[Using MEP Math with multiple kids?]

8 hours ago, SporkUK said:

 

I prefer Secondary to Primary MEP - it has a very different format with what's taught mostly on the page and done examples right there so I can point to them as we talk through it. We use the online tutorials when available (they like the computer and it means they tend to argue with me less about whether or not the answer is right...) along the side of the books. , the mental tests at the end of each section, and the overhead and other activities as needed or when fun (I used them far more for Year 7 than for later years). The diagnostic tests are helpful for catching growing gaps before they get too far and the revision tests and extra exercises are helpful when they're found. I've only a couple times needed outside resources to help and practice. It's far less parent-intensive, it's a good transition for kids taking on more of the work themselves. 

I think it could be quite possible to do the Y7-Y9 in two years for a strong math student before high school (doing one lesson a day and tests without any days for just activities) or do it as 6-8th instead or have 9th being an integrated math course before moving onto a more traditional format if you don't want to use the GCSE program. 

Some US schools do use integrated math. In the high school I graduated from, there were four years of maths literally titled Integrated Maths (grade level). Having transferred from a high school with a more tradition format it was difficult (and I ended up using the local community college to finish math instead, but that was more an issue of having moved so often I had gaps that I needed to go back to move forward rather than an issue with the program). You might need more of a description for a transcript but if you like MEP, I think it would certainly be doable. 

Thank you so much for this thoughtful response!  Now I'm kind of wondering if I should have prepared for Y7 instead of Y6.  ? I think it's a great program and I like how it teaches math.  Maybe I'll just continue on and put Integrated Math on his transcripts. Maybe that's not an issue at all.  I wondered if colleges would have a hard time with that as it's out of the norm, but maybe it's more common than I knew.   We've used MEP since the Reception level, so as long as he has good understanding he shouldn't have many gaps.  And by he, I mean all my kids!  lol

[Using MEP Math with multiple kids?]

On 7/26/2018 at 8:01 AM, knitgrl said:

Just out of curiosity's sake....how long does it take you to go through a lesson? We are working on Year 3 now. I split it up into two sessions, usually about 20-25 minutes each. Finding a way to shorten the time is appealing, since I'll be adding her brother into the mix this year.

Around 30  to 45 minutes, I guess, if it's going well.  I have a child with CAPD who can't read or write his own math problems very easily, so I usually work with him longer.  I want to do the lessons justice and not try to hurry through math.  But my goodness, with four different levels...

[Using MEP Math with multiple kids?]

On 7/17/2018 at 5:34 AM, SporkUK said:

I've done Primary MEP with three. What I did from Y3 or 4 is have them to the page first independently and then go through the page and lessons together, focusing on what needed work on rather than doing it all. This worked very well for my oldest and pretty well for my second. We ended up dropping MEP after my oldest finished with it as the time sink was not worth it for my younger kids (though I still quite like it and did use MEP R, it was just too much for my kids who weren't as maths-loving as my oldest). 

We did not do MEP Year 6 or quite a bit of 5, I've found quite a few people like us where MEP 4 or 5 tends to be a burn out point and people just move to either another programme or skip to the secondary MEP which has a very different format, full instructions in the book written to the student, more online tutorials are available, and was made with kids who did not do any of the Primary MEP in mind. My oldest took not quite a full year out from MEP using a mix of things and then moved onto MEP Secondary quite happily. 

I'm wondering if I should sit everyone down for math at once and work my way around the table teaching the lessons as they work on the worksheets on their own.  
I've decided to do Y6 with my oldest then reevaluate for next year.  I don't see as many people doing Secondary.  Were you pleased with it?  I'm in the States and I wonder how it would all shake out for a transcript as the maths are integrated in a way we don't do in the US.

[Using MEP Math with multiple kids?]

On 7/16/2018 at 8:38 PM, carrierocha said:

We have two levels of MEP in our house and yes, it is time consuming. A couple things - we almost always skip the 5th lesson in each unit since those are review and I work with my kids throughout the week so I am sure that they have the concepts. Then I only do select problems with my kids with a goal of condensing the remaining 4 lessons into 3 teaching sessions.

Here is how I condense: 

I sit down in advance and look at the top of each lesson and see what is review, what is core and what is the extension topic for the lesson. I use that to judge where to focus - maybe 1-2 review questions, the bulk on the core stuff and then 1 extension question. When you read through the 4 lessons right together then it is easier for me to cherry pick the problems that I think encompass what we are trying to do. Typically the teacher leads a certain set of example problems, then the student pages have the kids do a similar type of problem on their own. Often we just do 1 of these and not both, unless it is something that we are working slowly through because retention is proving to be difficult.

