I know exactly how you feel, OP. this is my son exactly. My oldest would do fine in sm but my younger son is not as conceptual minded. I don't want to jump the gun though... I mean, he's young. But my gut says to do math u see or CLE maybe. Then again I love sm and the foundation it lays. I feel ya. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok. Talk to me about math mammoth guys. Just curious if it's easier in their explanation of concepts? I own grades 1-3 already. It was not loved by all. Haha! So plain and too much on the page. But I wonder if it wouldn't be a "middle of the road" program, still conceptual, but not as fast or confusing as Singapore? Not to divert the convo from mus, just curious about others experiences. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wish I could delete that above comment. Wrong thread. Sorry OP Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would it be silly to do both sm AND MUS? It sounds stupidly expensive. I can see my boys doing well on either but my 1st grader is definitely not a math intuitive thinker like my 2nd grader is. Maybe just buy the dvd... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can see that Kat, it's very smart to do it that way. I think we may be the same way... No special needs I don't think, but different thinkers. My oldest son gets abstract concepts fairly easily. But younger son does not. He's more concrete. I could see mus working better for him. Or even CLE. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I also worry sometimes that il picking sm simply because it's touted as the BEST and I want that for my kids. I'm a tad scared the flipping of HIG/workbook/textbook, etc will get old. I think that's why I'm putting so much thought into it is because I do not want to flip Mathis again anytime soon. My oldest is a mathy kid, but doesn't LOVE math. I think he'd be bored with mus really. I would like a more independent math that's easy to plan/implement, but honestly I think at this age it's all pretty intensive. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's sounds nice prairiewindmomma... And it's an option for sure... But I'm thinking if I only have the workbook I will for sure get confused on some topics since I will have completely missed the instruction. I'm sure in early grades it's fine though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sweetpea I totally get you on the mastery vs spiral debate. I see Singapore as a mastery "within a unit" type. I can see how mus could be viewed as spiraling at times too. So you use both? I think my inner mom is screaming DO MUS FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY but then my inner teacher is screaming SINGAPORE IS A BETTER FIT! So I don't know. Honestly, maybe mus with some spiral concepts thrown in and beefier work problems may be good but I hate all the supplementing to get to a "good program" that fits our needs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh you guys! Hahahaha! You are all helping. And I'm still lost [emoji23] it's ok, I promise I'll work it out, don't worry about my imminent math breakdown[emoji38] So... Here is me being honest. I want mus because it's SO. STINKIN. STRAIGHTFORWARD. open the book, do the lesson, teaching is straightforward. Not difficult to plan or execute really. BUT. I'm not in love with a few things. Which push me to SM. I don't like the extreme mastery approach. I do like how SM does their mastery approach however. I also love the Singapore methods (having done RS for 3 years) I connect with it. I feel like mus isn't as strong here. Also my kids do like "fun" in their math. The doodle pictures and whatnot in SM would be appreciated by my kids. What I DONT like about SM, is the worry over difficult concepts that I won't understand. Because while I like the approach and have done RS I am still not an extreme mathy person and I was not taught that way in school. So I worry about conceptual leaps and/or meltdowns over it being too abstract too young. So really I'm at a stand still here. [emoji36] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MUS is mastery. Math mammoth is very similar in teaching concepts to Singapore, just presented differently. My boys could not do it independently at all. It was too overwhelming and it is pretty advanced. I've found Singapore to be easier to teach(for me). Have you looked at MUS though? It might be what you're looking for [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have so much to add to all your helpful advice! I'm knee deep in LA as we speak. I will respond more later, but quickly: I will keep LOE. I just haven't found a good replacement. So we will do foundations and essentials and then probably move onto SSS or Spellwell. I will maybe do FLL and WWE next year also (2nd and 3rd grade). Maybe I will try CLE at some point? Honestly I think I'll wait and see how everything feels. I WANT to like FLL but I also can appreciate how CLE would be able to be done partially independent, giving me time to work with my youngest kids. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry, he's 7, currently 2nd grade. I wanted to start something either this year or next:) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've considered Spanish since it's always needed. But I've also learned how important Latin is. Can it be deemed a foreign language? Do colleges accept this as a FL? What's your favorite program to begin with? I've heard of duo lingo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's ok Tara! I appreciate your input! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks guys:) much appreciated!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's true. I do think I'm going to start my oldest in 1a, looking at his placement test he missed several. But I think I'll keep the younger in RS B and just plug along. Thanks for helping:) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My 2nd grader is about done with RS B and we are going to move to Singapore. I tested him into 1b although he did miss several. I was told that it might actually be best to start him at 1a, just to cover all the concepts Singapore teaches and to learn its style. He may go through it quickly. Well THEN my 1st grader just started RS B. I've been told it's the best of the levels. I didn't think there would be a way to combine my boys but I realized, if I start my 1st grader in Singapore 1a instead of finishing RS B, I could start the boys together. Is this a bad idea? Should I stick with RS B and not try to push the boys together? I don't want him to miss out on something crucial and I know RS B has made a great foundation for my oldest. Hmmmm Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Have you looked at Simple Solutions? They are review books. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So true:) I like your idea of using FLL and EG together. I'm considering Hake for 4th because it IS so good and able to be done mostly independent. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ok, thanks guys:) I completely expect grammar to be mom-led at this early age, but I'd like a program that will eventually be independent. I love the concepts in R&S but I don't like the textbook feel of always having to transfer sentences to paper and copy everything down for the assignment. I'd like a workbook type program for later years. it sounds like R&S won't be that way. so, maybe I will just begin Hake in 4th, because it looks like what I want. and if I want to do SOMETHING for grammar in 3rd I might do sentence family or grammar land or something fun like that. even easy grammar sounds like a gently introduction of grammar in 3rd. does anyone have opinions on Hake? can all the work be done in the textbook? would a person be able to do 4th grade Hake and then maybe 8th grade and skip the rest? I am aware there is a ton of repeat.

Whoops messed that up... I'll respond here😊 Thank you fir that reply! So tell me, when you say independent, are they using a workbook or writing sentences? I was under the assumption that kids had to rewrite sentences, etc. My 2nd grader hates writing so this worried me and was why I was looking at cle. However, I don't love cle.

Great ideas! Thanks[emoji3] I don't currently do memory work for LA, that sounds similar to FLL? Which I had initially considered. I will look into the Evan Moor, thank you for your helpfulness! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thank you so much! I think you hit the nail on the head: I am trying to do too much. I feel it too, i just haven't been able to see clearly enough to know what to change. Right now they are doing logic of english, and my 2nd grader pretty much has phonics down, although LoE does lots of advanced phonograms that the program continues on in, with their Essentials program, so I think I will do that since it is a spelling program too. You are right about R&S for 2nd. I have been thinking that it was too much. Actually, I was considering doing Easy Grammar in 3rd grade and starting Hake in 4th, since it is fairly independent and I really love the incremental approach. I do, however, also like Abeka for LA too, I can see how it would be too much seatwork, but maybe I can cut it down?

Thank you:) interesting, I've read several people say they did that too. They felt the algebra was too watered down. So moving to AOPS was smooth? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk