My DD is still going quickly through Singapore...

[Blessedfamily]

We use the CWP, IP, workbook, and text. (We went back and did a bit of Miquon to slow down.) I don't think I'm going to buy the Extra Practice books because she really gets it, and gets aggravated at rote practice.

I had bought the level 2 CWP and IP based on recommedations here. She went through those, so I bought 3A. The problem is, the IP and CWP for level 2 covered material for level 3A. So that means she went even faster through 3A.

She's scheduled to start 3B in a few weeks. My concern is that someone here mentioned there is a big jump cognitively from 3B to 4A.

Does anyone have thoughts on that? Also, do you know in what way there is a big leap from 3B to 4A?

[Spy Car]

Add MEP. It's free, it promotes a "my brain hurts" critical thinking aspect that's really cool, and we're all doing it*.

http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm

Bill

* well maybe not ALL, not YET, but we WILL BE and it's not too late to be part of the vanguard :D

[Hathersage]

:iagree:

Yes, what Bill said!

The yahoo group, where you get the password for the protected files is here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mep-homeschoolers/

[Renai]

Hmmm. I'm liking that the levels I need are available in Spanish...I may be jumping on this bandwagon. ;)

[Renai]

Hmmm, again. I'm reading the notes that this program was adapted from the Hungarian method. I was watching a video about their method the other night. Did I get it from here? Or is this just a coincidence? http://www.teachers.tv/video/17878 (http://www.teachers.tv/video/17878)

And please excuse the dumb question. I'm in a graduate education program, and watch so many videos, I'm no longer sure where they're coming from ...

[WendyK]

Add MEP. It's free, it promotes a "my brain hurts" critical thinking aspect that's really cool, and we're all doing it*.

http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm

Bill

* well maybe not ALL, not YET, but we WILL BE and it's not too late to be part of the vanguard :D

I was eying this, but I can't figure out where to start my son.

[WendyK]

We use the CWP, IP, workbook, and text. (We went back and did a bit of Miquon to slow down.) I don't think I'm going to buy the Extra Practice books because she really gets it, and gets aggravated at rote practice.

I had bought the level 2 CWP and IP based on recommedations here. She went through those, so I bought 3A. The problem is, the IP and CWP for level 2 covered material for level 3A. So that means she went even faster through 3A.

She's scheduled to start 3B in a few weeks. My concern is that someone here mentioned there is a big jump cognitively from 3B to 4A.

Does anyone have thoughts on that? Also, do you know in what way there is a big leap from 3B to 4A?

I'm having exactly the same problem. We are buzzing through 3A. I keep thinking it is going to get more difficult and he will slow down, but he doesn't. I even add in puzzles and games and all sorts of other things. And we only school 4 days per week.

[Spy Car]

I'm having exactly the same problem. We are buzzing through 3A. I keep thinking it is going to get more difficult and he will slow down, but he doesn't. I even add in puzzles and games and all sorts of other things. And we only school 4 days per week.

The beauty part is you can view the PDFs and see where YOU get lost, and where your son might be in sync. Year two (by preview) looks like it starts "pretty easy" and gets hard by part III. And Year 3 has some things that look a like daunting to me, if I wasn't figuring out some of the "strange" elements of notation and layout MEP sometimes uses.

So you might need a little backtracking, and could easily skip what is too simple, while focusing on what is unique to MEP.

Bill

[WendyK]

The beauty part is you can view the PDFs and see where YOU get lost, and where your son might be in sync. Year two (by preview) looks like it starts "pretty easy" and gets hard by part III. And Year 3 has some things that look a like daunting to me, if I wasn't figuring out some of the "strange" elements of notation and layout MEP sometimes uses.

So you might need a little backtracking, and could easily skip what is too simple, while focusing on what is unique to MEP.

Bill

Thanks. I'm going to get serious and really look at it. In terms of where I would get lost. Well, that would be somewhere around 1 + 1. I'm not the math whiz in the family. :lol: I'm learning a lot though!

[Spy Car]

Thanks. I'm going to get serious and really look at it. In terms of where I would get lost. Well, that would be somewhere around 1 + 1. I'm not the math whiz in the family. :lol: I'm learning a lot though!

