I've only ever used the textbook and the workbook. We are all the way through 5A now with little ones coming up behind using the same things. I am pretty "mathy," though, so I have no problem explaining math 10 different ways. We always have to stop when it gets hard and review for a while. It always gets hard in 3A when the multiplication gets going. I know now that the kids need to start memorizing facts in 2B when they are first introduced. It seems like a easy, soft introduction, but that's it! They are expected to know and use the facts in the next book. We do about 15-20 minutes of Singapore math per day about 3-4 days per week. In addition we always drill facts (10 minutes) with flash cards, computer games or other things. Sometimes I go over the textbook before (or in the middle) of an assignment, sometimes not, depends on how they are doing. It would take us FOREVER to get through this math program if we added IP or any other book. I don't want to spend an hour per day on math! There are lots of other subjects to do, too! I'm fine with what we are doing, so far. Becky

There is so much to teach these wonderful kids. And there is only so much time in the day, and only so much of you to spread around. I am trying very hard to get "me" out of as many curricula as possible, without having the side effect of kids not learning. I don't want to do things like: read spelling words, hold the flash cards, point to the next problem on the worksheet, etc. These things take my valuable time that I would rather use spending time teaching math in a hands on way, playing reading games with my emergent reader, talking with a child before he begins to write, etc. My only point being: find ways to spread yourself around the other subjects, and leave the math as a mom-taught subject. Or drop Right Start math if you feel it's too much and you need to spend time in other subjects more. You can't do everything. You have to pick and chose what is the MOST important thing you need to spend your valuable time on with your kids. For is it was dropping RS math and going back to Singapore. I love both programs, and both programs have their weaknesses and strengths, but I needed my time to be spent in writing and reading and spending more time with the little ones and not teaching math all day. Tough decision.

For my sixth grade boy: Math: Singapore Math 5B and 6A Writing: IEW Ancient History Writing Reading: TOG Literature and workbook pages (drastically cut--he can't read at the pace they suggest) History: TOG Ancients (Majorly tweaked and cut--I'm having to use this program (which is wonderful) even though it doesn't fit me--because I bought it) Science: My Pals are Here Singapore Science 5/6. I was planning on studying Biology with my kids and so I may pull pieces from the entire program to use or we may just go through the books in order. I have to weave a 4th, 2nd and Ker in here as well) Grammar: Winston Grammar Usage and Mechanics: Caught 'ya Grammar with a Giggle Handwriting: continuing cursive copywork Spelling: Phonetic Zoo--we'll see if I can afford this! Poetry Memorization from IEW. Maybe.

I think working on weaknesses is important, but not to the extent that the child feels like a failure or that school is drudge work and horribly difficult. He should have easy, fun, challenging things to do as well as the hard things. You will go a long way, in my opinion, by training him to work at things that are hard for him. But in limited time increments. He will probably have an easier time with math as he gets older, too.

learning to read can be painful to listen to. I felt each time: If I have to listen to this child sound out pan one more time, my head will explode. It didn't. And eventually they get enough familiarity with the words that they don't need to sound them out every time.

We do our circle time activities in the morning, before we start boxes. It takes us about 45 minutes and then we start with "box" number 1. Actually, we use plastic filing crates and hanging file folders. Each child has 12 folders only about 7-9 of them are "school" type work. My folders go 1,2,3,4 (break) 5,6,7,8 (break) 9,10,11,12 (done). I have 4 kids (ages 11-5) working on their folders at the same time, so I have subjects staggered so they don't all work on a mom thing at the same time. We do our notebooking or lapbooking during circle time, or in box number 1, 5, or 9. I have the kids' breaks all at the same time so that we can come back together for group subjects if I should want that. I start the break when the last child is done with the work and give them about a 15 minute break--the others got a longer one. I love workboxes. It has revolutionized our time. We get about 50% more done each day than before. The kids don't fight me about school--they can see exactly what needs to be done when, and when it is over. I can put the fun things in their boxes that we could never get to before. It fits seamlessly with what we were doing before: circle time and notebooks/lapbooks. Becky

The reading is part of the program. But there isn't a lot of it, at least. It was usually about four books over the course of the year. What level are you doing?

He will have finished Explode the Code 3 Singapore 1B Write About Me--maybe Write about my World learning Cursive (Although his handwriting is so-so) studying Geography with his older brothers (he's not really retaining this--I'm hoping he can recognize the continents and oceans on the globe and remembers SOME about the environments and people we are studying) Some Earth Science Also, lots of little books read with mom! (I don't really do a reading program)

Some kids aren't ready for dictation. There are a lot of steps involved: Listening to mom, remembering the words, thinking about how to spell, thinking about how to write it, all those rules, etc. etc. If she is struggling with spacing words on a line and capitals/lower case, mabye try the dictation as copywork for a while to work on those things? Also, I might suggest that you pick just ONE thing to "work on" in her copywork, if you do it. That way she doesn't feel like she's always wrong.

