Thanks for the bumps and the input. This post was on the MEP Yahoo group this morning: MEP yrs 7,8,and 9 are basically the same as yrs 4,5, and 6. Yrs 7,8,and 9 are intended for older children, while 4,5,and 6 are not as dry so appeal to the younger set...but the material is the same. If a child completes yr6 and does well they could do GCSE OR...could begin a traditional Algebra 1 class (non-MEP) or perhaps skip A1 and begin Geometry (A2 is review of A1 plus more, so strong students could skip it and then just review and take the intermediate portions taught in A2 in 10-11th grades). My dd who is now in a non-MEP Algebra 1 class (8th grade), went from yr5 to A1. She found that pre-A was what was taught in yr5. She is a strong maths student so take that into account. I hope I have not further confused you, but it sounds like you would want to do GCSE or go to A1. This explains why no one here uses MEP for HS, I suppose!:lol: From that post, I think MEP 6 would certainly be equivalent to our pre-algebra programs, or certainly at least some of them.

Anyone? Bill? Yoo hooooooo........:lurk5:

HS? I searched past posts, but didn't turn up much about people using MEP for HS. Does anyone use MEP for HS here? Thanks, Kim

Just curious... Thanks! Kim

Thanks! Kim

I was afraid MEP wouldn't be "enough" to get him ready. I will spend today going thru it and see where it would put us. Your girls went from Yr 5 into Alg 1??? I need to give it a better look, it sounds like! :) Thanks for suggesting this. I just automatically thought we needed to "buy a program" to get caught up. Blessings, Kim

Thanks for all the suggestions! I love the idea of the reference book, Mindy. I have been making up index cards with refreshers on them for him, but he never uses them unless I remind him. Maybe him making his own notebook would be better. I just get so overwhelmed by all the choices, there's just too many. I just don't feel like TT is getting the job done. Things are sticking and he just can't apply math outside of that book. I have to find something to use to get him up to speed and then have to find a pre-algebra program! :( I was thinking Math Mammoth to get him caught up. I think we could jump in at 6A and be ok, but I just don't know how that will work for him. He really gets distracted with a lot of busyness on the pages, too many problems, not enough white space, etc. TT actually was great for that bc the pages aren't too busy. I read a post on the K8 board about the MM pages being too busy and not enough white space for that poster's child and went back to reread it, but I can't find it now. I wish I knew what program she went with!:tongue_smilie: I think Saxon would terrify him just to look at the pages, as well as the more traditional textbooks. I had pretty much settled on MUS for upper level, but after reading more posts about instruction not being clear in the upper levels, I'm getting cold feet on that. What about MM 6A w/LOF Decimals and then Fractions over the summer, then MUS w/LOF for the uppers? Do you feel that would ready him for MUS and LoF prealgebra? Thanks again so much. Kim

Gosh, I hate to hear that! Finding a math program that works here seems about impossible! Thanks for all the suggestions on LoF. I'll give it a look. Any other suggestions to get us where we need to be for 8th for a non-mathy child? Thanks again for all your replies! Kim

anyone?

My ds13 is struggling, yes struggling, with TT7. I want to get him ready for prealgebra for the fall. He struggles with not enough practice to grasp a new concept. For example, finding the LCD. He would ask me every time one of those problems came up in a lesson bc he "didn't remember" how to do it. When something like this happens, I print off worksheets and work with him on just that type of problem for a few days until it clicks. Then he seems to be okay. I have been supplementing TT with MEP bc I don't think TT challenges him to think out of the box. He can do lessons in the book, but if you ask him something math related in the real world, he just looks at you like you're speaking another language. He can't apply anything he's learned. Since we've been using MEP, I see an improvement in that area. He actually can apply things we've covered. I've even taken him back to MEP 5! I'm growing weary of looking thru MEP to see what needs to be covered and then printing and trying to do both TT and MEP. Instead of "catching up", the supplementing is putting us farther behind. Some of the worksheets I print off to help cement a topic come from Math Mammoth. I think he would be ok going into the 6A MM book that just came out. My question is, do you think that's what we need at this point? Jump ship to this and pray we get to were we need to be soon or continue to trudge along with TT7 and MEP? I'm leaning toward MUS prealgebra bc I think the repetition of the lesson layout would help cement things. Do you think he could go from 6AMM into MUS prealgebra? Here's a link to topics covered in 6A: http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/grade_6.php Here's what she suggests to get ready for prealgebra for those who can't wait on 6B: For those of you who need something to replace Math Mammoth 6-B, it would need to cover percent, integers, geometry (volume, angle calculations), statistics, and probability. It is not possible to find just one resources with these topics; however, you could use both Singapore Math Primary Mathematics 5B, standards edition (not the US edition), and Singapore Math Primary Mathematics 6B, standards edition (not the US edition). Those two books do also have topics you could skip (decimals), and topics I consider a bit advanced and more fitting for pre-algebra (equations with integers, constructions, complementary & supplementary angles). There are probably other options as well, but it is not easy to find one single book or resource just for the exact same topics, and no more, that I plan to put to Math Mammoth 6-B. I thought a good grasp of the 4 ops, fractions, decimals, and %s would have you prepared enough for prealgebra. I'm thinking stop MEP and TT and just go thru MM6A thoroughly and then start MUS prealgebra. Opinions from those who've gone one before me on this? I just want him to be confident in math and not always feel like he's not getting it and behind. Thanks for any input! Kim