You may find you have some: what the heck? moments.

It's not that the math is hard, it's just some elements are foreign in the way they are set up from what we are used to. So we'll have to help each other over the occasional hurdles.

But over-all, MEP is pretty straight forward. And I think an adult (speaking of myself at least) can enjoy working though it with the kiddos.

Bill

[AnneC]

We have slowed down since we hit 4A. Mainly because when you learn about factors it is handy to know multiplication tables and dd doesn't. I could let her look but at this stage I'd rather she learns them. DD also had a lot of trouble understanding rounding, mostly because she couldn't see the reason for it. That is as much as we have covered at the moment and we are happy to go slow for now.

[Blessedfamily]

I was eying this, but I can't figure out where to start my son.

Someone had recommended MEP for my daughter a while ago, but I saw the first level and knew she had that covered. It didn't occur to me to just go up a level. Now that I look at it again, I see the uniqueness of the way the skills are exercised, even for skills she already has down.

Are folks using it as enrichment, or a main math program? If feasible, I think enrichment would work best for us, because DD really does well with Singapore.

Thanks All!

[nmoira]

Have you looked at Primary Grade Challenge Math (https://smartmall.net-smart.net/challengemath/index.cfm)?

FWIW, DD the Elder didn't find a big jump from 3B to 4A.

[WendyK]

Someone had recommended MEP for my daughter a while ago, but I saw the first level and knew she had that covered. It didn't occur to me to just go up a level. Now that I look at it again, I see the uniqueness of the way the skills are exercised, even for skills she already has down.

Are folks using it as enrichment, or a main math program? If feasible, I think enrichment would work best for us, because DD really does well with Singapore.

Thanks All!

Well, what I have decided to do is go one level down on the MEP. We are working on 3A in Singapore, so I printed off the 2b sheets on the MEP. There are some concepts on the 2b that we haven't covered, but I figure we can just go over them as we get to them, do the problems together, or skip them. I plan to use it as a supplement. Maybe once a week we will work on a couple of pages. It will be a good reinforcer and some of the concepts are a little more indepth than what is covered in Singapore at that level. I think my son will enjoy the worksheets.

I did take a quick look at the instructor sections (lesson plans). The lingo is a little hard for me to follow sometimes and it is definetely geared towards a group setting. I think one could easily buzz through some of it in a one on one situation very quickly though.

I'm seriously considering using this exclusively with my second child. Ya can't beat free! ;)

[Blessedfamily]

Have you looked at Primary Grade Challenge Math (https://smartmall.net-smart.net/challengemath/index.cfm)?

FWIW, DD the Elder didn't find a big jump from 3B to 4A.

Moira,

I bought Primary Grade Challenge Math to use for fall. I have to save something from my fall supplies, or I'll be placing another order. :001_huh: She's already burning through fall books (and my wallet).

I had no idea the book was so thick!

[Blessedfamily]

Well, what I have decided to do is go one level down on the MEP. We are working on 3A in Singapore, so I printed off the 2b sheets on the MEP. There are some concepts on the 2b that we haven't covered, but I figure we can just go over them as we get to them, do the problems together, or skip them. I plan to use it as a supplement. Maybe once a week we will work on a couple of pages. It will be a good reinforcer and some of the concepts are a little more indepth than what is covered in Singapore at that level. I think my son will enjoy the worksheets.

I did take a quick look at the instructor sections (lesson plans). The lingo is a little hard for me to follow sometimes and it is definetely geared towards a group setting. I think one could easily buzz through some of it in a one on one situation very quickly though.

I'm seriously considering using this exclusively with my second child. Ya can't beat free! ;)

:lol:
I could have written this response.
1)I think I'm going with the level 2b to reinforce
2) some of the lingo in the guide gave me brain fuzz
3) I said to dh this might be good to use with #2.

[Spy Car]

Someone had recommended MEP for my daughter a while ago, but I saw the first level and knew she had that covered. It didn't occur to me to just go up a level. Now that I look at it again, I see the uniqueness of the way the skills are exercised, even for skills she already has down.

