5 is starting their PAL program this year. I plan to use IEW for him too. Worth the money for sure :)

We are using Truth in Science for grade 5. We are enjoying it so far. We only use the student steps right now. That seems to be enough. My 5th grader does much of the work independently except for the labs. I just wish they had curriculum for junior high too. :)

It really depends on how stuck the kids is. I had my 5th grader go back a whole grade level last year because she was not understanding the concepts even after slowing down and using manipulatives. It was our first year homeschooling and our first year using that curriculum. We spent about 2 months reviewing the 3rd grade books. Then we picks up the 4th grade level again, and things went a lot smoother. This year, working at grade level, she's had a few bumps in the road, but I'm not getting that blank stare I saw last year. So this time we will stay at grade level and keep working through it til she gets it.

I would say she needs more time to get used to it. Also I would suggest using coins to represent parts of a whole. Something about $$ always got my 4th graders attention. :) it still does. She will stare at me blank but if I change the apples in the word problem to cash she can solve it in a flash.

I use very few supplements on top on SM. Right now we are using 5A textbook, workbook, and tests. I have a Flashmaster, a mental math review book, and an IXL account for her. So far the only supplements we have used this year have been the mental math book and the Flashmaster but sparingly. Last year I supplemented SM a lot more. This year is just different for some reason.

We started using pz this year, and my 5th grader loves it. I think she is definitely learning the spelling rules. She might be memorizing a few words, but that's ok. Neither one of us wants to go back to worksheets!

We are loving IEW too. It's our first year, but I can already see that it's a keeper. I have TWSS and SWI-B. My kindy is using their PAL program. That seems to be going well also.

My 9 yr old lives to write. And she needed help with her structure, flow, etc. sound familiar. We switched from writing strands (which we both did not like) to IEW this year. It is exactly what I was looking for. Grammar and spelling are completely separate subjects. She can write creatively on her own. Writing class this year soley is for building up her structure and style. I couldn't be happier, though I admit it does feel strange not to mark up her papers for spelling and grammar! She understands that her grammar and spelling are not being corrected. And she loves it!! Misspelled words are noted, tracked, and studied separately. Grammar is also studied separately but ties in nicely with the writing program.

I am YE. I teach both evolution and creation in my homeschool though. I don't do this because we believe evolution but so my kids will not be caught off guard when they hear about it later. I love, love, love our new science curriculum this year, Truth in Science. It teaches both models (neither qualifies as a true theory) side by side and exposes the holes in the evolution model. It tackles a lot of tough questions. And the use of scripture throughout is amazingly well thought out with a heavy emphasis on worldviews. and the science is not watered down in anyway. I love science, but for me it has always been a way of exploring God's creation and to feel blessed that He gives us glimpses into the how and whys of this world. It has never been a place for me to seek answers to the 'big' questions. I use the bible for that. I did grow up being taught evolution. Becoming a Christian changed that. I do feel that there is scientific evidence to support YE.