I was looking thru the ToC for 6A and see that when a new topic is presented, there are about 3 to 4 pages before another topic is presented. Are those pages considered one lesson? Is it more like, "a page a day"? Are they broken down into "lessons"? Thanks, Kim

I'm not quite as ticked this morning, but that has still left a bad taste in my mouth. Yes, I'm sure being the VP (which makes it even worse to me), he gets asked a lot about release dates, but a little common courtesy is all that's needed. Maybe we could write him a generic response and send it to him, before his smart mouth sends his company down in flames. I don't know, something as simple as, "Its hard to pinpoint a specific release date with these things. If you keep checking our website though, we'll post the information as soon as we can. Thanks so much for your interest in MY product." I could've lived with that. :) I'm sure I won't pursue this any farther. I just wanted to vent to other potential customers of Kinetic about how rude their CS can be. I'll continue to look for another pre-algebra program, but I still really want to see this one, darn it. I hope I don't want to buy it now, when I see it.:tongue_smilie: Jackie, the question he was sooo rude about was about the release of the pre-algebra program, something I was thinking of buying. Well, now I just have to know, what do you think of the pre-algebra? Scope wise, how would you compare it to TT? Thanks for listening ladies! Kim

I have been very interested in Kinetic for pre-algebra. I called last week to see when they thought it would be released and the young woman told me "sometime in the spring". So I just downloaded the trial for Algebra I to get a feel for the program. I have tried for two days to "authenticate" it so I can run it. I keep getting the same #8 error message. Checked their support site, did what it said, still nothing. Soooo, I call, explain my dilemma to "Mark" and he gives some general off the cuff answer and pretty much directs me back to the support files. Okay....... So, I tell him I had called last week and was told the release for pre-algebra would be some time in the spring. "Yes", he says. "Do you know when?" I ask. "Well, you've already been told, now haven't you" $&^%*%^*(&(* Excuse ME?????? "Well, she did tell me the spring, but I thought perhaps you may have more of a definite date. I'm very excited to see the program." "We don't give out pre-release information. You just need to check the website," in this condescending tone. Sure, probably he's had a bad day, got up on the wrong side of the bed or something. But, I've had one myself and sitting here for two **** days trying to download their stupid program isn't helping! He probably just thinks he was smarting off to one lone hs mom. Do you think he knows about the WTM Forums????? (Insert evil laugh here.) Well, off to look at some different pre-algebra programs!!! Kim

I googled this, but didn't find anything. I would like to take a look. Can you post a link, please? Thanks! Kim

ME!!! I'm using it right now! I decided to try it after reading about Chucki's success (Parrothead). :) I've tried all the other methods, gum, patches, mints, etc. Nothing ever even came close to helping me. I took the whole first month pack, cut down to 2-3 a day around week 3 and quit completely week 4. I've been smoke-free for one week!! It's been much easier than I thought it would be, but still not a walk in the park. My dh started the same time I did, but he's not doing as well as I am. He went out of town and actually forgot to take them at all for what should have been his week 3! He's still smoking, I'm guessing, about 5-6 a day. I hope its not more. He's trying to hide it from me, so it doesn't hinder me. But, I know he's doing it when he's doing it, and I haven't even wanted to. That's amazing for me! Neither of us have had any adverse side effects at all. Do have some vivid dreams, but nothing to crazy. These pills have been a blessing for me. I never thought I would ever be able to quit smoking even though I wanted to so much. I say go for it! Can't hurt to try! Do tell people close to you when you start so they can watch for any unusual behavior. Kim

