Oh....if you don't get the MIF hig...you miss Sooo much. That's where all the good stuff is. Activities..across curriculum ideas. That hig is packed full of meat. Esp in the MIF. Sure, you could *teach* math...but you'd be missing SO much thsts in thst big ole hug :) I mean. It's a treasure chest of ideas....the MIF hig is the reason it costs so much more...because of all the research gone into it and the meat in there. Shows you closing origami ideas to teach frations. Has you pull up foreign flags online to show fractions thst way, and see the foreign flags...Sooo much meat.

Ha-ha...so do me and hubby :) I LOVE Singapore . both boys do too. They'd do it as long as I'd let them. Good thing cuz they nee lots of practice . If you like math books, you'll love SM I think :)

Ha-ha....oh that drove his teachers....in...sane! Ha-ha :) I'm not a fan either lol I'm used to it tho. Shoes, pencils, clothes, tape, ANYTHING I've asked to be carried in from the truck haha. :/ ;)

You spiral it. So you use mus as your spine. Then take a break, come back and do a different concept (one previously done) in SU. Taking breaks, you have to. We do one lesson in one book, take a break, then do a lesson previously learned in the other book. I do the memory poem from fll. Then I do WWE . And have fun with it. Then go straight into ffl. I use fll as my spine. ...take a break... Rtlt ..take a break.. Etlt ....take a break.. Easy grammar or a craft to do our visual part. Or I'll use this time to do dictation . I use the dictation and spelling combined. So I'm dictation spelling words, or their address, what have you. We do alot. Those kids have heart. I tire I think before they do lol. We start at 9 and finish at around 4:30 . have free play or if it's a day they have an activity . Then after dinner we listen to the audio book for ELTL and practice math facts. I send em to bed 30 before they think their bedtimes are Baha! ;) And they do Khan academy inline (math) and Meister Cody software program ( math for kids with dysgraphia ) I make it fun, incorporate crafts for the visuals Basically. They're doing it all day except for their big break in the afternoon and just after dinner. I get creative and make it seem like a game or fun. They have no idea we use as many books as we do. When we did our school room. We moved all the books in there and put them in workboxes waiting to go on their shelves. They saw them all on the floor and said...WOW! where'd all these books come from?? I said...we use em. They said no wY! We dint use all those books. As i held each one uo they were like..oh. Ok.lol

Yes. I see that point of view about transference. Fortunately we had all good experience s with social workers we've dealt with...but I have sent them deal with the kids and some of the women when I volunteered at the women's center...and it wasn't so kind. Was sad. My daughter s counselor thankfully means it in the proper way. Shes concerned she is feeling some trauma helping the women. My daughter loves it there but. She needs to keep herself on good footing. Ahes been doing really good. I am going to go get my daughter this week and take her to lunch n tell her...honey. You need to take a break. Ahes pretty open to mamas advice now. ...couple years ago? Not so much lol...but. We've gotten passed that and she knows. ...mama looks out for her :)

Haba...I know. We used to vet in trouble for not showing our work! Lol Yea. I do even more wih them too. I have too. My guys have...well. They are both on the spectrum and esp one...his working memory just now climbed up into the teens. They just don't remember . they have to have that I listed and more. For us....practice practice practice is the name of the game :)

Vaquitita, I just sent you a message . can you possible send me a PayPal invoice to my email? I included my email address in the message :) Tanx

MIF is more Americanized (Singapore's words not mine) and is very good for the struggling math student to do higher math. The standards and primary are about the same. Both are ahead of grade level (not MIF) . one is almost a full year ahead...one is a little over a half a grade ahead. The primary and standards... Primary has more review. ( I could be mixing thst uo. But the one of primary and standards ...the in thst costs more of the 2 has more review.) MIF is a great program for a student who needs more help, and allows them a way to be able to learn the Singapore way. I have totally changed my opinion of MIF. MIF is double the cost. There's a reason for thst. The research and development thst had to go into MIF is amazing and no cheap. I'm using both . my younger DC struggles more with math. So this is a great option for him and he can still learn math frontward backwards laterally and every which way lol. I'm using both MIF and primary with him. My older one I just use primary the one that is a little but more cost than standards. So, Primary Standards....of those 2 one costs just a little bit more BC there's more review . these 2 are pretty close. The sequences was changed a lil bit...and added more review to one and that's why it costs tad but more. I use the one with more review. MIF if way more hands in, across curriculum helps Nd is double the cost. Again it's double BC sobmuch more goes into it. It would be for the struggling or the LC child. I use MIF and...primary I think it is. The one thst has more review. So when you see it in the catalogue. Of standards and primary ..one is just slightly more..like 5 ish ir so dollars more. Thst one has more review. MIF. Is also good for an introduction to the Singapore way of teaching. The accross curriculum helps are awesome . there's a good reason MIF is double. There are more hands on activities and the creative way they take it across curriculum . love it. It also teaches you how to do a math journal. Like as in writing . which is really unique and cool. I've been doing a mth journal with the boys since I bought MIF. It really helps and helps to really cement thst concept .

