Which book first for them? What order do you have them read the books? We have the set. To me it makes more sense to read them in chronological order, but...

Hi, I'm beginning to doubt math here. We've used Singapore from K through 4B (including IP and CWP). I always thought the kids were pretty good in math. They can solve some fairly hard problems in their head, they seem to 'get' it, ... But, the numerous mistakes they are making drive me nuts, and question whether they really do understand it as well. So my questions are: are mistakes normal in their practice problems (text and workbook)? Or should they mostly get things right? What about the review sections? Should I start considering them as tests? How do you separate the careless mistakes from not understanding type mistakes? Or don't you? If I sit next to them and have them talk through the problems to me, they tend to do better. They are more focused. But I can't sit with three kids doing math; those pages should be independent. Shouldn't they? They are 9 yo. They don't complain about working on thej math. It's just the number of mistakes anymore that are making me question everything. Oh, and some of the harder word problems I'd expect more mistakes on, they actually get just fine.

Has he been doing the challenging word problems all along from Singapore? Maybe let him run through those for awhile to see where he is at. There is a huge difference we find between the computational skills of regular Singapore and the thinking skills required to apply those for CWP. Is an online math program an option? A friend used Stanford's epgy math program for her gifted third grader, which frees up her time.

My response will probably be different, but is just my opinion. I have two boys and a girl, all same age. Dd was always fine writing, doing copy work etc. the boys you would have thought it was a torture session. I could go two ways, lay off and hope it improved or force the issue. I forced it. I figured one reason it was easier for her was she spent a lot more time coloring than them (ie had more practice and time spent in gripping), so her hand was stronger. I upped their coloring requirements so to speak, and since we don't spank, if they hit their sibling or something, they would need to write five (and then ten) times I will be nice to my sister/brother, or something like that. So at any random time of day, they could be writing. We also did basic copy work. Within a year, their stamina improved and the grumbling lessened. They are now 9 years old and will easily and effortlessly write anything. They do quite a bit of writing between their math, spelling, handwriting, and writing programs and there is no griping about the actual writing part. I don't really think we'd be where we are if I didn't up the amount they had to write, and keep upping it as they became more capable. Again, just my opinion and maybe not a popular one. Perhaps they would be in the same position if I hadn't increased the the quantity of their writing; I just don't know. I had just been scared off by the numerous homeschoolers I had met who were still scribing for their boys at age twelve because the boys didn't like to write or complained too much.

We used wwe3 and IEWs SWI A this year with my third graders.it worked very well. We do one lesson a week in WWE3, and spread the SWI A out over 33 weeks instead of doing it in fifteen. I loved the SWI since he taught directly to the students and gave the assignments and lots of examples and encouragement. We are moving into SICC a for fourth grade, and likely will not do WWE 4. Both programs taught valuable, but different skills. Their confidence in writing soared with IEW, as did their attitude towards it.

Are you able to add any bathrooms to the new house? Toilets and sinks are more a priority for us than showers/tubs for extras. I'm sure people can make do with whatever they have. But if you are used to four, I think it would be uncomfortable going down to two. We only have three kids, and we have three bathrooms (one is the master). But dh treats the room like an office and the kids are none too quick either. I couldn't imagine living with only one! They've been known to complain, at which time I tell them of about their grandmas family growing up with lots of kids and only one bath :)

We use IEW, but not through CC. We love it here. I used SWI-a with my third graders this year. I can't believe how easily they can whip out key word outlines and paragraphs (good ones) and engaging titles. They can do non fiction, or narrations, or creative and it doesn't phase them. A huge change from before when my boys could stare at a blank page all day and not even know how to start or come up with ideas (and we had tried several other programs). The quality of their writing is vastly improved. Will IEW always be the right choice? I don't know, but we are sticking with it for now and moving to SICC A for fourth grade. They enjoy watching the videos and I enjoy watching it with them. Nice to have someone else do the teaching and giving the assignments for a change. I also own and have watched the TWSS ahead of the SWI.

IEW has video too. The SWI and SICC DVDs. We did SWI-A this year and loved it! He (Pudewa) did the teaching and I just had to reinforce what he said. He also gave the assignments to via DVD. It is pricey, but it also has very good resale value. We are moving into the SICC ones next year to keep with the video teaching. I bought EIW a couple years ago and was not impressed. We never even finished it out, which is very unusual for this box checker! However, I do know other people that enjoy it.

Ones I remember well from my little boys Diggers - a book with all kinds of digging trucks and machinery That touch and feel truck book - shiny mirror, treaded tires, smooth side... Richard scarrys things that go Trashy Truck

Thank you for the heads up. It sounds fine; love these boards!

Mine are only getting candy this year! And I am not a sweets kind of mom. I just couldn't think of anything to give them that would not add to the clutter in this house! Racking my brain for a useful needed item. Hmm, they are out of plackers... They did hint what they wanted on our walk tonight, but nope, we don't need more stuff. Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring something. This mom isn't! You moms are all a little nicer apparently :)

Our local curriculum sale is Friday and there are some items I'm hesitating to part with. And they are not found easily second hand. We have finished with them, but will I go back and use any of them as reference? Or should I at least keep the mental math sheets? Any advice? Have you ever gone back and used these again? For what? The money gained is not a crucial factor. Just trying to declutter. But I will hate it if I need it again for reference! No other kids coming up that would use it. Singapore 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B home instructors guides. (We are finishing up 4B) WWE 1 and 2 instructors guide. (We are finishing up wwe3) FLL 2 and 3 ( we do love the poems). (We are in FLL 4) AAS 1, 2, 3 instructors guides (we are just about to finish 4) Thanks.

