I'm considering Singapore for my oldest, who will be in 3rd grade next year. He's finishing up CLE 200 now. He can add and subtract, but not from memory - uses his abacus or fingers to find many of the sums. He understands multiplication, but isn't at all fluent with the facts. Where would we start? Is there a placement test we'd need to take? I didn't learn math conceptually as a child, so I'd need some hand holding to "get" the concept my child is supposed to be learning. What materials would we need in each level?

Moms of visual learners...can you give me some suggestions for math? We're finishing up CLE grade 2, which I really like. My son, though, dreads math - he sees it as unending with lots of pages, and though he's bright, he's NOT quick with his facts, so math is easily taking him an hour or more. I think he's highly visual - he is riveted by whatever he sees (computer screen, bright lights, video, etc., and quickly forgets anything that he hears. What kind of math programs should I be checking out?? This is for my oldest son, who will be 9yo, 3rd grade in the fall. I was wondering about something like BJU Math with the colorful pages, and maybe even using the DVD format so he could get a flashy presentation with lots of charts & such? But really, I'm at a loss as to where to go next for this youngster. Ideas, please?

I'm trying to figure out how best to teach my oldest, and I'm wondering if some testing might nail down some issues. However, I don't know what kind of testing to do, so any suggestions would be appreciated. - He's 8yo, just finishing 2nd grade. - recently diagnosed with sensory issues (sensory seeking) - mis-hears much of what he hears, though his hearing is good - captivated by any kind of video - responds "off" to things going on around him - has a terrible time staying on task - math is going poorly, though I suspect he's really a bright little boy - a very strong reader, loves to read I need to understand his learning style & how best to pick curriculum for him. Also, I suspect there might be something like Asbergers (sp?) syndrome going on. What kind of testing would help this scenario?

I'm trying to figure out how best to teach my oldest, and I'm wondering if some testing might nail down some issues. However, I don't know what kind of testing to do, so any suggestions would be appreciated. - He's 8yo, just finishing 2nd grade. - recently diagnosed with sensory issues (sensory seeking) - mis-hears much of what he hears, though his hearing is good - captivated by any kind of video - responds "off" to things going on around him - has a terrible time staying on task - math is going poorly, though I suspect he's really a bright little boy - a very strong reader, loves to read I need to understand his learning style & how best to pick curriculum for him. Also, I suspect there might be something like Asbergers (sp?) syndrome going on. What kind of testing would help this scenario?

Does the CogAT give a false high or a false low for your visual learners? I'm curious, because we just finished today with my son that I suspect is visual. The math computation section of the IOWA was terrible, and I'm anticipating our lowest scores there. The CogAT, on the other hand, was a breeze, and I think he aced the quantitative section, and scored very high throughout the rest. I am really struggling to figure out this kiddo - math is very, very difficult, yet I don't think it is inability - somehow I'm not reaching him in this subject. But if I can't figure out what is awry I can't fix it - kwim??

One of my sons is, I think, a visual learner, and does poorly with auditory info. As I've been administering the IOWA test to him (2nd grade) this week, it seems that so much of the test relies on info that comes to him through his ears. Do visual learners do poorly on the IOWA? Is there another test I should consider using next time? We've also added on the Cogat to this year's testing.

Another vote for Tintin. My reluctant reader blossomed with these...

I was able to look through the Easy Grammar 2 workbook recently, and my plan is to get just the workbook for my 2nd grade son. The worksheets are very simple and to the point, with just enough instruction included on the page itself - I didn't think we'd need anything beyond the workbook. Easy Grammar 3, on the other hand, has more content in the TM, and I plan to use the TM for my 3rd grade son.

Sounds wierd, I know. My 8yo son is a voracious reader...when reading on his own. However, he hates reading as a subject because of the writing & thinking involved. (we've tried CLE Reading & a MP lit. guide) He'll be in 3rd grade this fall, and I'm not sure what direction to go for literature for him. He really needs to get over his pencil phobia, so one way or another he needs to do a lot of writing in 3rd. Two concerns here - #1) I'm concerned about what he'd be missing if he skips the discipline of writing down his lit. answers in complete sentences, thinking more about what he reads, etc. #2) I'm concerned about his dislike of the subject he likes best - if that makes any sense. I'd rather cultivate a passion for good literature, and encourage him to expand the genre of material he reads. Here's two ideas, and I'm really torn between them. Please give your input! Idea #1) Soldier through MP or VP lit guides, and continue to offer good literature for free reading after school. Idea #2) Set aside an assigned reading time each day where I choose the books (I'm thinking Ambleside, Vision Forum, VP historical fiction...), let him read for 45-60 min or so (while I work with the younger grades). He reads very fast and would cover huge amounts of material. Then do some amount of narration and/or copywork and skip lit guides altogether. Maybe the narration/copywork should come from a read-aloud, so the 2nd grader and 3rd grader can take turns & the littles can listen in. I'm unsure of how much narration and how much copywork would be appropriate for a 3rd grader, as I'm more familiar with textbooky materials. What says the Hive????

