Thank you, Rose! That helps me so much to understand how the material could be used, and also a good reminder not to rush it or overwhelm us/ her. This in particular, rings very true and I'll take it to heart

Rose, that's very good to know that Videotext is working well. I'm looking at that one also. Have you found that it's a good program to come AFTER the Arbor books, or if you could go back in time, would you skip the Arbor books and go straight into Videotext? Maybe I'm pushing things too quickly. I have to decide a pace for us and that's the first part I'm struggling with. She's starting 7th grade now. We've had a relatively solid covering of pre-algebra and she's done well understanding negative/positive numbers, exponents, decimals, square roots, etc. I'm trying to decide what we should spend the next years on. On the list of consideration are the Arbor books (and Jacobs, though now that I know they overlap so much, I'm opting for the Arbor books), Videotext and AoPS (now that I took a closer look and see it's got videos to go with the workbook). I'm not sure whether I should plan multiple of these in some sort of sequence, or it it's all an overlap/ redundant and I should just pick one to cover the Algebra (I and II), then move on to Geometry in early High School. I do like the idea of not separating Algebra I and II by a year - makes sense to keep going. But besides that, just struggling to organize/ choose from those three curriculum.

Thank you, Rose. That helps a lot! I've been looking at the few samples I could find of both, but as you know it's very hard to compare scope with so little info. So that comparison is very much appreciated. Bummer about the errors in the answer booklet. I agree that it's expensive. But you're saying it's still worth getting?

Please help me compare the Arbor Center's algebra books (Jousting Armadillos, CC, etc) with the Jacobs algebra books (I see that there are two 'Elementary Algebra' and 'Human Endeavor'). I'm first trying to discern the differences between the two Jacobs books and would love your feedback on that. What's the difference? Which would you use? And then what would be your preference between the Jacobs book vs. the Arbor books? Would you use both sets or is there too much overlap to make working through both worth it? For background - It would be for my 7th grader/ 12 year old, who is quite good at math and relatively enjoys it. Oh, and ps I'm also seeing a lot about AoPS and would love to hear more about that one relative to the other two as well. I see that they have videos and workbooks and online classes and am a bit overwhelmed about what is actually needed to get a 7th grader well-prepped (even a bit ahead) for high school math.

Anyone using the Flip Flop Spanish curriculum and could give me a detailed review of how it's working out for you? What you like and don't like about it, etc. Thanks.

Check out the Perilous Math books and Highlights' Mathmania magazines.

thank you! That's really helpful. I'm having trouble imagining how they could fit 11 volumes into 4, but I'm glad to hear nothing (or much) gets lost and that the tone is the same, since it's the casual conversational tone that appeals to us.

The page looks like an information and way too wordy, with no samples of the actual workbook. Has anyone tried this?

Anyone have personal experience with the difference between Joy Hakim's full version (11-volumes) of History of Us vs. K12's concise version?? What do they skip? Does the tone of the text change? What are the pros and cons of one vs. the other?

That sounds good. I wonder if there are resources to help match up topics/ chapter in the two? That would save a lot of hassle. I will google, but if anyone knows, info is highly appreciated :)

DS will be doing 4th grade this year and DD will be doing 6th grade. My daughter just joined us in homeschool this past year, so she just did the history we were set to do "Ancients". We're moving on to Middle Ages/Medieval (SOTW) this coming year, but if I don't get to American History with her (planning to use Hakim's History of Us), I fear she'll end up cramming when she's headed to high school (which will be at public school). However, she's looking forward to continuing SOTW with us. Would it be too much for her to have her do BOTH? Would it be too much for me? How have others scheduled the work when starting with a child in later grades (esp. when you expect they'll go back for high school, so it's harder to just completely do our own timing of things)?

I just used the link to make an order, and so far, it appears to have gone through. I know this is the time of year when people are looking ahead, thought a bump might help someone.

We've been using Aha!Math and Aha!Science at learning.com and it's a nice supplement to our work. But they are making changes, saying the marketplace won't be available to some after June. I'm confused about the changes and wonder if other homeschoolers on there might have a better handle on it than I do. It appears that they changes might only affect homeschoolers (or those not affiliated with a school or district) but I admit I'm not understanding what will be changing and how it will affect me (despite reading all their additional explanations). Anyone using these resources aware of the changes?

It would be for an 8 year old (3rd grade). Based on your posts, sounds like the Usborne or DK might be best for him at this age?

I'm hoping to add one of the science encyclopedias to our repertoire, but haven't had access to see any in person. For those that have had a chance to use or peruse them, which would you recommend? What specifically do you like/ dislike about it? Am considering the ones from Usborne, DK Publishing or Kingfisher ... but open to any others. Thanks!

The Math on the Menu and In All Probability books look really great. I'm wondering why the Kitchen Table Math book didn't work for you, if you don't mind sharing.

