Well, today I talked to some of the other 5th grade parents. They are upset as well and a couple even asked her to change it, but she says it is already in the system and it can't be changed for this quarter. Maybe she will reconsider the 50 for next quarter! It is so good to hear other opinions on AR!

I totally agree, I think that once I get used to this, it will be great!

I am wanting to be one too! I guess I haven't posted enough yet!

I would definitely have them memorize the addition facts before going on. We used flashcards and then later purchased a flashmaster. However, we found that everyone preferred the flashcards. It was my dh's job to go over them a few times daily with the kids until they learned them. We offered incentives, like a trip to Dairy Queen if they memorized them.:D

It is nice to meet you Caroline! My youngest has just started AR too, he is in 2nd grade. He doesn't do too well on the tests, even though he is a bright little guy. They don't require a certain amount of points, just that they get so many 100's on the tests. I think that is crazy too. His teacher doesn't put too much pressure on them though. Not like dd's 5th grade teacher. It can be good, but like your child, dd only cares for a certain type of genre-fantasy books. She is reading Black Beauty and the Little House set (finally-after trying to get her to read it for years) for this quarter. I can tell she is miserable and would rather be reading something else, but these will get her the high points. Anyway, I look forward to seeing you on these boards!

My kids love 80's music because they listen to it all the time in the car with me! I've noticed that some of the songs are popular again which is great!

:mad: This face is how I'm feeling about AR points right now. My dd's teacher is requiring they get 40 A.R. points this quarter. I'm all for challenging the kids, but this has turned dd from someone who used to enjoy reading into someone who despises it. She has already read all of the Harry Potter books, Narnia and many of the classics and received points on these in the past and can't use them again. Next quarter they have to get 50!:eek: Many of her classmates are reading several 5 point books that are just crap in my opinion, so they can get their points. DD is still required to read quality literature to get her points. Just venting! I teach kindergarten and don't use AR. Dd is in 5th grade.

We use Story of the World. I love the Cd's to use in the car and we do the workbook pages and discussion at home. We are also using Prima Latina for my youngest and Latina Christiana for our oldest. Rosetta Stone for Spanish. I also want to start my oldest on some type of word root work. I have English from the Roots Up and might start using it. Homework has been much more this year than I'd like, so we mostly work on the weekends.

Hi everyone! I am a former homeschooler of four years who is extremely addicted to these boards! Now my two are in an independent/public school and I also returned to teaching there. My oldest is gifted (5th grade). My youngest has asperger's syndrome (2nd). We afterschool still, using the Story of the World and Latin. We are also trying to keep up our Spanish too. These boards have some of the smartest parents around! I love them and this is my 5th year here!