On December 17th Grace will finish 2nd grade. My baby is growing up. I would like to start 3rd grade work in mid Janurary or a bit earlier if I can get everything planned and ordered before that. I have a rough plan of what I want to do and use but I am stuck on a couple areas - math and science. This past year I used a big math book from Sam's Club and for science we used Christian Light which Grace absolutely LOVED. Today was her last lesson in science and she was sad about that. I am looking at Christian Light again for 3rd as well as Apologia. I like that CLE has an experiment kit for an additional $30 that has everything we'd need for every experiment. I have heard so many great things about Apologia though. I need input on the pros and cons of each and what each is like from those of you who may have used either curriculum. Math, oh boy, math. I am so stuck on this. I've looked over so many websites for so many curriculums I am at a loss on this. MUS is out because it doesn't work for her, we've tried that before. She loves math too and will be done with her book next week. I think I am going to pick up the 3rd grade big book of math from Sam's for her to work on during Christmas break because she loves to just pick her book up when she feels like it and do several pages but I also want something more this year.
Have you looked into Teaching Textbooks 3? You can do just the book (granted it's not as colorful as a Sam's Club workbook). We LOVE Teaching Textbooks in this house. Even my 5 year old can't wait until she's old enough for it!
If she loved CLE science, maybe look at CLE math?? We absolutely love it! You need to be aware that CLE 3 science isn't Sunrise Edition yet like 2nd grade is. I don't want to put you off it, but it's more like Lifepacs 3 but without the color. The lessons aren't marked off in daily lessons, so you'll have to help her see how many pages to do per day. There is no TM, just AK.
The cost of TT is what has kept me from looking into that. I'm not sure it is in the budget. Granted I have not looked at any TT for elementary ages but when I hs'd my oldest I couldn't afford TT for her. Are prices about the same? Thank you for the input on science. If it is what you say it is, I think we will pass on CLE and take a look at apologia. I guess I will have her look through the topics with me, see what she is interested in and go from there.
My boys loved MUS, but I saw that didn't work for you. This year we went with Saxon because they didn't fit together in one level of MUS. Saxon is a bit different from MUS and the boys loved it as well. Saxon still has manipulatives up to 3rd grade, and the books are in black and white, but the layout is different, and there is more visual examples, and most of the problems are related to life. Teaching double digit addition and subtraction was first done with money before it was done with numbers. It's also pretty inexpensive as math goes. You can find placement tests on their website to help you decide what level she needs.
CLE is so much better than Saxon, IMO. The explanations and examples are clearer, and the student can work much more independently. I always found I had to *teach* Saxon, but the students can do CLE mostly without help. The fact that it's in a workbook helps, too, because they don't have to copy stuff out in a notebook before they can work it -- there's plenty of "white space" for working in the workbook. Another good thing about CLE math is that you can buy just a couple of units to try it out, without committing to a full year's worth. DO use the diagnostic test before ordering, and be aware that the first unit of math is a review of the previous level's main skills and is not typical of the format of the rest of the level's units.
We use Singapore math, and I have the say the earlier you start it, the better. I started it earlier with my younger two and they have done very well in math, while my son, who didn't start until 5th or 6th grade struggles a bit more. It is also well priced at about $8 a book ($16-$20 for the textbook/workbook combo).
Thank you all for the advice! Math remains the only area I am stuck on. I have looked at Saxon and CLE but it is so nice to get opinions of those who actually used it. Now Singapore is one I have not looked at. But I will now. I so wish that MUS worked for Gracie. It worked for Samantha and I love it.