The On The Level looks interesting and certainly has more ideas than most of the curriculums I've seen, but it's way too costly even if it does cover k-8, and while it has lots of hands-on activities, it's not as "living math" as I'd like, if that makes sense (well, I'm basing that just on looking at the sample pdf's on the site. It looks pretty good though. Just way out of my budget for one subject area. I wish I could see more of the preview for Dr. Wrights Kitchen Table Math - what's visible on amazon is just the very beginning, which is counting. I would love to find out how the author treats more complicated subjects.

Mommy Grommy and maize, thank you. I will check out those resources. Dr. Wright's book looks particularly useful. I have a 3rd grader and a 5th grader (with the ability to do middle school work) to teach, so hopefully it can help me at both skill levels. maize, yes, I'm already using livingmath.net :) I love the resources on activities there, but the lesson plans offered are not quite right for us though there are some useful suggestions that we'll incorporate.

I have DS keep a math journal so he can write down the things we're worked on or use for any math projects or concepts he's working on and wants to note. But I hadn't thought of keeping my own. I like that idea. I'm still hoping to find some sort of guide / hand-holding in the 'living math' world ... honestly, even just something that will provide ME some education on the concepts because my math skills are so awful. I'm happy to learn along with them, but some things I feel I should be better prepared for. I've forgotten even the most basic of things or I might be able to solve a problem because I know how to apply a formula (the way we're taught in school) but I might not know WHY it works or how that formula came about being discovered. In that regard, I feel so ill equipped to go the living math route and could use guidance. I've gotten some great books (and websites) that have great problems for us to work through ,... but not enough things that guide me with regards to good order of introducing material, which concepts are connected with each other and, therefore, might be good to explore around the same times, and basic understanding on some concepts so that I'm not super clueless on how to verbally explain things to the kids.

I'm slowly switching from fully structured traditional math to living maths, but for my own organizational needs and my sanity, I want some structure with regards to some order to the topics, ideas and concepts that I will introduce to the kids. I have found wonderful resources on activities, games, real life situations that we can do to explore and play with mathematics. But I need a bit of structure - at least at first since living math is so new to me (and my kids). Obviously, I'll remain flexible for learning opportunities that naturally show up. I found the lessons at livingmath.net. Any others that you know of?

We are mostly doing "Living Maths", but we have a once a week class called "Math Formulas" where I teach them the more traditional school math. That day, they also practice on MobyMax after our lesson. I'm loving MobyMax, but it requires way too many exercises on the same thing before it moves them on. I've been going through the customizations and can't find a place to ask the program to move on to the next section if the child has done, say, 5 problems correctly (rather than the default, which seems very large, though I'm not sure where that exact amount is). My DD (5th) showed some gaps in her math for a few concepts (and high proficiency on the rest) and I want her to practice those, but don't want to bog her down endlessly in those problems. Anyone using MobyMax know how to change that setting (or even it's possible)? I found a lot of things to customize, but am not finding that one or am missing the way they are labeling that exact setting. Any help appreciated. Thanks!

These aren't expensive, but I'm sick of wasting money on these handwriting helping tools and thought I'd ask if anyone has found this useful for improving pencil grip http://www.handithings.com/handiwriter.htm . We're working on typing skills, but have not given up on gaining some basic handwriting skills.

We have a lot of fun art stuff lined up. But I haven't found many studies of drawing and, eventually, painting that move sequentially through skills and have a more classical approach. This youtube video ( ) was interesting and discusses a more technical approach used at the academy to learning the needed skills. I wonder if drawing and painting aren't in some ways similar to writing, where the child may learn copywork, dictation, narration before they're set off to write their own creative works. Most of the teaching of art (drawing and painting specifically) today doesn't seem to provide the technical know-how. Any suggestions on where to look for more classical sources to teaching drawing and painting?

I absolutely am. I have been reading the discussion quietly because, as a complete newcomer, I am still in a position of needing to LISTEN and learn. Your discussion here is helping me better understand the community I'm joining. While the blog post I linked was not from here, I became concerned that it might reflect the predominant mindset of classical educators (the blogger does specifically claim superiority). But, the discussion that ensued here is much more interesting than "whose culture is better" and has been highly informative for me, as I continue to find my footing in my approach to our homeschooling. Thanks for the link to the other discussion, I'm sure it'll help me further. LOVE THIS statement. I think you put words to my feelings about how I'd like to define classical for us. Great advice. Thank you. I am finding myself slowly doing just that.

Thank you! That's very useful for the study of classical in a historical way. Since we're doing story of the "world", I'd love to find music that also looks at other regions in a timeline. Yes. Thank you for that link! The resource looks absolutely wonderful for the study of western classical music. I suppose I'm still hoping to find resources that will expand the curriculum to other regions and styles through history. Had not seen that. Thank you! I will check it out. From the table of contents, it comes closest to what I had in mind in the sense that it's not just western classical music history. Thanks.