Thank you, Melanie. :) Anyone else? Kim

Is the lesson laid out such that you present the topic, then the student works independently on applying? At the 5th grade level, how long would you estimate you spend directing and teaching per lesson? Thanks! Kim

Its a free online math program. Here's the link: http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/primary/default.htm I can't really comment on it, but you can do a search of this board and probably find lots of threads. Thanks ladies, Kim

Thanks for the input, ladies. We've actually used CLE and I do have a lot of the free MM worksheets downloaded. I'll take a look at them again. The Kinetic Pre-Algebra is what got this ball rolling for me this week! I started thinking about how I really want him to use that in the fall, but we need to cover a lot of ground between now and then. I just don't think TT will get us there. I have another ds11 and he has been pulled along thru all these different math programs and he does great with any of them. Its so funny how different your own children can be. We have literally used (or tried): Saxon, RS, MUS, BJU, Singapore, CLE, and now TT. The one son will go along fine and then hit a block where its just tears, mistakes, lessons dragging on for hours, etc. But my youngest does great with any one you give him. Go figure! The reason I kept changing was to find the one program that would make the lightbulb go off. I don't think there is one now! Thanks again, Kim

I have a ds13 who is working his way thru TT7. Needless to say, we are behind in math. He has gotten to where he struggles with careless mistakes and esp long division. We used TT6 (and thought we found our niche) and are about 1/3 into TT7, but things are taking a nosedive. Yes, it is slowly introducing things that most programs covered at least the grade level before, but it is overrun with long division. He just struggles thru each one with careless errors. I even cross out half of them! The topics I think he should have covered by now are at the end of the book are not even in there. It just doesn't present math like I want it to. I went back tonight and looked at MEP and there are lessons from Year 4 and on we would go back to bc they are things I think are important to know that he hasn't gotten to and probably TT will never cover. He seems to do really well with the "mental" aspect like with MEP or Singapore without the endless bludgening of long division. He does know HOW to do LD, he just makes careless errors. I don't know...anyone want to offer any input? I think I'll print off a few days of MEP and see how we do without completely throwing out TT just yet. I was never thrilled with TT, but I thought it was helping his confidence. Now, its just beating him down. Thanks for listening to my "Oh no, not math again!" vent. Kim

That's great! We won't need it until the fall. Thanks ladies, Kim

Thanks, Angie! I think I'll contact them to see when the pre-algebra will be out. Hopefully, it will be before we need it. Thanks again, Kim

Hi. I'm visiting here from the K-8 board. I'm looking ahead to next year's pre-algebra. I came across Kinetic and liked the look. I only see on their site Algebra I and Fundamental Algebra, but I thought I read here they had a pre-Algebra as well. Does anyone know which levels they have out? If you've used this, would you share your input, please? We've used TT the last two years for 6 & 7 and my ds likes the computer aspect. He struggles in math and I need something that will explain it clearly and simply. I think a lot of it is just carelessness though. Simple mistakes on calculations, always asking me the steps bc he can't remember them. I'm thinking of getting Hands-On Equations soon and having him work thru that as well. What do you think of using that, too? Thanks for your help! Kim

I was just wondering about poetry this morning, when considering MCT Language. I can take it or leave it, but I have two boys who really zone out when I read a poem to them. Even tried The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere during our American Revolution study; they weren't too impressed. Its making me wonder if a LA program that uses poetry as such a building block would be worth it for us. Maybe you have to acquire a taste for it. Maybe Mr. Thompson could make us like it!:tongue_smilie: Don't know... Kim

All this MCT hype has got me looking again. I perused before, didn't seem too impressed, blew it off. But, of course, with all the threads I keep going back. We really need something to improve retention. I just can't see exactly what the students "do" each day. Is most done orally or just even the reading until they do the practice book at the end of the grammar book? I have two ds, 11 & 13, and was looking to the Town set bc we aren't crafting great paragraphs. But, WOW, the vocab is something. It seems like it would be an effort just to keep up with him in his word usage in general. Do you find your kids struggling with his use of advanced vocab, even in the explanations? Also, do you all use the poems? i just can't see my boys giving a fig about that. Thanks! Kim