Hello,

I have the following for sale:

Reading Genius for Kids by Ed Strachar

I am asking $99.00 (postage paid in the US)

Here is a link to the product:   http://www.readinggenius4kids.com/

Thanks for looking!

Hello,

I came across this (http://www.songsthatteach.com/index.php) and thought some of y'all might enjoy it too.  They are bilingual songs to teach the language.  It is on sale at homeschool coop right now. (https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/sara-jordan/?c=1)  The sale is only for Spanish and French, but their website has Mandarin, too.   

Hello, 

I am selling my Doman Math Dot cards.  These are the kind sold by IAHP.  They are in used condition.  I bought them used and am ready to pass them on now.      For some reason, 7 & 8 had about a quarter inch taken off one side, but this doesn't affect the dots.

I am asking $30 + $15 priority shipping (in the U.S.). 

Thanks for looking!

Good questions. 

I see JG Math 5 & 6 covering the same things I covered with my oldest one (pre-Jones Geniuses [JG]) through 8th grade.  I used Math U See (MUS) with my oldest and had started the 3 others on MUS.  However, after starting with JG, I figured out it got the boys through middle school math faster and more soundly than MUS.  The strengths of the JG program is that they get the children doing the basic math operations well.  In a normal math program they usually cover addition and subtraction in grades 1-2, then multiplication and division in 3-4, then you move to doing the same operations using decimals and fractions & +/- numbers in grades 5-7 or so.  Oh, JG also covers the functions using positive and negative numbers too. Using JG, my 3rd grader is doing all 4 functions in fractions and can handle +/- numbers comfortably.  The program was a bit weak on doing multiple digit multiplicaton and multiple digit division, although they did cover it.  (Though they cover 2 digit multiplication well.) I like that the boys are not only acquainted with these functions, but are pushed to do them easily and well.  For fractions, the younger children are given 20 minutes to do 50 fractions questions.  The teen is given 15 minutes.  We're still working on perfecting these.  Time isn't the problem (they usually have time left over), but they tend to have one or two problems that they got wrong because of a simple calculation error.  But it is a challenge that they are willing to work on.  The boys are also learning to do the 4 functions with roots and exponents.

I think the parlor tricks come mostly with finding square roots and cube roots.  But they don't stop with just the simple roots that end in 25 and such.  They do learn to find the square root of numbers from 2squared to 99squared.  And the cubes likewise.  In addition to this they get to learn memory pegs for numbers 0 to 100.  So, this semester they are memorizing the prime numbers up to 999 (which is not a prime, I understand).  This actually came in handy when I was knitting and I needed a number that had several factors.   

At the moment, DadDude, I'm not using a different program with the 3 boys other than the JG program.  My oldest is in Geometry now and I didn't switch him to JG.  He still uses MUS.  I sort of like having another math program to look at just to make sure we aren't missing anything.  So, I take note as my oldest one goes through his math program and just add it to what I do with my 3 other boys.  JG sends a word problem book along with the JG program and that covers some of the holes in the program.  The JG program mostly sticks with numbers and working with them.  In other math programs they usually cover things like shapes, money, time and measurements (cm, inches, quarts, gallons, liters....).  I've covered most of these things with my boys just in normal life situations.  I haven't taught them to convert inches to cm or liters to gallons yet, perhaps sometime soon. 

It will be interesting to do Math 8.  I'll have to order that soon.  They are supposed to cover basic algebra and geometry.  We'll see if my 9-year-old catches up with his oldest brother. 

I hope that is helpful.      

Hello!  It has been a while since I've posted, but I thought I'd give a quick update on our experience using the Jones Geniuses' curriculum for my middle 3 boys (now grades 3, 5, and 8 ). 

We've gone through Math 5 and are in Math 6.  It has been a good experience for us.  The boys are able to do the 4 basic math functions quickly.  They are now able to find square roots and cube roots quite easily, and have memorized 100 pegs to help them remember other things.  Right now we're working on memorizing the prime numbers up to 1000.  They are actually enjoying this challenge.  The boys are now learning the 4 math functions using fractions, and they are getting faster.  We found out that our 3rd grader has a head for numbers, so that has been fun.  He is keeping up with his two other brothers quite easily. 

