We're using this one: http://www.amazon.com/Multiplication-Unplugged-CD-book-kit/dp/1895523753/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365865242&sr=8-1&keywords=multiplication+cd It's a bit "hokey," but does skip counting as well as the facts. The songs DO get stuck in your head, but I guess that's a good thing for the kids. :) We just focus on one song/facts at a time. You can listen to some samples here: http://www.amazon.com/Multiplication-Unplugged/dp/B00190LQVC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1365865332&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=multiplication+unplugged

I thought Math Mammoth had textbooks/workbooks? Light Blue Series, I think? Anyone out there have experience with Horizons 3rd grade and up? Especially regarding the Teacher's Manual? How much time does it take on average to "teach" a lesson?

Since it's the end of the year (almost), were you almost done with the MM book for the year? How long have you been using CLE?

So did you do most of Saxon for the year and then just switched without finishing Saxon? When I looked at Horizons, I think I would have to go "back" to their 3rd grade book, which I really don't want to do. I think if I finished out Saxon 3, my DD would be more ready for Horizons 4 (if we went with that). I'm also interested in Math Mammoth, but so far don't understand how different that is from Horizons or CLE. Looking into it. :)

This has been my first year homeschooling my 8 y.o. third grader, who was previously in PS until October of this past year. Math has probably been the most challenging as far as figuring out what works for her/us. We first tried TT 3, as someone I know raved about it. In just the first few days it became very evident that it was NOT going to work for us. My DD needed an actual person to teach her. So we switched to Saxon 3 and that has gone pretty well up until more recently. Basically, my DD has gone from math being her favorite subject in public school to hating math! When I ask her why, she basically replies that math was more "fun" in school. They did more games (involving lots of students of course), she didn't have to do a worksheet EVERY day, and she liked the Rocket Math. I think with Saxon, things started to become not so fun when they started drilling several multiplication sets, as well as subtraction and addition being mixed in. It was too confusing for her. I have since printed my own multiplication sheets and we're just working on one set of facts at a time. I haven't done everything in the Meeting Time, but just some things here and there unless she already knows it. I already am quite sure we won't be using Saxon next year, because I could see my DD having a hard time writing the problems on a separate paper with 5/4. In looking at all the different maths and I'm overwhelmed. I showed my DD some of the different ones (Horizons, BJU, CLE, MM, Abeka, etc.), and she liked the "look" of Horizons the best. BUT I don't want to choose a curriculum just on visual appeal. I, at first, was pretty interested in Horizons, but I think it might move too fast for her? I don't want to miss out on good understanding, just to "move ahead." I'm also concerned that some concepts won't have enough teacher help with Horizons. So, I've recently become much more interested in CLE. But many users are saying it needs to be supplemented with something like Singapore? So now I've looked into Singapore, but am SUPER confused by all the different "types" or "brands"? :confused1: Which one would be the one to use? And can Singapore be started in 4th grade or is it a math that you have to use from the beginning? Thanks for any advice any of you might have to offer! :laugh: We're at Lesson 107 out of 140 Saxon Lessons. I almost don't even want to finish it (due to the grumbling), but I know we should in order to cover the rest of "third grade" concepts. And, of course, we're still focusing on mastering multiplication and then division facts. Next year we're planning to homeschool all 3 of our girls. I'll have a 4th grader and two 1st graders. So doing the "same" math for all of them would probably be good.

Thank You! Thank you! :laugh:

I'm first year homeschooling DD8 in third grade. I've seen on here that some have mentioned there is a placement test for WWE at the PHP website. I can't find it there and would love for someone to share "directions." Thanks!

Thank you all again so much! It was so refreshing to come back to this thread tonight and be encouraged! I went ahead and ordered the Magic School Bus DVDs (good deal on Amazon). I guess we'll just address the evolutionary view (we are Creationists). I think I still need to figure out exactly what narration, dictation, etc. is supposed to "look like." So far it seems like her narrations from SOTW are too detailed (comparing to the examples in the activity book). I've been writing her narrations down and then she copies them. She has had no cursive instruction in public school, so we're just getting into that. She has loved SOTW so far, especially hands on activities (some we come up with on our own)...not so much coloring pages and maps. A few weeks ago we made a little "model" of a "first farmer's" home, canal, crops, etc...using play-doh and items from outside. :)

Thanks again! The only Abeka stuff I'm using is some phonics and language...and I don't even use a curriculum "guide." Where do I find the book suggestions for Apologia Zoology? I can't seem to find them, though I'm sure they must be right in front of my face! :) I'll have to look into getting my own copy of TWTM. I just can't even fathom doing three kiddos at once at this point. But I'd sure like to get there eventually. So with the Magic School Bus DVDs, you're being serious, right? It just seems "too easy." Thanks again for the encouragement!