We also tend to skip the full weeks of review as we will just add in more review problems if I think we need it.

FWIW - we typically take longer than a single school year to complete a level and I have decided that after my 6th grade daughter completes Y5 (midway through her 6th grade) then we'll try Art of Problem Solving's Pre-Algebra. When I decided to skip Y6 all together it gave me more room to slowly but surely cover all the rich topics MEP covers.

This is helpful, thank you!  I've considered just having them do every other problem or something as long as they're demonstrating understanding.  I like your suggestion of reviewing the lesson for review, expansion and core work ahead of time.  

[Loop Scheduling with OneNote?]

I've been using OneNote to create my schedules and keep my records for the last couple of years.  It's worked great for me.  But, this year I want to get fancy and implement a loop schedule. ?  Does anyone have any advice on how to track a loop schedule in OneNote?  Is there a way to put that on auto pilot so we can just do whatever is at the top of the list or something?

[Using MEP Math with multiple kids?]

Anyone with experience teaching multiple levels of MEP, I could really use your help!

While I love the program, I feel like it's where time goes to die in our house.  This year I'll have 4 levels going ( Y1, Y4, Y5, and Y6 (unless I accelerate and skip ahead a bit for my Y6)).  

Any advice on how to get through four MEP lessons per day and still get to anything else would be most welcome!  Thanks in advance!

[Behavior issues and parenting helps]

Thank you for all the feedback!  You have all given me some new ideas and encouragement.
 

I have had many conversations with them about the atmosphere in our home, choosing to treat each other with kindness etc.  They do lose privileges for bad behavior, but usually only for the remainder of the day.  Maybe I'll try taking away the privileges until they earn them back with good behavior. 

I know routine has a lot to do with it.  We were about three weeks into our summer break when I noticed a significant increase in bickering.  We've been back in our school routine for two weeks now and I'm hoping that will help some.  Also, I need to be more consistent with consequences.  I always intervene and have them apologize (honestly that's gotten lame- it seems so insincere), but sometimes I leave it at that, sometimes they spend sometime in their rooms, lose privileges, etc.  I need to decide how I want to handle it and then do it, consistently. 

Thanks again for the help! 
 

[Behavior issues and parenting helps]

 

I think the ages of your kids would help a lot.

 

In general, I am a fan of "model, repeat...repeat....repeat..." :Sweetie, that was a rude tone. We speak respectfully to one another here in our home. Please leave the room, walk back in, and use an appropriate tone." And we do it. Over and over again if we need to. Same with obedience. I'm not a martyr or unreasonable - but if "slow" becomes a habit we'd practice. Maybe with extra chores. Maybe with a sibling's chores. I also try to sprinkle in fun and silliness

 

We also have fairly strict consequences for rude behavior at home. Our family rule is this: "We don't export bad behavior." So, if you're rude at home (to me, a sibling, etc.) you don't go anywhere. Period. Sports. Scouts. Play time. Whatever. You don't go. Others may go. You may not. Sometimes we all lose out.

 

I haven't used CM stuff, but I am a fan of the concept of "tomato staking". Keep them close. Mentor. Guide. Encourage. Work alongside. In my application - you don't need to be punitive because you stop the problem and redirect it before you get there. It is a book where you have to "eat the fish and throw out the bones".

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  They are 8, 7, 5 and 2.  I always call them on the behavior and we have spoken about treating each other with kindness, respect and valuing our relationships, over and over.  They apologize to each other but it doesn't take long before the bickering starts again.  :confused1:

[Behavior issues and parenting helps]

I would like some advice.  I'm experiencing some behavior issues with my children; bickering, negative tone of voice or comments towards each other, slow to obey me, ect.  I'd like to correct some bad habits, form new habits and learn additional techniques and skills for dealing with behavior issues as they crop up.

I've been looking at SCM Laying Down the Rails and Laying Down the Rails for Children.  I like the idea of lessons we could do as a family to help the kids take ownership in our habit goals, so I thought Laying Down the Rails for Children may be a good fit from that perspective. 

I'm wondering if those who have used these books could tell me if I need both books or if the for Children volume would work.  Do either of these books cover how to deal with the nitty-gritty, daily how-to of habit training?  The price of both volumes together has me hesitating.  

Or, could anybody recommend some parenting technique books that you loved?  We've used Love and Logic with our kiddos, but it seems we need some new skills to deal with the most recent issues we're experiencing.

 

Thank you for your help!