I would love to know as well, but most people helped by vt don't seem to have strabismus. I specifically found a covd optometrist for my ds, and she said vt wouldn't help him. Perhaps it has to do with the type of crossing and how much? I was sure she'd recommend it since she was a certified vt doc.

And it was YEARS after I read Mr. Popper's Penguins that I read Deconstructing Penguins and realized all we had missed-- What did I miss?! We read and enjoyed the book, but I'm sensing we should have gotten more meaning out of it now? Please do tell! Oops. That first part was meant to be quoted from Merrys. Not sure why it isnt formatted like a quote.

We love sonlight here, but I don't think I use it as it's meant. We've done from p3/4 through current Core C. Just the history and read alouds, no science or other stuff. I use it almost as an enjoyable supplement instead of a stand alone. We do our own grammar, spelling, writing, math, handwriting, latin, geography etc. but we love the books, and I love having a good excuse to still read aloud and enjoy books with my kids. They get excited for our new books and look forward to reading time. However there is no way we can ever keep up anymore. Preschool through 1st, yes. But not anymore. I started Core C last school year, and am still just half way through it. The kids just have so many activities that we are out and about for. I try for audio CDs for the car when I can. After giving some of our earlier books away, we just keep them all now. I am always finding the kids re reading them. I have no idea of how the people that do read all the books together during a school year fit it in! And some do more than one core! I try to pick up the books and IG used if I can.

I just go to the children's part of the library and then down the biography aisles. I randomly pull a variety of people off the shelves. I go for the ones that look enjoyable to read, even picture books sometimes, not the serious, textbook looking ones. We cover a lot of famous people that way.

I want to downsize our books. I have no room to buy more if I don't get rid of some, but I've already done the easy sorts of early readers etc that the kids have outgrown. Now my focus is on the history and science books I've accumulated. Yes, they are all wonderful books and great resources and all that, and I love having them on hand for the kids to pick up and read through. But seriously, how many do I really need (we also live near several libraries). I also don't want to regret getting rid of them. Many are DK, Usborne, GreenLeaf, etc books. My children are going into fourth grade. We have many books on Ancient Egypt for example. Or the usborne internet linked science or history books. We also have several thicker history encyclopedias such as kingfisher, usborne and more. What would be a good way to determine how many or which ones to keep? If you have these types of books, how do you use them in your home and school? The reason we have so many to begin with is at they were early readers and loved non fiction, especially encyclopedia type books. Now they are usually more interested in reading novels in their free time. Or something more comic such as the horrible histories or venezia's books. They do still read through them, just not as much as when they were younger. We have well over 1000 books. Thank you.

My kids are 9yo and still in 5 point harness in my car. We have the britax frontiers. In dHs car, we finally went to booster seats at age 8 since he has a Prius. For the spare car at 8yo, I think a booster, if it fit well, would be fine. It will also give you a chance to observe if she can stay still, not wiggle around etc. my kids lose out every time on the list with #5- staying still the entire trip. Their car seats are comfy, they can sleep if they want, and they can't wiggle around or fight. I do cringe sometimes when I see them around other kids their age who sometimes don't even use boosters, but I don't think anyone has ridiculed them.

Thanks for the responses to mull over.

I have been an off/on Sonlight user for several years and am also looking at Bookshark. I keep hearing about how people like John Holzmann and dislike how Sarita's manages the company. Can anyone fill me in on what this means? I'm getting the sense that the IGs have changed quite a bit in the part few years since she took over? If so, how have they changed? Most of my IGs probably predate that. I'm looking at either Sonlight Core D or Bookshark Grade 3 for next year. Since the landmark books have apparently changed for the better, I'm interested in a new IG to go with the new versions. (Unless it won't matter?). If it makes a difference, we are Christian (Catholic), old earth, and don't necessary need religion in every subject. Thanks for anyone that can expound on this for me. I guess I've been out of the loop for awhile.

I always sleep on the side of the bed closest to the door, or in a hotel, closest to the nightstand. So for 3 years in AZ I slept on the right side, 9 years on the left in VA, and now back on the right. It has all depended on where the bed and door are in the room.

Doctors say no, but I don't know. My early reader now wears bifocals. He developed strabismus by age 4. Started reading about 3, all on his own. He did, and does, love books. From what I understand, kids are naturally farsighted and not meant for close up work that young. I believe the strain to get them to focus at a close distance, to read, ended up crossing his eyes. He was farsighted, with perfect vision, yet needing bifocals or surgery. The doctors say no. It could be he was prone to strabismus at any age, but I often wonder... That said, my other two were early readers as well, not quite as avid, and also not quite as farsighted. They did not develop strabismus. If I knew then what I know now, I'm thinking I'd get their eyes checked and see if there are any focussing issues. Ie are they farsighted?

Have heard both, but not those topics. Todd I think of more as funny, stuff you know and grimace at. I enjoyed seeing him at the last conference. Kirk I saw once years ago (at a military base) and bought some of his CDs and subscribe to his calm parenting emails. He was funny and enjoyable to listen to. He also has some harsh truths that make you look at yourself, your spouse, and your kids, and how you are treating them or being treated by them. Based on my limited experience, I would see Todd if I mainly wanted to nod and laugh along and feel light hearted. I would see Kirk to face some truths and be inspired for change.

Hugs and prayers.

I plan out the meals the weekend before based on the sports schedule. Usually one or two crockpot meals on the meals we have a chance (15-20 minutes) to eat between activities. Sometimes, like tonight, I just plan an easy meal to eat when we get home (spaghetti and meatballs). And another meal that we eat on the run is chicken Caesar salad in whole wheat wraps. I hate this time of year! Cooking isn't fun most times of the year, but basing a meal solely on how quickly I can make it, or how quickly we can eat it stinks.