Singapore is (depending on the grade and edition) is at least a half a grade ahead. I think it's standards? That's almost a full grade ahead....and primary , I could have the 2 mixed up. But one is almost a full grade ahead. The other is a little over a half a grade ahead.

......he looses his planners too tho :/

Yea. That's a fine line to balance isn't it? Structure... Independence . I'm putting together more detailed planners for them this year. I got some great ideas from a board member here she posted what she had included.. Imagine more. It's on one of the threads. I'm hoping if I add more details to their planners...i can do less on the corkboard and fridge. He takes them down to look at them ir decorate them with stickers and markers and loses them anyway haha.. Could be in the dirt outside...under the couch..in the Lego bin...anywhere :) Oiy life's so fun sometimes haha :)

We LOVE ELTL :) it's been good for us. We do WWE all together. They always have slightly different narrations. It is so helpful for us. Mine struggle with that tho. Awesome on the copy work! :) it's a good feeling to get done what we want huh? I use the RLTL too. The kids really like both and the Wwe. I fokd in fll too. My guys need akot of practice, no one curriculum is going to give us as much practice as we need. They don't even realize we use all those books. Good thing! Ha-ha. Im gonna get rays arithmetic too. I viewed the samples on the link Hunter put up. Love the everyday life word problems .

Yes. I'm going to pass thst link onto her. I think she is developing some of thst. The phsycoligist referred to it as transference. I have mentioned burn out to her. The social worker we dealt with when adoping the teen said they only keep them in those jobs for a max of 2 years for that very reason. I'm going to tell he to go back to waiting tables at the steak house lol. Ahes a college student and the bi polar is enough for her to manage. I don't want her to have secondary issues too. Steak house...here we come! Lol :)

If you got the hig...you would see what everyone is saying. It's different. The school TM assumes they've been through the recommended teacher training into the Singapore way if teaching. California worked with the developers of Singapore and SM sent trainers to train the teachers in how to teach it. The methodologies and strategies Singapore uses. There is no comparison . the hig shows we parents how to teach the Singapore way. One could simply buy the books and teach in the same way we've been teaching in America and TOTALLY miss the mark. It's not much more benefit than any math and...some would likely be left out all together BC the teacher would be left going...eh? Lol. So, the tm was written in the assumption the teaching staff had gone through the Singapore training. California did a really good and thorough job of partnering with Singapore to bring this to American schools in the same fashion it's taught in Singapore but...with more review . California wanted to leave some things out altogether. Singapore said. Uh huh. We wint seelk it to you or develop our curriculum fir you in that way. So. Yes, the hig is completely different than the tm AND teaches the mom to teach it the way Singapore does. And Singapore blows us away in math every year. They worked hard to ensure teachers/parents all knew HOW to teach it. So there's alot missing from the tm again, BC they assume the teacher in the classroom...has been through the training.

Wow. Those temps are low. I've thought about the homeless in the north , I grew up in the D.C. area. It was bad even there in winters. I used to volunteer at the local women's shelter . it's in a secret location and volunteer s are even screed and need to be referred by someone credible. The things those women have been through . whew. And the little guys they have in tow. Heartbreaking . My youngest daughter(24) has a paid position there now. I think she needs to seek out a different p/t job. I'm seeing signs if what look to me like a little bit of PTSD or maybe some transference. One of the abuser men found the location. Followed someone there. My daughter was working thst day. Was pretty intense for her. She struggles with bi polar anyway. She had nitemares for weeks after. Cops came...it was ugly . Alot of the men we talked to here when Wed work at the shelters, so many of them were vets. We know thy were vets too...the shelter had a transpo sytem that took them to the VA hospital. Pretty sad and why I think k it's such a worthy cause to be involved in. We never know what or who of us could wind up in the same exact situation. Big hugs Hunter. :) Vaquitita! Hi :) With everything going in with is right now? You have no idea how much those McGuffey's are a bright light and so looking forward to them :) Can't wait to get em in my hot lil hands lol :)

Baha! Breath. Dat was funny. I needed a laugh. Sorror, my guy is like thst too. He will seriously lose his mind if I dint have everything posted on the fridge or corkboard. We have to have the week planned on the corkboard with times. Then the details of each day broken down on the fridge. He will hol 'us ' accountable for times even lol And I'm a ...woo hoo more free spirit type...OK..that sounds fun, let's go do thst instead. Ohbmy, even if it's fun and not part of the plan and posted. Hell have an inner quiet meltown then finally regroup. That inner quiet meltown took years of practice and work to get there, and uts still only on things like thst. Something fun comes up and we decide to do that instead. I'll notice when we come back...he's changed the schedule on the fridge to accommodate that Baha. I jus smh. Whatever works lol. OhE's right. You've din good there. That's a facet I notice families will miss but are so important to our guys. Good call mama :)

Op, OhE wasn't trying to offend ir intimidate . I know these things can in and if themselves be intimidating . Sometimes the tendency is to 'shoot the messenger ' . I've done it. We all, at one time or another, do it when dealing with learning challenges . But OhE was tryin to do right by you and elicit more info so she could better help you. I know sometimes we come to the boards, not really sure what were asking, BC we just can't put our finger on it. There are ALOT of sharp cookies on this board, OhE is very well versed in many areas of learning challenges and accelerated learners, as many here on this board have helpful knowledge and experience . OhE's a good egg :) None of that was her intent.

