I wouldn't say LOF is too hard for a 3rd grader - but you couldn't use - do it all...I don't think. I'm buying one (as soon as hubby gets paid!) used from here (Crazymama, right???? Who am I getting it from? AAAAAHHHHH!!! - PM me so I know, please!!!!) Man...now I gotta go look through the posts!!!. Friday. Can't wait. My oldest will be a 5th Grader - I'm not using it exclusively but it's such a "fun" point of view...my friend has a copy and uses it with her now 3rd grader - as fun, not as curriculum. And her daughter does fine. Of course, she used Math U See which is very individually mastery based so she knows her add/subtract/multi/division inside out, backwards and upside down. Of course...until next school year she's never even seen a fraction in MUS and she's having no trouble at all with LOF. If you read his site it does say that you need to know those REALLY well. And if a 3rd grader does, then more power to them!!!! I think that's AWESOME. My daughter is getting there. She's really good at Math, seems to have an aptitude for it. Not me. Not my son! LOL Must get that from Daddy. I certainly hope you find something that you like and that you daughter likes....good luck in your journey.
You all make me feel bad for Jeannie. You guys have these geniuses, and my Jeanne is just now getting facts memorized.
I'm not trying to make ANYONE feel bad!!! If it helps my son who's 2nd grade is REALLY struggling in Math. It is NOT his thing at all. Does that help? I really do believe that there are those who are naturally predisposed to math and those who aren't. I'm in the aren't category, myself.
Becky.. I still add on my fingers and I'm 32! I never made Garrett memorize his math facts.. I would much rather he know how and why they work.. not be able to spit them out like a computer. So.. he can multiply pretty much everything, but it may take him longer than a human calculator... big friggen deal. I have never known anyone to not get into college because it took them 5 seconds as opposed to 2 to do a math problem. By the way... without the great ability of rote memorization... I graduated highschool with 2 college credits in math.. if only I would have had the money to take that stupid test.
Well I guess I don't quite get this and the other attitudes on this thread. She did ask for secular material, so why post tons of religious stuff? She didn't get snippy until she was told to 'get over it'. Also, there are many 3rd graders out there who could easily do all of LOF. I know because ours could! However she was looking for alternatives to LOF. If the OP is still here, I'd suggest Singapore, MEP (google MEP math curriculum, it is free!) and supplementary books like Challenge Math from Zaccaro.
Sorry. Only stating my opinion and my experience. And btw...although I posted a religious one (AOP - Lifepacs - the oNLY thing is ONE verse on it it and it's EASILY ignored). I was not the one who told her to "get over it". A person can only share their experience. I CAN see recommending a product that she might assume is completely religious b/c the all of the companies other curriculum is but correct the assumption that the math is overly religious. Because it's not. I don't think one bible verse on one page makes something overtly religious. I don't mind getting books that have quotes that are non-religious. Buddha, Confucious, etc. They're all over quotes places and curricula too....doesn't bother me - I ignore it. Now...if it was ALLLLLL that....I'd be annoyed. But I personally can ignore one thing.
Saxon is a very good spiral curriculum for math...it has online placement tests that are free, so you can figure out where to place your kiddos. I am terrible at memorizing multiplication...and I am working with both the boys who are better at it...I don't think it is an absalute...I am a fairly successful professional, but it would sure save time and be easier. (I am getting better myself, quizzing the boys) I had been frustrated with the ps...because they definitly go the way of "why" rather than memorize...but for multiplication... they do skip counting...it is still memorization, just not as efficient. sigh. And to the original post"er" I don't think anyone meant anything by anything...it is hard to get tone through typing...maybe the NEXT GENERATION computer will be able to imply sarcasm. (that would be hugely helpful for me.) This is for the most part a great group of ladies who are willing to give you the best of thier experience...a lot of it is colored by our faith and belief, take what you can with our welcome.
Well, not sure if I even want to respond...not sure if the OP will bite my head off or anything. The reason some may say "get over religious elements" is because the program is so good that it may be worth your time. I have had "religious" and non religious math books and if one wanted to skip the religious elements it would be easy to do. It's not as if 1+1 will convert the kid. If your child can use Life of Fred, that's great. My dd loves it. However, just because a child can do fractions does not always mean the child is ready for a particular program or the direction the program is going in. However, your child may be perfectly suited...as I do not know the capabilities of your child. If you child is that good in math you may also want to try Singapore. Singapore is not religious at all...but you will have to "get over" some Asian names and items used in the story problems...LOL. However, it's worth the extra effort to ignore it. Math U See is highly successful with many students and is not religious at all. It is a visual way to learn math as it uses blocks...uses them up until Algebra. There is no easy answer or shortcut. Often you have to try things out to get the best fit. As we do not know our child we cannot give you much more than general guidance.
My reason for staying away from religious curriculum (aside from being a groovy evolution-lovin' mom) is more to do with the fact that if secular homeschoolers buy stuff from religious publishers we're hiding the fact that there's a market for secular material and the current situation where there's a big lack of secular homeschooling material won't be remedied anytime soon. It's not so much that I'm worried about Christian cross-contamination just that I want to support secular publishers.
wow I nver realised that cause Ifind all kinds of Public school stuff available out there, its totally secularized... so maybe I am just looking at different sites, maybe one of you gals who are really looking for secular stuff needs to start a non/religious unbiased page? Link up a bunch of good stuff? mean while I will see wht I can find huffin miffiin? glencoe, to name two big ones... hang a few i will have more for you! Also a lot that claim to be christain are not really when you read the material, so maybe they are just trying to get it in the most seen markets? Could be..but Iknow there are a ton of people out there who dont do this for religious reasons I just want the best for my kids, that means home school to me as far as most of their years are concerned.
http://www.amazon.com/Secular-homeschool-living-history-resources/lm/RX5J6MI904HG7 thats a start there isa list of several subjects here. Looking up Macmillan I think they will have a bunch too.http://www.macmillanmh.com/math/2003/student/index.html OH ya theres some great stuff on that page! CHECK IT OUT! I love this one! \...
I do use lots of public school stuff... but it also requires me to work around many aspect because it is geared towards a group of 20-30+ kids at a time. It would be nice to find a science program that resembled Apologia that taught evolution and the big bang theory... not a public school book that tells my kid to get in a group of 5 and do this experiment.
http://www.homeschooldiscount.com/searchresult.asp thisone is a science book, maybe I shoudl strart a dif thread for it? lol uh scratch that it too has a creationist aspect sorry, stilll researcing
oh ya, the experiment thing, I hate that! Even in the christian school type currics we find that group thing. We laugh it off and do it one on one .. if there are questions we have them ask one another and then go ask a neighbor or the person at the store, one time we had to do a chart type of thing and ask people at the store the questions , they were really helpful!
http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/science.html there is along list here a few to g through at least.
