Thanks for all the input. We have been using R&S since K and I'm still deciding if I'm going to stick with it or make the switch to TT. It all comes down to the teacher-insentive factor really. I love R&S as it's a solid, no-nonsense approach to math and lays a really strong foundation. But it does get harder as you move forward and the TM is really needed more and more. However, I also don't want my children to fall behind because I wanted a "break."

So the workbook problems are the same as the problems done on the computer?

I've been sitting here reading reviews and I'm running into a lot of this. Mostly at the high school age where children aren't prepared for their tests. To be honest, that worries me. I'm deciding if I will actually follow through with doing all the drilling and review on my own to make up for the reviewing not done in the package. I usually don't do it unless it's in the curriculum. I'm really undisciplined like that lol

Thank you all good stuff. I also think the multi-media aspect of it my son will love. We have a whole bunch of Right Start Math games that I've held onto just to have. Sounds like that would be good extra practice. It sounds like it would be different from R&S since R&S is pretty much drilling, drilling and more drilling :) Which I like to be honest! The kids really pick up on new concepts and they really know they're math facts. The other idea is that I would like for him to sit down and be "taught" through the lectures. It sounds like it's not completely hands off but the extra practice sounds like it would be more fun than anything. We'll do the placement tests and see how it goes.

I have been doing R&S with my 8 yr old son since well, forever. He's going to be in third grade next year and I'm thinking about switching him to Teaching Textbooks. I have heard good things from my friend who also has been using it since first grade. Any other reviews would be helpful (good or bad) before we jump in with both feet. Thanks! Kyla

Wow, I am really glad I asked this question! A lot of my own fears have been helped just because of this thread. My fear is mostly of the unknown, because I've never experienced one before. Heck, I've never experienced a "tornado warning" before being here. My question was "uhhh.... what do we do?" I at first, wanted to run for cover but thankfully our neighbor (who has been born and raised here) was over for dinner and he didn't seem too upset. In fact, he took my husband out to check and see if there was any rotation in the clouds :) We're in Murfreesboro at the moment and there was a huge f5 that came through here about five years ago. Two people died but they were also outside at the time. A mama taking her baby out of the car, very sad story. But many houses were completely demolished. Anyway, my son is 8 and up to now hasn't known any other state but CA. I've told him "son, do you know how many earthquakes you've slept through?" Didn't matter. BUT, he does LOVE looking at the weather forecast and the radar app on my phone. I think it helps him to see where the storm is headed and when it's moving out. I also told him all of the great ideas I've got from this thread and he is so excited about it! I've noticed that he likes hearing the statistics and the facts. Like me, it helps ease his fears a little. I did so much research on tornados since we've been here. I would love a list of some informing weather books. I'm trying to stay away from books that completely make the storm look like the apocalypse. That's not going to help my situation. And yea, I noticed the weather stations love to sensationalize these things. It's pretty crazy!! Anything that shows us now a tornado works, in what weather conditions it works and how to know when one may or may not form. Thanks ladies!!

Thank you thank you! Such great ideas! As of right now, our safe place is the closet under the stairwell. We have shoes, flashlights, jackets, a hammer (my husband put it in there lol), and a multi-tool (can you tell we're new at this?) in there. Oh and water. We're in escrow for a house though in Columbia and have a basement thankfully. It's walled in by a cinderblock wall which I'm hoping will add more protection. We've tried showing my son the numbers and statistics, comforting him but I think as of now it's going to be experience that gets him through. I'm hoping after a few more warnings or something he will see that it's not all f4s and f5s ripping through towns and killing 100s of people. Fear is so irrational.

I know this is really random but just looking for some advice :) We just moved from San Diego to TN about three months ago. The weather is A LOT different here to say the least. We've had two tornado warnings since we got here which freaked me out a little in the beginning. I had no idea that TN got tornados! Anyway, my son didn't know either and he is really upset constantly about them. He fears a tornado ripping our roof off in the middle of the night without us knowing. He's so worried that every time there is wind or rain we won't sleep. Not a wink. For people who have had a similar moving experience or for people who have grown up in areas that get tornados, how do you handle the situation when there is a warning in affect? We've done drills and have our safe spot prepped but how do you keep the kids to stay calm? Also, do you have a weather radio or a weather app that is reliable?

Can anyone recommend some good games from a MAC desktop/apps for android that are educational? I looked at Stack the States already. Any others for an 8 year old boy, 7 & 5 year old girls??

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^^ This is my son to a T :cursing: It take so long to get through work and it stresses me out. But there are so many helpful ideas here. Thank you! I'm going to take him in pretty soon to just see if we're not missing something. I think, in the end, it's going to be fine. Putting them in separate rooms is a fantastic idea as is the instrumental music with ear buds. He does like listening to music while he does his work. I talked with my husband and we both feel like one on one time would be a great help for him. We use R&S stuff mostly. But I'm having to cut some of it down for him so he can get the basics. His blending sounds in reading and phonics is just not good. But then again, he surprises me. He'll read something and I'm amazed he's reading it! And some days, nope. Just not there for him. He has a hard time focusing, sitting still, and paying attention. I'm constantly having to redirect him to his work. Again, thank you for all the recommendations. I'm going to try them!