Oh...good point, I would have forgotten thst. I'm having dh when he gets home today...get me vaquitita s readers...I am Sooo excited ! :) I went to the dollar something link you put up. How sweet! I, as finances allow, am going to get rays arithmetic. My guys need more word practice focus and real life math focus. 2 birds, on Stone lol

Oh, and to the TB thing. I agree with you about general assumptions they've read in a doctor magazine lol. We are in FL. Tho. Alot of our homeless population is sleeping outside BC of our weather....and my adopted lil ones had some respitory issues. From what I understand , that's common being born addicted . Buy you're right, I have wondered over the years just how prevalent thst really is , but, with my.little guys situation... Even colds sent esp my one guy in a tailspin. Those are the 2 little ones I'm homeschooling now. Lots and lots of learning challenges.

Hunter, I am so very sorry to hear if your plight. Ya know, I've noticed something with my own family (parents and extended) we are really all, mostly all, are basically one paycheck? Or life event away....from on the street (homeless) . My dh, kids and I have always worked with the homeless and high risk kids, usually ones in the foster care system that wind up in 'bad kid homes' (most aren't bad kids). We adopted a teen out of the foster care system that had been living under bridges and woods with his 3 younger siblings . his birthmom had fallen prey to the crack epidemic in America . he got the ready and dressed and TO SCHOOL every single day. All 4 of them, all while livin under bridges. The cops caught up with them too many times and finally put him in a home and the lil ones were adopted out. It was in that 'bad kids home' where we met him, worked with him, house parent s went to our church. We fell in love with him and made him part if the family :) ( he later got 18 itis and bolted bck to the birth family, called 3 weeks later begging to come back, he had done too much by then. I had other kids to think of). Anyway, I say all that to say, it always surprises me who and what people are termed with. One of my kids greatest memories as kids was being at the soup kitchens, shelters at nite when it's cold gettin set up for a busy nite. We even used to buy our own blankets and before dark go out and pass out blankets to those...we knew weren't going to one to the shelter. Ya get to know people. Who comes, whose to proud to or just embarrassed. We spent many hours doing various things like this. And now? All o my big kids are public servants. They all say it's because of how they were raised and things they saw, people they met. They ARE people. Society forgets that. They are a vast number of vets, mom, and just good people fallen on hard times. I know there are those who say...ih yada yada homeless this or that. Those are the people who have spent ...ZERO! Time with them. We got to know many of them. And today, some are over their hump in life. There but through the grace of God go I.... Big hugs Hunter. So glad you do thst with the adults and kids there :) Alot of the kids have learning disabilities noon ever catches. The need to know they aren't the forgotten ones. Warm fuzzies :)

Migranes are the worst. Glad youre feeling better :) I want to look at rays arithmetic. It's been many years since I've looked at it.

Warm fuzzies Hunter :). We used to do work St the homeless shelters downtown. Took my big kids a good bit. The things these kids go through . We adopted SN kids and TB is prevalent amoung the homeless and our pediatrician told us, DONT take them. So we quit. I've wanted to get back to it. Just haven't yet. That's so awesome you do that ;)

Vaquitita, have you tried wwe? Writing with ease? It's a good program and it's the style of teaching you like (we like the same style ) a gentle cm approach of starting with narrations . the question and answers are scripted ( so mom knows exactly what to draw out of them). It uses Beatrix Potter excerpts, Pinocchio, Alice in wonderland , little house , it's really good and produces good writers. It's that sweet approach we like. I think you'll like it. It can sometimes seem like...what good is this really doing? Then one day...boom. You have a great writer :). I love it. I mention it BC you talked about not having writing. We do AAR and rtlt too. It fits right in with thst style of teaching. It has copy work and the worksheets to do it too from the excerpts read aloud thst day. I've started using that to now correct spelling . I didn't at first, wanted to focus on the writing part. Then like Hunter said. I started keeping a running list of words they get wrong. It's totally open n go. We need lots of repetition too. Lc's in a big way here. It 'speaks' to them. I'm a big fan :)

I agree 100% and chocolate mmmmm haha :) Great, now I want a McGuffey speller ;) I didn't know there was one. I'll look on eBay. Hunters right . some kids are just poor spellers. Everybody's got sumpin haha :) But working on it again that she's older a good idea. Hey, we have spell check now ;) Ruth Beechicks 3 R's. I'm gonna read through thst again too . I kep it close by to review every now and again. Love thst book(s) . mine is the set of 3 separate books.

Vaquitita, I haven't forgot about ya. Had some not great news today about my grandbaby. Well get on thst tomorrow. I'm chomping at the bit to get thses :) Thank you again. I'm excited :)