ask lots of questions. get your hands on as many different curriculums as you can...pour over them, pay close attention to the types of things they are being taught...see if what they are being taught they are understanding and if not, take note of that. If you can visit others who homeschool, do...see their set up, see how they do things, again ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS. We decided to homeschool a week before school was to begin, so we put our kids in school for 1 semester, and I used that time to prepare and get ready....so I did the very thing I suggested up above...but I honestly wished I would have been able to see more curriuclums first...because I have tried several and have found some that really like, and other...not so much. But, that is ok..the beauty of homeschool. Good luck on your decision and your preparing.

where do you buy these??

let us know...if this works, it would be good to know.

I just went to QVC and there was one review and it said the battery dies super fast...is that your expereince? Kathy

I was hoping for something not teacher intensive...I have 3 kids and that is one of the problems I am having with Saxon....very teacher intensive and I simply don't have that kind of time....so I guess I am off to finding another curriculum. thanks.

I am just exploring different math curriculums...right now we are using Saxon..I have a student in 1, 2 and 3...it's going ok...but I want to explore other options...so I was curious about Right Start Math....what are the pros and cons, can I switch from Saxon easily enough, etc. Kathy

is there any signs or things to look for in trying to determine which one is best? We have been using Saxon, which is spiral...my kids seem to be doing ok with it, but none of them particularly like math, even though 2 of the 3 are very good with math (does that make sense?)...so I am wondering if a different program would actually make them like it better...but I don't want to make it worse either...so how do you decide??

we are taking a little vacation in a week (we weren't able to take on during Christmas) and I was debating whether or not to bring any school work for the car trips? Will you share the pros and cons of doing this? THanks.

a couple thoughts...the ability to pick the movie or the game for game or movie night with the family. Pick the flavor of ice cream at the grocery store. 1 hour of uniterupted mommy or daddy time, make a phone call to grandma....call daddy at work. just a few thoughts.

thanks, I will checkout itunes...we don't get Netflix. Does anybody own it? Is it worth buying??? I need to decide before today is up...I can still buy it for $10 on Amazon...though today, I think, yes?? Kathy

Are you all renting, buying or getting someplace else this video? Do I have to buy it to watch it...I know there are snippets on you tube, but I don't think you can see the whole thing, can you??

I do this very same tihng, except my kids each have a smaller binder, divided by the days of the week, and the work is hole punched and put in there every weekend for the following week. Works really well for us. Kathy

I only know about the first level (Egypt and OT)..but there were several activities per lesson. Some are very crafty and clever and some don't take as much time. One thing we did is buy the History Pockets by Evan Moore and used those along with it...and those are sort of like lapbooks type activity. Hope that helps.

for us it helps that we are about 45 miles away from any "real" place to buy things...but I did go through a short lived deal where I let my kids buy "junk" because it was their money...but now, I make them save it becasue I have told them that I am now done buying them anything they they want (only needs) unless it is Christmas or their birthday...so I tell them they have to save up to buy what they want...this has helped the kids learn how not to impulse buy. Mine have some jobs around the house that they can periodically earn money for as well as gift money.

I think it was something like $15...

what is the difference between US and standard??

I taped it...haven't watched it yet

I love this!!! Sometimes it takes something like that to make reality click. My kids do know that they don't want to go back to PS...they have been there, done that...so they know.

I can't add, but I am going to watch this thread...hoping for some guidance myself.

I would like to know this too. Thanks.

What can you who have used or still are using Singpore tell me about this program? Thanks.

not offended at all...actually we started last January, but we are still new.. thanks for your words of encouragment. We will just keep plowing away.

It's not that I am going to give into his rebellion....I just wish there was a way to get the message across that THIS NEEDS to be done and the sooner you do it, the sooner you can play....but he just pouts, crabs, puts his head on the table, slides down in his chair etc...dragging the whole thing out SOOOO LOONNGG!!!!

most days my 8 year old son is simply NOT motivated to do anything school related...any suggestions for me????

I buy some stuff from Vitacost.com