I completely agree. All the over the top awesome scholastic homeschoolers make me wonder what the heck I'm doing wrong :) I'm going to keep doing what we're doing but slow it down a bit and really give him the time he needs. We've switched up so much that, at this point, I don't have the funds to get into anything else at the moment. He really like Character Sketches books so we use those constantly. And he LOVES his Action Bible. I'm hoping that as long as these things are a cool thing for him. He'll continue to love to read and try his best. It's the days that we're both discouraged about school that are the hardest. Thanks for all the encouragement and the ideas. I'm going to toss some around and move forward from here.

We usually do breakfast, then getting dressed/washing up for the day, Math, break, English, Lunch, Phonics/reading. I group them together at the family dinner table. I have four. So, him, my 7 year old daughter and my five year old daughter (who is using mostly pre K stuff) and my one year old running around. He gets completely upset if there is any noise (like his little brother crying or the girls talking out loud). We do R&S for the meaty things like math and phonics and english. History is SOWT, which he does love. He likes listening to me read and talk about stories. He learns well when he sees things on the white board. And, when I am next to him, he does well because he doesn't get off task.

My son turned 8 last September. We've been homeschooling since he was five. To say the least homeschooling has been really hard!! For both of us. I'm extremely discouraged and I can see that he is as well. He doesn't like school, end of story. Phonics, reading, math, writing... it's all a struggle. And to top it off, he's behind. I just started the R&S phonics/reading program with him and it's too advanced. I had to bite the bullet and get the first grade program. I'm sad because I hear all these wonderful stories about how homeschoolers are so advanced and above all the public school leveled children that I feel like I'm failing him. His sister, who just turned 7 is doing the same (if not better) than he is. He is "supposed" to be in the third grade next year and is only doing first grade phonics/reading and just barely getting into second grade math. He's a super athletic boy and really the only time I see him happy is when he's outside on his skateboard or on the ball field. Anyway, rant over. Thanks for any advice or encouragement in advance.

My son was 8 years old last September. We have been working and doing school since he was five. Everything is a complete struggle. His reading, math, phonics.... everything. I feel so discouraged. Not only does he consistently complain about doing his work, he is also behind. We just started the R&S reading/phonics program and it's been a total struggle. I had to bite the bullet and order the first grade curriculum. I feel like a complete failure. What am I doing wrong at this point?? His sister, is just barely 7 and is doing the same (if not better) than he is. I hate to put him back a grade but at this point it just seems necessary. Sorry for the rant, I'm just utterly sad and feel very unhopeful right now. Thanks for any encouragement for helpful advice :)

This is a follow-up to the thread I posted on recommendations for a spelling program. I just realized today, that I am teaching two different subjects. I bought the R&S English 2 program which included the Phonics also. Since they look EXACTLY the same, I thought they were the same thing until today when I realized the two different teachers manuals and the workbook differences. So now, we have English (which is mostly sentence structures) and phonics (which is letters and their sounds, vowels and so on).... My questions is: Do I still need something for spelling?If so, should I stick with R&S or can I go with something else like AAS? In my brain the phonics and spelling are overlapping one another. We tried some of the R&S spelling and it's awful, just don't like it. However, I do not want to confuse them by teaching the R&S phonics and english and then incorporate another curriculum for spelling. Thoughts??

I have an 8, 7, and 5 year old in school at the moment. My 8 year old is a boy and 7 year old is a girl and they're basically doing the same things. My 5 year old is obviously just starting K. But I'm looking for a good spelling program to go along with what we're already doing. English R&S Math R&S History of the World regular reading times We tried R&S spelling and we just didn't like it. We love the english and math but something about the spelling just wasn't making sense. Can anyone recommend another program? Thanks!

Can anyone recommend a good Creation Science curriculum? I was looking into Ken Ham or Kent Hovin's stuff but I thought I'd ask here first. My kids are 8, 6, 5, and 1. But this is mostly for my 1st & 2nd grader.. Thanks!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I of coursed Googled it and HLA was the first link up. So, I'm really happy to hear from people who are using it and loving it. I do want to avoid the mandatory testing if at all possible :) I'm not really interested in physical school places at this point since my kids are really young 8, 6, 4, and 1 :) I'm going to look into the Farm one too. Anyone have experience with this one? We're not much for unschooling but really connect with people who do. Thanks again for the info mamas!!

Our family will be moving to Murfreesboro, TN at the start of the year. We homeschool here in CA at the moment. I've been researching the requirements to homeschooling in TN noticed that in order to homeschool outside of the public system one must enroll in a "church-related" homeschooling program. Can anyone share with me the "church-related" program they are a part of? Thanks!!

Is there anyone here who has ever used the right start math card games as review/reinforcement? How did you like them?? I'm thinking they might be a great solution for my 8yo who is very kinesthetic and loves games!

Thanks so much mamas! I feel so encouraged and ready to let him learn on his timeline. One day at a time.

Yes! That's perfect. Thank you! I didn't want to be doing one piece of history here and another there. But either way one will be reviewing the other.

But can they be done together? Or would that be too much??

Does anyone do SOTW in conjunction with CC memory work? I would like to match up the time periods but I can't remember which time period cycle two starts and ends with? Do they work well together??