You have had a lot of advice about other curriculums to try, and maybe that's what you want. But I've been using Singapore since the beginning and I've tried A LOT of other tcurriculums when we have hit that wall. . . and we always come back to Singapore. I really like the way it teaches. So, now when we hit that wall, I print off some sheets online for them to cement facts on. We work on other things. I give them manipulatives to use with every lesson while we work on memorizing facts. We play rightstart games. They use the abacus (Rightstart, too). Etcetera. I think sometimes Singapore jumps a bit and you have to wait for them to catch up. I have learned since going through book 1A for the third kid to start working on facts right away.

I used it for my 1st grade son. After the Kindergarten Early Bird Materials, but before in the middle of US Edition 1A (it wasn't going so well). It was fine. Slower pace than US Edition.

Maybe try putting it away for a while? Sometimes my kids go through blocks with their work when they are hating it so much, they are really learning nothing from it. We have used Singapore the whole time, but I have also tried Miquon, Math-U-See, My Pals are Here, Horizons, Math on the Level, Rod and Staff, . . . you get the picture. I think switching helped some--to alleviate the boredom and to try things in a different way, but it also was futile. I love Singapore math and we always come back to it. So now if the going gets rough, I put the books away and work on review for a while with things they already know and we play math games. Then I pull the books out again in a couple of weeks and the resistance is *usually* gone. I agree also that her learning may be being "sucked up" by reading right now and it might be just all too much. Imagine if you were trying to learn to read Swahili at the same time as Calculus?

My husband's been out of work for 15 months. He had his own civil engineering business, but that's gone bust. He's sent out hundreds of applications all over the country (and world) but he's only had four interviews. It's so frustrating! His problem is that his experience is in land development and who's doing that right now? No one. So he's gone back to school to get a masters in Computer Science. Now, how are we going to support 6 homeschooled kids for the next three years so that he can go to school? I don't know. We've go our expenses pared down to the minimum, but we just need one tiny, low paying job--but he can't get anything! Who wants to hire a licensed Civil Engineer to work for minimun wage? No one, apparently. We just need someone to give us a break. We've lived out our savings, sold a vehicle and are ready to cash in the retirement. I've been selling curriculum to buy what I need for this year and selling things on craig's list. I suggested me going to work, but that's so low on his list of choices, as to be barley visible, even now. He just hates the idea of staying home with the kids full time. I know it would send him into an even worse depression.

that she has very good relative pitch. I had a teacher in high school who, if you asked him to sing a note, would hit it from memory. He just had music playing in his head. That's perfect pitch or absolute pitch, as far as I'm concerned. I've played the violin since I was a child, and the ability to pick out a tune on a piano means she has good relative (relational) pitch. Get her some violin lessons to train her ear! Becky

I use Magnet Letters, Bob books, Explode the Code and Happy Phonics to teach reading, ala Ruth Beechick. It was insane to assemble, but I have managed to keep it together for about 6 years and it's still going strong. I'd laminate it if I had to do it again. Going on my fourth kid! Becky in WA:001_smile:

I'm cutting and pasting like mad! Becky

I have 6 kids, ages 10,8,6,4,2 and 7 mo., so I only really have to school three. We are using workboxes. That means that I have to fill 12 boxes at night for each kid (36 boxes), plus plan history/science/art, but it's great for the kids for getting their work done. We start at 9 am with group time. We sing a few songs, practice memory work, and start reading from science/history and do an activity together. This takes 30-45 minutes. After this, we work on the first 4 boxes, while I help each child with math, one-on-one. Snack is at 10:30 ish. We start back in at 11 with the next four boxes, while I work on writing with individual kids one-on-one. Lunch is 12 ish. We do our read aloud at 1, and finish the final four boxes and are done around 2:30. Afternoon is when I listen to everyone read aloud and work on Phonics with the six year old. My 4/2 yo kids are bopping around, making messes and noise, so the older kids sometimes do their work in their rooms or in mine for some peace. I usually have the baby with me in the highchair or he is napping for some of this. Of course, this is ideal. I rarely happens exactly like this, but this is the goal we start out toward three days per week. Becky in WA

Go to the High Desert Museum in Bend, OR. It's great! And then come back over the mountains by way of Crater Lake. It's very beautiful. How about Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook, OR? The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, OR. Ashland for the Shakespeare Festival in Southern OR That's all I can think of right now. Becky in SW Washington

Group Unit Studies Geography (based on Trail Guide to World Geography) Earth Science (Made by me) DS10 (5th): Singapore Math 5A and 5B The Writer's Jungle Universal Publishing Cursive All About Spelling (starting at level 1, hopefully moving quickly) Daily Language Reviews (4th)/Copywork Winston Grammar Math Minutes/Mad Mintues Reading from a chapter Book list (what books? I don't know yet) DS8 (3rd): Singapore Math 3A and 3B The Writers Jungle Universal Publishing Cursive All About Spelling (level 1) Daily Language Review (2nd)/Copywork Winston Grammar Math Minutes/Mad Minutes Reading from extensive readers on my bookshelf DS6 (1st): Handwriting without Tears Singapore Math 1A and 1B Math Minutes All About Spelling (level 1) Explode The Code Books 2-4 Happy Phonics Games Copywork Reading from readers/bob books/phonics readers