I think that's part of what confused me. I kept trying to figure out how to use the rods for each page, sort of like the alphabet c-rod pages that you put the c-rods on.

That makes complete sense! Now that I know it's supposed to be that way, that works for me. We do MEP and it isn't always immediately obvious either. Should we expect to need the rods for every page?

CLE has some pretty generous samples to print.

Seriously? I've glanced through orange and I wouldn't have a clue what to do as the student. Maybe my brain just doesn't work that way...

I have really enjoyed the videos at education unboxed. What an amazing free resource! I have read a few comments here saying they think Miquon is more discovery-based and less teacher led than the MMM (Mathematics Made Meaningful) cards. I'm a little confused by this, because I don't feel like the MMM are less discovery-based that what Rosie shows on the videos. How is Miquon less directed? Do you do it in a less directed style than Rosie?

Funny because I was planning to use my Right Start to cover conceptual gaps in CLE. Singapore is very visual but not as gentle as Math in Focus. Ronit Bird is super gentle - aimed at dyscalculia. If he truly understands the concepts in RS B, I would think that would carry over to a lot of areas as a great foundation.

Thank you so much. I'll try that.

Is anyone using this combination? Which is your spine or are you doing them both fully?

Not sure where to ask this. I can't seem to upload any photos to the site. It keeps saying they are too big.

Amazingly helpful info!

I would have liked the ones I could eat. Just kidding. I think I would have liked the ones the same color to show that it's all made up of the same things, essentially ones. Haven't seen the interlocking ones in person. I think the abacus does a great job with place value but I think it's always best to show things in as many ways a possible. As a kid, I would not have grasped the "bigness" of 100 as well with abacus vs a 3D cube marked off in centimeters.

I just want to say I'm in love with the French sounding Montessori cursive app. It's amazing, especially with a stylus.

Great to know!

I'm about to admit something really weird now. I have an irresistible urge to bite the little blue hard plastic centimeter cubes. I have thus far resisted it! Wonder where my kids get their sensory issues?

I guess if I had enough white c-rods and the ability to stack them, we could make a 100 cube. Or we could just use 10 orange ten rods. But that's not the same as showing 100 units in a cube.

I want them to go with Right Start and Grade 1 CLE to really cement understanding of place value. I think that if I had seen them as a child, particularly the cube, I would have had a much easier time with the concept.

So I have c-rods and all the Rights Start manipulatives, but I'm an addict. I want a base ten set; don't even try to talk me out of it! :tongue_smilie: Interlocking - yes or no? MUS - serious overkill in investment? I won't be using MUS program. Do you think it's better for them all to be one color or better for the ones, tens and hundreds to be a different color each?

I second Singapore and c-rods, which I use for a son with combined type. I prefer Gattegno or Mathematics Made Meaningful cards for the c-rods just because I struggle with Miquon's organization. Most people seem to like Miquon better though. I have combined type myself and find these two curricula work for me as the mom.

My son like Raggedy Andy stories and Boxcar Children on Librivox.

I want to try Beast Academy once my son is ready. I've been holding out on Singapore Primary Math for years and just took the plunge to try it. Pretty much everything I want to try I do b/c I'm both OCD and spoiled! I am addicted to used books (readers, living books, good textbooks, etc.). There is a lot I don't own and I better keep it that way if I ever want to pay off all my debt!

Gray's Anatomy read aloud is free on Librivox but it's pretty boring!

I have purchased the Grade 1 readers and plan to use all the Nurture readers with my student in the future. I also purchased the Reading TM for Unit 1 to see if that will work for me. What I'm trying to decide now is whether we want to drop our current LA program and do R&S only. Are the R&S reading workbooks full of needless busywork for a home school setting or do they really cement the Bible story and help with reading comprehension as well as something like McCall-Crab? Is grammar incorporated? We have a separate phonics program, so I'm pretty sure we won't be doing the phonics workbook. Would it be simpler to just use McCall-Crab and discuss the stories orally. I'm concerned my son will have too much workbook work a day, sine he will already have CLE math LU's and MEP sheets.

Thank you both!

I would move to the next level or add something extra challenging like SM CWP or MEP.

wait? What? Did I do something wrong?