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kristinannie
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| Posted: Jan 28 2013 at 10:49am | IP Logged
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This week, we are going to get to the lesson in RS B where it calls for a calculator (83-84). I don't have a calculator and don't really feel like I need to introduce that yet. How important is this introduction to the calculator? Do you need these skills in RS C? I just want to know if I need to go out and get a calculator. I am also afraid that my son will always want to use a calculator instead of doing the work himself. 
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John Paul 8.5
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Jan 28 2013 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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We skipped them and it hasn't been a problem in C or D. If I let my kids use a calculator they would ask every day.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
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Betsy
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| Posted: Jan 28 2013 at 2:35pm | IP Logged
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I *think* that it is part of public school math standards that they need to learn how to use a calculator, which is why it is included. Much like there needs to be a certain number of sight words learned when learning how to read.
I am not a big fan of skipping much with RS, because most things build on each other. I am not sure about these lessons, but often she is laying the foundation of bigger concepts in the mental math part of the lessons, etc.
I thought that this might be an issue the first time I went through it and it really wasn't. My kids *never* asked to use a calculator or got bad attitudes when they had to do the mental math. I really thought that they might, because they are those types of kids.  However, one of my kids that LOVES number really did enjoy these lessons and have fun playing around with a calculator. I can't remember exactly, but she does some fun "tricks" with the calculator.
FWIW, I lost the calculator that came with the program and just replaced it with a $5 calculator from Walmart.
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MNMommy
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| Posted: Jan 28 2013 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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I skipped those lessons in B.
Today was the first time when I actually found using the calculator to be valuable. We are in Level E, and my dd is starting to simplify fractions. She used the calculator to divide equivalent fractions as "proof" that the fractions are equal. Her eyes lit up, so I could see that using the calculator did help cement the lesson.
Before this, though, the calculator has been a fun diversion. My numbers loving 8yo loves to play around with the calculator, but he uses it to take the lessons further after school is done for the day.
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Jennifer
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Claire F
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| Posted: Jan 28 2013 at 10:52pm | IP Logged
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I must have skipped those lessons in B, because we didn't get a calculator until this year to use with level C. I don't think it mattered to skip it in B - it hasn't been a hinderance with anything we've done with level C.
I wasn't sure about using a calculator either, but it has been fun to see how much that thing totally blows my son's mind. He loves typing random numbers and adding or multiplying to see how big the numbers get.
So far he hasn't asked to use the calculator to do his work. I don't think it has occurred to him. And it hasn't been used a lot in the lessons at this point.
Basically, it hasn't been a problem for us in level C, but I think you could skip it in B and it wouldn't matter much.
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Claire
Mom to DS 12/04, DS 5/07, DD 8/09
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
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Skipped those sections in B, now we're halfway through C and it hasn't mattered yet. I just didn't feel like introducing it quite yet.
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pmeilaen
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| Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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We also skipped those. My son is in grade 9 now and still doesn't use one. I guess all our mental math has payed off: He is extremely fast in doing everything in his head, so fast that I can't keep up with him  !
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Eva
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Calculators in RS B
