It drove me batty not being able to easily accelerate my child through RS. It was just too confusing for me. I've heard Singapore Math is easy to go through quickly if the child "gets" it. Is Math Mammoth as easy to breeze through if need be? Any other programs that are easy to accelerate? I'm thinking purely of concepts. Math facts are not an issue, as we will be using CLE to hammer those :001_smile:

My son has been like this for as long as we remember. Even as a toddler, he would not perform any skill in front of anyone until he had perfected it. If I came into the room and saw him dancing to a song, he would stop immediately. I have discovered that he does his best independent work at a desk alone in his room with a door closed. It seems strange to me, but works for him.

Do you mind me asking why you regret it? Is it gaps or something else I might not have considered?

I appreciate the warning about combining kids! I was planning to combine them for the manipulative discussion and then the script from CLE 1 TM and then also the first part of the workbook each day with tracing the number and saying the rhyme. Then they would go their own ways. Does that sound reasonable?

Confused. You mean it's reported not to?

How much of RS B will we miss out on by moving to the cheaper AL abacus book? I imagine it doesn't have instructions for all the newest manipulatives, since it's designed for the abacus or am I wrong?

How much of RS B will we miss out on by moving to the cheaper AL abacus book? I imagine it doesn't have instructions for all the newest manipulatives, since it's designed for the abacus or am I wrong?

After all the recent great advice I've gotten here, I think I have formulated a plan for doing a first grade math do-over. I am combining my almost 7 year old boy and almost 5 year old girl for math (he was slower to mature). So here's the plan. Does it seem feasible and sensible? 1st step - sell RS A scripted lessons (just don't work for my style) and buy Activities for AL Abacus Then start this: -CLE Math 1 daily as my spine for both kids to teach at the same time. -Add in abacus, c-rods (already have these) and other manipulatives as needed; use Activities for AL Abacus to present concepts hands-on before it's presented in CLE as needed (it seems the AL Abacus book is ordered by topic/concept so that shouldn't take long) -Keep using MEP worksheets only as additional enrichment is there is time and eagerness My only concern is whether we will cover all the common core areas this way?

We are already going to be doing CLE which is spiral, so I'm not too worried about retention.

Is activities for the AL abacus any different in terms of layout? I don't have B. I could sell A and buy the Activities book.

Monica can I love that post? Why isn't there a love button :001_smile:!

Well I don't know if the curriculum has ADD but I already do and I don't need any help being confused :laugh:

I really like the looks of BJU's History texts.

I'm concerned I will have the same issue with their TM as RS. In fact, it looks more cluttered/overwhelming for my brain :crying: But I do like that there is a blue script to read. CLE's TM is more my kind of thing. I can clearly see what to read to student and nothing looks cluttered.

I'm not even going to read this thread. I have to stop...

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle?

It only drive ME crazy. But I avoid it and don't teach it. Perhaps I'm just lazy, but I want open and go. I don't want to have to read and think through the lesson before presenting it every day, because that doubles the time. Right now I am just reading through all Level A and trying to internalize the teaching methods and apply in my own way. It seems scripted programs only work for me if they are written to the child. I have trouble "translating it to the child" with three noisy children in the background. We are definitely ready to move beyond A; just using it as an example. I have an almost 7 year old (2nd-3rd grade conceptual understanding, 1st grade knowledge of basics), an almost 5 year old (K-1st grade level math) and an almost 3 year old (not even starting except playing with c-rods).

From what I've heard: Miquon, MEP, Beast Academy

For an example, I love the presentation of Gattegno Math. I could just read it to the student. But presenting Miquon ties me up in knots.

Hot bath! You should see our water bill

When I say conceptual I mean really touches on the "why" part of math - not just algorithms.

Grade Level is one 1st grader and one 2nd grader.

That is extremely helpful Oh Elizabeth. I'm so grateful you took the time to explain your experience!

Not sure what this says about me, but I cannot stand the layout of RS A. When a concept is introduced, my natural inclination is to follow it completely to its logical conclusion and then move on to the next thing. I have a hard time touching on several topics at a time. So I find myself doing something we like and then searching for that same topic throughout the following pages and skipping the rest. Why is is this such a problem for me I wonder? I thought RS was incremental mastery. I do tend to like to focus on one thing at a time and have trouble multi-tasking. I always loved summer school, because I could take one class at a time and really immerse myself in it. I want to make sure the next curriculum we buy will not cause me this issue. I imagine that it's going to be an issue with an common core aligned curriculum?

I know there are several for word problems but up for any ideas!