John Cabot reached Newfoundland in 1497. Grand Banks had fish from heaven. I have 5 pages of these my kids have memorized beginning with the middle ages and extending to William and Mary (our current place in history). If you need more, let me know. Penny

I would guess that his brain is just not developed enough yet to handle the conceptualization. I would stick with R&S and just teach him how to do it. Meanwhile, I would stick with the Right Start method of counting and carrying/borrowing so he may eventually understand our number system. Right Start also has a wonderful way to count money, and understand doubles, evens and odds. Right Start saved me when teaching multiplication by one word, "taken". When I started saying 5 taken 3 times for 5x3, all conceptual problems were solved at our house! That was worth the price of the book! I have bought MUS, RightStart, Saxon, Singapore and Rod and Staff. I have been trying to find SOMETHING for my math challenged child. I think Right Start has the best method to teach our number system but expects too much higher order thinking at a young age. Rod and Staff simply teaches them to do the work. I believe it may come together when they are older. My ds is in 4th grade and we are sticking with Rod and Staff. Blessings! Penny

Where do you weigh in on this? Penny

Well, my kids are younger than yours, but, We do all of the exercises in the book and in the workbook. For every section, we do every problem. It doesn't really matter which is completed first, just that the section in the workbook corrosponds with the section in the book. It is convenient that the workbook refers to the applicable section of the book. I don't have a schedule to complete Latin Prep 1 because I think it is a little advanced for my 10 year olds. We just stay on one chapter until we master it. We began in September and are just now beginning Chapter 5. Penny

Would you please tell me how this works in your day? How do you choose the books, assign reading, etc? I'm really looking for something that does most of the planning for me and gives me the answers too! It doesn't seem like DITHOR does this or am I wrong? How do you make it work? Does it require much planning? Thank you, Penny

Suzy, I bought this (for a 30 day trial) and used your name. I hope it is as good as it sounds. It's not cheap, but if it lasts through grade 12 it will be worth it. Target Score Learning Systems is a very new company (only 6 mo) and that explains why we haven't heard of them before. However, they do seem to be a serious company with sales reps, professional website, etc. So hopefully they will be around for a while. Blessings, Penny

I have gone on to other programs because my kids don't fit in with the learning style of RS at the higher levels. But, RS Level A is absolutely the best foundation that can be had. As far as teaching her how the base 10 system works, evens and odds, doubles, money, clock, it is outstanding. I have only one child who began with RS. The others jumped in after trying Saxon and MUS. The one child who began with Level A, although not the most gifted, is the child who really likes math and has the best understanding of our number system. Don't pass up RS Level A! I could go on and on about this one! Blessings, Penny

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I would really appreciate any fun ideas you may have regarding teaching about the Liberty Bell or the Declaration of Independence. Thanks! Penny

I think Saxon is for a somewhat mathy child who gets bored easily. It is spiral, and it keeps introducing new concepts before previous ones are solidified. This kept my ds extremely frustrated as he never felt like he knew anything. Saxon may be great for other children. It depends on your child and their learning style. For instance, my dd would be fine in any math program. We are currently using R&S (grade 4) and are going to stick with it. It leads up to new concepts by gradually introducing the steps lesson by lesson. For instance, one wouldn't learn to simplify improper fractions all in one lesson. First, one would recognize to identify and name improper fractions. Only after this is done would one simply them (next lesson or possibly two lessons later). AND, the problems begin quite easy and lead up to difficult. The same would go for adding unlike fractions. First, lessons are given on identifying the lowest common multiple of two numbers. Then, a lesson is given on making equivalent fractions such that both have the lowest common denominator. After this is understood, then the fractions are added and subtracted beginning with EASY problems where only one of the denominator needs to be changed. The next lesson gives harder problems where both must be changed. In a nutshell, R&S very meticulously leads the child through the steps of being able to solve problems. Nothing is left to figure out on their own. It is all explained in detail with much repetition. The book continuously reviews previous concepts. I love the word problems because some (perhaps half) are not to be solved, but the child must give the information missing to be able to solve the problem, then tell what operation(s) would be necessary to solve the problem. R&S has too many problems per lesson for a child to complete in my opinion. So, I simply assign 1/3 to 1/2 of the problems. If my child is having trouble understanding, I will spend 2 days on that lesson and he may do all of the problems. One would never run out of problems to assign with R&S. R&S seems to be about 1 year behind Abeka but right on track with Saxon. In other words, Saxon 5/4 would be equivalent to R&S 4. Blessings, Penny

I've been watching CLE posts for several days, and I am somewhat frustrated trying to find sample pages for each grade. Where did you check this out before buying? I'm using R&S for a somewhat slow math child and I'd like to see what we're missing. Thank you for sharing your experiences!! Penny

Please share why you like CLE math better than R&S. Also, what does CLE stand for? Do you have a link? Thanks!! Penny

I'm using LP1 and am not changing the case order. Why must we? I understand that the rest of the US uses different order, but as long as the children understand the case, its meaning, and its use, why worry about the order the table is in? When translating, one shouldn't mentally chant the table, but instead be practiced enough to recognize the ending. I'm new to Latin. Am I missing something? I've asked this question before, and I believe Plaid Dad eased my fears regarding this issue. Thanks, Penny