Thanks for the suggestions! And, yes, "Hunter"...you're good at reading between the lines. :) There has been some frustration on both our parts. And some of it seems purely physical, if that makes sense. She has a hard time "getting started" in the morning. I know she needs to eat, but she often refuses to eat something right away. Then she's not fueling her brain to THINK! And it just goes S...L....O......W! We're looking forward to a break.

Thank you so much for your replies! I have read parts of WTM, but do not own a copy of my own yet. I must not have read the science part. My DD reads at or slightly above grade level. But when she's reading and she gets to a word she's not sure about she kind of just skips over it (or says something that has some of those letters in it), so I'm trying to get her to try to sound it out. She is not a strong speller. Yes, we're using the SOTW Activity Guide and no, I hadn't heard about the CDs so thanks! We have a Notebook Journal for Zoology, but's it's not the "Jr." one. Is the Junior one geared toward a 3rd grader? We didn't start SOTW or Science until November, so I'm not sure how much I should try to "finish" for the school year. Thanks again for your help!

Hi. I'm new here, new to homeschooling, and would love suggestions, ideas, etc. We took our DD(3rd grade - 8 years old) out of public school at the end of October. I admit we didn't do much "de-schooling" as hubby did not go for that. I'm specifically looking for suggestions, viewpoints, etc. on writing and science. My DD seems to despise writing so I'm not sure where to "go" with that. So here's what we're doing so far: Math: Saxon 3 - skipping over certain things she already knows, etc. But it still seems to take up a big chunk of time on some days. History: Story of the World Level 1 - Do I need to do any American history to "cover bases"? Language: Mixture of Abeka Language 3 and FLL 3 (not every day) Spelling: Spelling Workout Penmanship: Random cursive 1 pg. per day from a "free" book I found Phonics: Letters and Sounds 2 (I felt the public school did not focus on phonics enough for her). We also tried Ordinary Parents Guide to Reading, but she found it boring. Although with Letters and Sounds, she HATES circling the "special sounds," so now I'm just having her circle the specific one for that "rule." We have the handbook too. Science: Started out with Abeka Science 3 - she didn't like it. Now have tried Apologia Zoology 1, but she hates all the big words and finds it boring. Writing: I'm not having her do much of the writing in the Abeka Language Book. So far she has done some copywork of narrations from SOW, some random journal writing, and a summary from a documentary she watched. Writing is something she really started struggling with the beginning of this year in the public school. She says "Everyone else got done before me. And I couldn't think about what to write." Her teacher said they were starting to do some IEW stuff, but the timed pressure seemed too much for DD. I recently ordered "How to Write a Story" and "Paragraph Writing" (Evan Moor). Does anyone have experience with those? Literature: Currently doing LIttle House in the Big Woods with comprehension guide Reading: I'm having her read aloud to me a page or two of something each day. Then she does silent reading for 20 to 30 minutes (outside of reading a few pages from Lit. choice). I'm reading some "read alouds" to her as well. We've done Ellen Tebbits and are now doing some Ramona books. She loves these! Other: Abeka Geography book here and there, art/crafts, Bible, not really much for music at this point About how long should a 3rd grader be "doing school" each day. I know the answers vary, but I'd love to hear how you all do this. My DD seems to have a hard time "getting started" in the day. And sometimes things seem to get dragged out forever! We try to get most things done before lunch. Thanks for any input/suggestions/advice you may be able to offer! I don't want to keep "trying" things and then not have them work out, but I guess that's part of the learning process. It's just that we only have so much money budgeted for homeschool stuff. And next year we hope to add our twin girls as well (they are currently in K in the public school). My health can just not handle "jumping in all at once" with all three of them.