I'm choosing materials for our upcoming school year, and taking a hard look at the reality that there may not be enough of me to go around. Any suggestions from seasoned home schoolers? I need to choose materials that we can get done, yet not sacrifice quality. I like most of what we're using this year, and had thought to continue with much of it, but maybe it is humanly impossible!! Any and all input is welcome!

anyone else?:bigear:

Which do you prefer? Why? What do you like/not like?

Veritas Self-Paced history. Completely independent, good retention, and my kids LOVE it! There is also an optional literature component that goes along with it, also independent.

I'm ordering IOWA tests for our 1st and 2nd grade boys, and I'm wondering if I should order one for our K son as well. Our state doesn't require standardized testing until 1st grade - is there any reason to do the test in K?? What would ya'll recommend?

I find them helpful. Are they critical, maybe not. But helpful, absolutely. For example, I can go much faster correcting math lessons for multiple kids if I pull out the answer key. It saves the trouble of calculating out every. single. problem.....

Hmmm. I'm still wondering exactly how to place these boys. My oldest is more the "needs a challenge or he won't pay attention", sort of a fellow. So I can see him being okay in SG4. I'm kind of tempted to ditch the R&S3 we're using right now, and let him do SG3 for the rest of the year. He had SG1 at the private school he attended last year, so that would put him on track for the level 1-3-5-7 routine. My second son, currently in 1st grade, is more the "too much challenge makes me crumple" sort of guy. So I don't know. I don't see him ready for SG4 next year. As much as I'd love to have the older two share grammar, it probably isn't the best idea to combine them. The older boy has been reading long chapter books for several years now, and the younger boy is just now venturing into Magic Treehouse. So he should probably do his own thing for grammar. Does that thinking sound right? My kids would love to jingle, and it fits their learning styles much better than the FLL oral work, I think. My younger two are at a very similar level. 6.5yo boy K, just learning to read, and a 4yo girl highly motivated to learn to read this year like all her brothers do. I think I could do them together for grammar - What do you think of starting them together in FLL 2 next year, and just adjusting the copywork as appropriate for writing level?? They'd be in 1st & K next year. FLL 1, at least the samples, drive me nuts because they are soooooo tediously scripted. I know the upper levels are scripted too, but it is easier to skim & extract the important parts when there is a little more content. Wild idea - maybe all three youngers could do FLL 2. The 2nd grader could do all the harder copywork sections, and I could tone it down for the younger grades. What do you think? Confusing as mud? Any suggestions?

So very helpful, thank you!! Yes, Writing Tales is exactly what I had planned for the oldest next year. My plan was WWE 1-3, then Writing Tales, and he'll be ready. I didn't know it worked well with Shurley, so that is a plus. Also, it is very reassuring to know how uncritical it is to hit every Shurley level, and I like the idea of just using the practice book for level 2. I actually taught level 2 in the classroom, but since I only taught 2nd grade I don't have a good feel for juggling multiple levels or what is covered in the levels after 2nd. So, again, thank you!

How difficult is it to teach multiple levels of Shurley grammar? What about having different grades share a level? I'm thinking that Shurley might be a good fit for my gang next year, but I need to be sure it is realistic from a mama-getting-everything-done standpoint. Not sure if I would give everyone their own level, or try to combine two of them. My lineup for next year is: 3/4th grade 9yo boy, excellent reader (this year WWE3, R&S English 3 *marginal retention, not a good fit*) 2nd grade 8yo boy, reading very well (this year completing CLE LA 1, WWE1 ) 1st grade 6.5yo boy, (this year learning to read) K 4.5yo girl (this year learning to read)

We use CLE as our spine, and MUS as our supplement to help with conceptual understanding. We have enough good things going on with CLE that I don't dare stop!

It has recently dawned on me what a non-auditory learner our oldest son is. He's very, very visual. And here we are halfway through R&S English 3, using it orally - that would be why retention is so minimal!! So what should we switch to?? Can ya'll flood me with some ideas? He's an excellent reader, 8yo.

Our 8yo is officially in 2nd grade. But he's doing many subjects on a third grade level. What standardized test should I give him this year? Here's where he is: R&S English 3 R&S Spelling 3 VP Self Paced History OTAE Reads at 5th grade level or above CLE Math 2, LU 208 MUS Alpha - whizzing through to reinforce What grade to test??

Hi all! I've been organizing the VP Group Buy #3, and I just had a slot open up this morning. Let me know if you'd like it! Payment would be need to be immediate, via paypal.

Group Buy #3 is now closed. Thanks to all who are participating!

Thanks to all who have responded - we have just a couple spots remaining....