So, we have been happy with the results.  The curriculum looks (like others have said) homemade.  There are a few typos and some other minor issues.  But if you contact JG, they are always helpful.  I hear they are making some changes in how they package the curriculum. 

The curriculum is a mixture of nice tricks & helps in doing math, the plain hard work of practice, and the joy of achievement.  We've already seen the benefits of having 100 pegs memorized and are looking forward to seeing what comes up next.  We'll be starting Math 8 pretty soon.   

I also have the boys do hands-on math things to fill in the cracks.  They know how to manipulate numbers in their heads and I want to make sure it carries over to real life.   

Hi Kizudo!  I haven't been here in a while.  It is very exciting to hear you'll be speaking at your library.  You'll be great!  Even if you aren't an "expert" you have done a lot of reading on the topic and have taught your son a lot.  If I were there, I'd love to hear what you did.  Then, having the recommended books and videos list would be great!  Perhaps you could mark which ones the library owns, so they could check them out on the way home.  Then, if they could ask you questions personally after the program, I think, that is what I would have liked. 

I agree with the recommended books and videos the others have mentioned.  Meet the Sight Words was fun, too. 

You'll be in my prayers  ,
THen
   

Hello!

I just wanted to let you know that the Meet the Masters Art Program is on sale at the Homeschool Co-op.  https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_hsbc_epp_order&Itemid=936  You would have to sign up for the co-op, but it is free.  I'm thinking of trying it out with my older boys, so I got the program for 10 yr - Adult, but their youngest program is for 5-7 year olds. 
 

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnoses too.  I had gestational diabetes with my last 2 pregnancies.  I would suggest looking at one of the South Beach Diet books.  It had some good tips on choosing foods that wouldn't cause my blood sugar levels to jump, and had a few good recipes, too.  Thanks to the good diet, I didn't have to use insulin at all for my second pregnancy. 

From what I've read, my children are at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes as they grow up.  But eating a healthy diet and physical activity will help their bodies stay healthy even with the genetic tendency towards diabetes.  None of my 5 boys have diabetes right now. 
 

Thank you for the intersting article.  I am Japanese American.  I went to school in both Japan and America.  Thankfully, my mother was more American than Japanese.  She did value hard work, but was not abusive about it.  She recognized the terrible pressure many Asian mothers would put on their children, but she valued the relationship more than being able to say, "Look what my children can do."  We did get good grades and did well in University and all, but we also enjoyed getting to be children and enjoyed having friends.  I've also had encounters with "successful" Asian children who were very talented but had no common sense.  They knew how to study and how to play an instrument beautifully, but they didn't know how to relate to peers, how to cook rice or do the laundry.  The famous story in Japan was about the man who wet his pants at his own wedding and complained to his mother,  "But you didn't tell me to go before the ceremony."

Now that I've grown up and I have my own children I've thought a lot about what I want for them and how I want to go about it.  I like 1 Cor 13 ~  "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends."  My goal is to love my children and to teach them to love others.  Part of that is learning to be diligent and working hard, but it should never result in being rude or unkind.  I laugh with my friends saying, "I used to think I was patient.  After having children, I realize I just wasn't tested."  I'm still working on it. 

Ariel,

Yes, there are tips/tricks.  You could probably find the tricks online, but with the program they organize the tricks so you learn them in an order that is easier to learn.  And they build on one another.  However, your husband is right in that a lot of it comes from being able to do the simple math functions quickly.  So, Math 5 trains you to do those faster, too.  I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of it works out.  We are just a little over half way through Math 5.   

Yes, thank you for the good review!  Very helpful. 
I'm not doing the Math Matrix with my youngest but I am doing Math 5 with my 2nd, 4th  graders.  I have been pretty happy with the program.  All 3 boys can now do the 100 math facts in 5 minutes (in +, -, x, /) and have moved on to squaring numbers and practicing double digit multiplication in their heads.  They are also learning to break down the numbers 1-100 to their prime factors, and are learning memory pegs.  I am pleased with their progress, and am especially pleased that my 2nd grader can do it, too.  I think all 3 of the boys are pleased with what they can do, too. 

