did you find that going back to 2B too easy and thus boring...or was it different enough that it stayed interesting enough?

I am giving my kids the placement tests today, just to see where they might fall in the curriculum...but they are stmbling over the lingo...they might understand the concept, but not in the way that it is presented...is it fair for me to help them or will that influence the outcome of the tests in a bad way?

as a former teacher...busy work is just that....work to keep the kids busy....knowing full well they didn't need the practice, but in order to keep the kids under control and to be able to help those who needed the extra help, you give the other kids "busywork" so they don't cause trouble. Is that HORRIBLE??? I hate to admit I did that when I was teaching, but that is what they teach you to do in order to keep control of your classroom of 25+ kids. Review to me is a quick way to see what has been retained or what needs to be retaught...it has a specific educational purpose. Did that help?

why is this such a difficult thing?? I have literally used 3 different Math curriculums since starting homeschooling a little over a year ago and I just haven't found one that we actually can make work for us. Is the problem me or the curriculums??? the closest Office Depot (we don't have any other office store) to us is 45 miles away...but I suppose that would be a possiblity...UGH...

I can help with this....I bought it last year...at first it looked awesome...but with 3 kids it QUICKLY became so overwhelming that I sold it promptly. The basis is this: you choose from one of the 5 (I think) books of skills to teach. You teach until you hit a road block with your child and then you go to a different book and do the same. All the while you are creating daily a worksheet with 5 problems on it based on what you have taught and what the child needs to remember. So let's say that you have been working on basic fractions this past week and previously you have had adding, subtracting and measuring with inches. So your "5-a-day" worksheet will have one of each of those problems plus one more...some days you may not need to do the adding, so you skip a day with that type of problem and maybe your child needs lots of practice with fractions so you do that one daily for 2 weeks. Does that sort of make sense? So in other words, I felt like the bookkeeping and teacher time was SOOO demanding and although they had forms to use, I just simply couldn't do it with 3 kids...maybe with one... I guess the pros are that you custom make the curriculum to your child and his or her needs, there are some really good ideas for making math fun and how to use in dayd tot day life, but it was still too much for me. I like simply and to the point. I am sure I missed some information...so if you have questions, I would gladly answer them.

ok..so then if I have more than one child, I would either need to buy a whole new book for them or make copies or something, yes???

these look cool...but we can't afford them. However, instead of a lapbook, what we have started doing (a dear friend of mine showed me how) is putting together a binder of SOTW "stuff"...for each chapter I have one of the coloring sheets (rotating between the 2 who like to color) and a map. Plus, if we do any of the activities, we take pictures and then I make like a mini scrapbooking page (NOTHING fancy) and put that in our book....writing the narration of the children about what we learned. Our kids love looking through the book again and again.

I am so sorry...Imust be dense this morning...so there is NOT a workbook that I can buy for MM? Is that right?? We don't have easy access to a copy machine and with 3 kids, I don't think it will be very cheap to print off copies each day, for each kid. SO if there is NOT a workbook to be purchased, then I will have to look elsewhere for a program...and I will proabably go with Singapore.

It is secular, but as of yet, I haven't found any eveloutionary type of thinking. We are Christian and very opposed to views other than Biblical views...but so far this one seems pretty neutral...so we add our own Biblical views as we teach. Kathy

I was nearly sold on Singapore, but now I am also considering MM....my main question is does MM come with a workbook like Singapore? Also...I was comparing the placement tests with both programs...in Singapore, my 2nd and 3rd grade child would probably place in the 3rd grade book and in Singapore they would probably place in a 2A and 2B. What should I think of that? anything? DOes it really and truly matter????

what are Tin Man Press books???

what is (free) mep???

I am considering Singapore...so I am interested to see what others are going to say.

how teacher intensive is it? I have 3 kids at 3 different levels and Saxon is VERY teacher intensive and I am looking for something that isn't so much...is Singapore going to fit THAT bill?

so then did you buy the manipulatives from the company...or just something that will work? Kathy

Does it teach both metric and American units of measure? And what manipulatives are needed? I have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. Kathy

my daughter loved Geronomo books. She also started reading American girl books about this time too.

we use this: R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey: Life Level 1 (039411) Details - Rainbow Resource Center, Inc and my kids love it. It is simple, it is not teacher intensive. Kathy

I never considered BJU....tell me about that please. I know nothing about it. Thanks. Kathy

I was considering this...would it be easy to change from Saxon to Singapore?

What is your favorite mastery math program(s) for elementary and why?

I have a longer oblong face and if I wear my hair too long on the sides, it makes my face look even longer...so i am always trying to make my hair look fuller...haven't figured it out yet, though. I style it in the morning and by noon it is flat and shapless and I look horrible. I would be curious to know what sort of product you gals use in your hair.

so this program is just available in downloads, is that correct?

I also LOVE my small, med and large scoop....they are great for melon balls, cookies, meatballs, muffin and cupcake batter.....LOVE LOVE LOVE them.