Are folks using it as enrichment, or a main math program? If feasible, I think enrichment would work best for us, because DD really does well with Singapore.

Thanks All!

We are juggling so many resources that I don't know anymore what's "enrichment" and what's our "spine" :lol:

But theoretically speaking, Singapore is going to be our main program, and thus far they fold nicely. We are in the first year on both so I don't have the
"long term" vision, but so far the combo is a *dream* for us, as MEP is different enough to be (highly) interesting and has nothing that isn't highly compatible with Singapore.

Like Singapore you can move briskly, or you could incorporate more (or all) of the "lesson plans" and make MEP the spine. Either way there are good ideas to glean from the lesson plans.

order. :001_huh: She's already burning through fall books (and my wallet).

And MEP is free for the printing. The no-cost (or low-cost) aspect is not what makes MEP great, it is an outstanding program that is well worth paying for, but...........

Bill

[Blessedfamily]

...
But theoretically speaking, Singapore is going to be our main program, and thus far they fold nicely. We are in the first year on both so I don't have the
"long term" vision, but so far the combo is a *dream* for us, as MEP is different enough to be (highly) interesting and has nothing that isn't highly compatible with Singapore.

Like Singapore you can move briskly, or you could incorporate more (or all) of the "lesson plans" and make MEP the spine. Either way there are good ideas to glean from the lesson plans.



And MEP is free for the printing. The no-cost (or low-cost) aspect is not what makes MEP great, it is an outstanding program that is well worth paying for, but...........

Bill


This (bolded) was my impression also. The material seems quite compatible and very engaging.

As for the price...I'd be willing to pay for two good math programs. Especially since the only gifted school (http://www.nysmith.com/final/tui-over.shtml) in our area is $25,ooo per year. I really doubt they offer anything more tailored to my dd's needs.

[WendyK]

Absolutely, I would pay for the MEP. I wish they would sell it as a book. I don't really care for printing a whole boat load of stuff. For the math, it is ok, but really I like to smell the book. ;)

[mommahawk]

Absolutely, I would pay for the MEP. I wish they would sell it as a book. I don't really care for printing a whole boat load of stuff. For the math, it is ok, but really I like to smell the book. ;)

:iagree: But for us right now, free is good. :D

As far as I know, you can buy the practice books for 2.50 British Pounds each. Postage is not included outside of the UK. There is an order form on the main Resources page, but you might contact someone first to be sure. I was looking at the order form and everything seems quite inexpensive--even less than SM.

[servin]

They will hit a wall at some point. I think mine hit one at around 4b/5a when algebra thinking started being introduced. At some point in Singapore they won't be mentally ready for the advanced math thinking. Now how long they are not ready for it is another guess all together. :D The slow down may only be a speed bump in the road.

[Spy Car]

Hmmm, again. I'm reading the notes that this program was adapted from the Hungarian method. I was watching a video about their method the other night. Did I get it from here? Or is this just a coincidence? http://www.teachers.tv/video/17878 (http://www.teachers.tv/video/17878)

And please excuse the dumb question. I'm in a graduate education program, and watch so many videos, I'm no longer sure where they're coming from ...

Sorry I missed this post previously. I didn't mean to ignore you (honest :D)

A couple of us have linked to that film in other threads, so probably :tongue_smilie:

What did you think?

Bill

[katilac]

We use the CWP, IP, workbook, and text. (We went back and did a bit of Miquon to slow down.) I don't think I'm going to buy the Extra Practice books because she really gets it, and gets aggravated at rote practice.

I had bought the level 2 CWP and IP based on recommedations here. She went through those, so I bought 3A. The problem is, the IP and CWP for level 2 covered material for level 3A. So that means she went even faster through 3A.

She's scheduled to start 3B in a few weeks. My concern is that someone here mentioned there is a big jump cognitively from 3B to 4A.

Does anyone have thoughts on that? Also, do you know in what way there is a big leap from 3B to 4A?

4A covers fractions, multi digit multiplication,factors, multiples, lines, angles, perimeter and area. It is a long hard slog if you do not have the multi facts down pretty cold.

4B is all decimals, all the time. Not quite, but close.