A few drawbacks are that sometimes the DVD and notebook/teacher's manual don't match exactly, and I feel there could be more worksheets that are specific to what they are learning.  However, I have been able to figure out what needed to be figured out and am sure the JG folks would have helped me if I'd asked.  I've contacted them about other things and they have always been very helpful. 

Thank you Ezhik!  This is a cool site.  I haven't looked at the whole site, but I will enjoy the Aesop's Fables in Japanese!

This is more for fun, but the little ones sure like it.  It's the Rhyme Bible.  There are a couple of them, and my boys always like them. 

We also liked the The Word and Song Bible.  I got it a long time ago, so I don't know if they are still out there.  This book and CD set has at least one story from each book of the Bible, and almost every book of the Bible has a song to go with it.  How many children's Bible story books have Hosea or Zephaniah in it, right?  The CDs would read the story and sing the songs. 

I really liked GT and the Halo Express, as the Bible verses are sung, and the accompanying stories are entertaining. 

We also had Steve Green's Hide Em in Your Heart (vol 1 & 2)  There are about 20 verses in each volume.

I've used some Abekah flashcard that my church had.  The pictures are well done.  It wasn't the pre-school version, and some of the pictures could have been a little scarry.  I think the Easter flashcard set had the picture of a dead lamb with blood around it.  But other than that, they were fine.

Other than that, my children attend, and I teach in one of the AWANA clubs at church.  The youngest group is 3  & 4 year olds, and they learn a simplified verse (although we'd encourage the children who are great at memorizing to go ahead and memorize the entire verse) a week.  Each child has his own book which include a silly story, a Bible story, a verse to memorize, and a suggested activity to do with your child.  They also sell CDs of the verses put to music (although, musically, they aren't the greatest). During the meeting, there is a Bible story time, a time to recite the verse, a craft time, a snack time, and a game time.  It is a lot of fun and there are AWANA clubs all over the world.  And, usually, they are more than happy if you want to stay and help out.     I wouldn't make it my main Bible teaching, but it is a way to have fun centered around Bible memory. 

Oh, and one more thing (although it might be better for older kids?) The Big Picture Bible Time Line is fun.  It is a timeline that the kids can color.  It comes as a reproducible book.  You can line all the pages up and make a 60 feet long timline.

   Hope some of that could be helpful.

This is great!  Thanks!!

I like Piano Wizard.  We've had it for a little more than a year, I think.  I only bought the computer software and nothing else.  I already owned a weighted keyboard with midi output.  I purchased a cable and hooked it up to our computer.  I used it with two of my boys (ages 7 and 9).  I didn't buy the Academy bundle because my husband could teach piano if he had the time to.  There are many times I wished I had a paper copy of the music the children were playing. 

The software came with 4 levels.  My 7 year old is at the end of level 2 and my other is at the end of level 3.  But then our computer that used to sit on top of our keyboard was needed elsewhere and we haven't been able to get back to it.  So, I handed my 9 year old a piano lesson book, and after reading the instructions in it, he easily picked up playing from a book.  My husband came home one day and asked, "Where did he learn to play that?' I told him he just figured it out on his own. I think the book was only a level one book, but he was playing a melody that used both hands.  I suppose I should encourage him to continue building skill, but I've been letting him just enjoy playing.  I think the softward helped him in learning to read music, but more than that, it helped him practice using his hands to make the music sound nice.   

Towards the end, the color stickers, that you stick on your keyboard, were losing their colors.  But by that time, the boys weren't really looking at the keyboard.

The boys seemed to enjoy it.  Having the accompaniment while they played made it sound very nice.  I think it was an encouragement while they practiced, that they could make nice sounding music.

My 2 year old loved playing on the free-play mode.  He is 3 now and I would like to see if he'd understand the concept of pushing the right notes at the right time.  I liked the setting where the child could see the note's lettering as he played.  He also liked getting to make the keyboard sound like different instruments. 

Well, I just thought I'd share my experience with part of the Piano Wizard products.