Here you go: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

We tried the full length version with my daughter when she was almost 5 and that did not go over well. A few months later, we did a richly illustrated version from the library - 9x12 pages with pictures on every or every other page. That was a hit. Check out the Sonlight K book list for some fabulous suggestions. We've read quite a few of their selections and haven't been disappointed yet.

$8 hr for 1 kid. Add $1 per hour for each additional kid. This is for a woman in her 20's. The local 16 year old wanted $6 for 1 kid + $1/kid extra per hr. This is in the midwest in the suburbs of a city.

Did your 5 year old like it? I've been wanting to find a show to take my 5 yo to and that's coming to my town next month, I think.

Miss Siagon - I still want to cry when I listen to some of the music.

I think I worded my question very poorly and made everyone confused! What I really wanted to know was if it was truly going to take as long for my kid to get through the required work as they told me it would. (Or really, I wanted to know if it took other people's children as long to get through the work as K12 suggested.) I guess the reality is though, no one is really going to be able to answer that for me! Well, it's only a sample of 1, but I'm glad to know that's it's only taking you half the time they suggested. I have no idea if I would have to keep any sort of log for hours as no one mentioned that to me when I met with them. I wouldn't think I would since technically it is public school and not homeschooling.

Oh, I know that! The only reason it comes into play is it is a big part of the reason why PS kindergarten would be such a bad fit for her as a 6 year old. I only found out about the classical charter a week before the application deadline so I went ahead and applied with no knowledge of the school figuring I had nothing to lose. I went ahead with the testing in order to continue to keep my options open and to help me understand where my daughter is coming from...so now we know a little more and we're in the lottery for the school. It does not mean we will take the spot if we get one.

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, the idea that they think kindergarten is supposed to take that much time is quite mindboggling! Of course, on campus that school district is 7 hours a day, so 4 hours might seem short to them. My daughter also qualified and is in the lottery for our local gifted classical charter school. I can't fathom actually sending her if she gets in, because that's 7 hours + a 35 minute commute each way. I'm kind of in quandry, because though he wouldn't try to force me to use the public school system, I know my husband would be far more comfortable using the charter or virtual school rather than traditional homeschooling. That is basically why I'm trying to find out if the virtual school would work for us. (Plus, I have seen the curriculum and it seems great!)

So does this mean that you think it will take 4 hours per day to complete? Otherwise, I'm not sure why you think it wouldn't be a fit right off the bat. I am considering it because it sounds like a fabulous curriculum that I couldn't otherwise afford. I feel like I will not lose much by trying it and finding out if we enjoy the curriculum. However, I would hate to waste everyone's time by signing up knowing that it just wouldn't work for us due to the length of time needed to complete it.

I toured our virtual school last month (in St Louis, the VS has a 1 day on campus component which technically makes it a hybrid) and am interested in possibly enrolling my daughter next year. She will officially be in kindergarten, though she will likely assess into first grade in all subjects (she has an August birthday and just missed our cut off). One of the biggest drawbacks to the virtual school is that the administrators told me to expect to spend 4 hours a day on school work. 4 hours?! Seriously? If I sent my daughter to the local school, she would be there for less than 3 hours and if we hs independently, I suspect it will be under 2. How long can I realistically expect to spend for a first grade work load? Will I really need to do school work for 4 hours? That would never work for me, my daughter or my 3 year old son. My daughter is a very fast learner so I would love to know if there is a lot of busy work that we could skip? Thank you for any advice!

:huh: I can't get past this post. What on earth did they make them do? Run a lap, do a math problem, run a lap? Or did they cancel gym for the day and do math problems instead? Either way, that's just insane!

We've used the k, 1 & 2 kits. I think my daughter enjoyed the program more than something like OPGTR or 100 EZ lessons because of the books and pictures. I, on the other hand, was annoyed that (at least in the k level) she could guess most of the text based on the pictures and I was never sure how much reading and how much good guessing was going on.

I'm in the "no registry information on the invite" camp. Sure, we all know that people register, and yes, I like to buy off the registry, but I don't like feeling like the reason I'm being invited to an event is so that I can bring a gift from xx store.

I'm so glad to read this. Every time I read a thread on any forum about redshirting, I cringe. My daughter has an August birthday and where I live she will not be eligible for K until next year - starting the day after she turns six. She is already ahead of K curriculum at our local PS and I can't imagine making her sit through it -- I can't imagine how long it would take before she would "level out." Why is it so many people are for holding kids back, but no one ever advocates for those who should go early (not that starting K at the same time you turn 5 is early in my book, but according my school district, it is.) (BTW, we will almost certainly be homeschooling!)

Do you know the cost of StudyDog? I would rather not fill out a form with my information so they will tell me.

I just gave those for a 6 year old birthday gift two weeks ago and was told they were a hit, too! After the recipient's dad showed him the ropes, I've been told he's going to town on his own. I want to get some for my own kids now.

We aren't getting anything for each other this year. My daughter wants to buy me a present though because she is sad that I won't have any presents under the tree.

I'm in a less expensive area and I would pay her no less than $8, so I would say between $8 and $10.

Just because they change the name, doesn't mean that's what it really is! I will never understand parents that call their daycare "school." My daughter did 3 & 4 year old preschool and it was 2 & 3 days/week for 2.5 hours. They sang songs, read books, did crafts and put on programs for the parents. The academic portion of the program consisted of letters, numbers, shapes and colors. My reason for sending her there was to give her a set time to interact with other kids her age. She loved it and never complained about going -- if she had, I would never have made her go.

We do! My MIL gave him to us a couple of years ago. The first thing my kids do in the morning when they wake is to immediately ask where "Alfie" is and start looking. It's a very fun tradition, although I cringed the last time I walked into Borders and there was a huge display of the Elf Upon the Shelf (the elf & book that comes with it). I quickly steered my kids the other way and will not be taking them back in there until after the Christmas season is over!

We do the tree, stockings and Santa, but no mention of anything religous. I actually would like to explain it to the religous aspect at some point - but only in the manner of "some people believe this." However, since my oldest is only 5 now, I wouldn't want her saying anything inappropriate to our Christian friends, so I will hold off for a few more years.

Please just stop guessing!!! :tongue_smilie:

I agree that it will just click eventually. I would also suggest you let him read stuff that he basically has memorized so that he can practice reading fluently without having to sound out indvidual words.

The ones in the link you posted look like the normal size. We have two value tubs - one was labeled ages 7+ and the other labeled ages 5+. I think the 7+ set had a lot of the itty bitty pieces and a bunch of the Lego-like pieces. You do need some of those itty bitty pieces to make the details on what you are constructing, but it shouldn't be the entire tub.

I just made a big order and now I need an excuse to buy something else!