I struggled with selecting a science program for my dc for several months, and finally decided on God's Design. I definitely wanted something with Christian world view. I liked the look and heard great things about Apologia elementary, but it doesn't cover Chemistry, or Physical sciences. I wasn't sure about God's Design. I didn't see as much activity on the boards about it, but I purchased the set, and I am really happy I did. I needed something simple and multi-level. Otherwise, science would never get done. GD touches on all the areas of science. It is pretty close to open and go. I can do it with both dc at the same time. I has enough info on each topic to do a good job, and not too much as to overwhelm, so that if my kiddos really like a particular subject, we can expand it with living books. I am really happy with my decision. Also, there is an online coupon for 10% off a $30+ order. I posted it in here somewhere. You can sear for online coupon. It is valid until 7/31.

Bumpety-bump. I thought I would revive this, since many are buying curriculum right now. Happy shopping!

I love the Jim Trelease book!! I read it and loved it. It has great book lists too. We do read aloud a lot of things in our house. I was just confused as to what specific TOG readings need to be aloud.

:lol: I'm sorry. This is just hilarious. That is the answer I get EVERY time I go to Home Depot! :D

Oh, see? I love this board! So, basically you pick what to read aloud? I have a printed version of redesign of Y1 (not sure if it's been redesigned since then). My reading assignments pages do not specify which things to read aloud, and which to read to yourself. ha, ha, ha. I was just thinking I was completely missing the boat. I've been searching and searching for the part where it tells me: "this one, you need to read it out loud." ha, ha, ha

Hi! Maybe I'm just too new at this. I've been gathering materials and preparing for TOG. I have 2dc, one LG, one UG. I keep reading in the materials, and on the boards about the 'read-alouds'. "Plan on doing your read-alouds Monday and Tuesday..." or "I do my read-alouds like this..." "I have my older dd do the read-alouds for the youngers...." :confused: Everyone is reading aloud, and I feel so left out. :crying: I can't figure out what it is I'm supposed to read aloud!!!!! A little help?!

:iagree::iagree::iagree: We are very happy with MEP, and it is super cost-effective for us. You do have to print pages off the web, but there are no additional materials to purchase. And it is a super high quality math program. A couple of links to help you research MEP: http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/2009/06/mep-101.html http://www.teachers.tv/video/17878

:iagree: Me neither. I have some the same reasons for pulling my ds out of school (wrong end of teasing, way too adult conversations among 9yos, etc.). I can't imagine making him face that alone again. Of course, none of us know all the details of your decision. And we really are not passing judgment on your decision one way or another. But usually when we post tough choices here on the boards it's because we want a sounding board, and I think everyone is honestly trying to come at it from different directions. Maybe try sending him to ps in the fall, but you might find yourself feeling sad and guilty about putting him back in that environment. If you do, just pull him out of there again. :grouphug:

In full agreement with the rest of the posters. Another idea, ask dh to teach 1 subject, even if a little one. An elective of sorts. Or put him in charge of bedtime read-aloud every day. It will help him feel involved. Husbands love to see their children learn, too. It will also help him understand/empathize when there are hiccups. He'll know (a little bit) what it is like to have the responsibility to 'keep up' the schooling for a whole year.

I do not think their "reception" materials are available online. You could ask at the Yahoo Group. But in general, I think the best preparation for MEP Y1 is learning to count to 100. Counting with actual things. Learning to classify said things by shape, size, color. Learning the names of the main mathematical functions, and their respective signs (+,-, x, division not on my keyboard, >, <, = and ‡). Learning left and right, up and down, first, second, third... horizontal and vertical. The proper names of basic 2d geometric shapes. Gently introduce addition of things, not necessarily digits. So for example, 3 pebbles plus 2 pebbles makes 5 pebbles; and NOT 3+2=5. Similarly, subtraction. Very gently introduce multiplication (grouping 12 cheerios in groups of 3) and division (sharing 9 cookies among mom, dad and child). Lots of elementary puzzles. Simple mazes, bunnies hopping on "number lines" that don't actually have any numbers on them, but it will get them used to hopping on the line. First 3 hops, then 4 hops, how many times did Bunny hop? That kind of thing. If you join the Yahoo group there are worksheets and other things for Kinder posted by members. It is also interesting to watch the video of where they got this idea. It is about how they teach math in Hungary. Link: http://www.teachers.tv/video/17878

More from the Yahoo Group help files: "MEP Placement Suggestions MEP follows United Kingdom's grade placement. To determine where to place your child, it is recommended that you look through the Years closest to your child's current grade in school. For example, if they are in 3rd grade, consider reviewing Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 to see the concept components and determine the best place to begin. MEP presents traditional math concepts but in a slightly different order and arrangement from traditional US math programs. A suggestion would be to consider a year where your child would be challenged but not overwhelmed. A good rule would be to find a level with 50% new material and 50% review. If you are unsure, you can always start your child one level below their current grade and then adjust up once you gain confidence using this curriculum. Clare posted the following information to help with placement: "..in the UK 4-5 yr olds start in Reception, then its 5-6 yrs in year 1, 6-7 year olds in year 2 and so on up to year6 (10-11 year olds) which is the end of the Primary school years, they then start Secondary school in year7 (or first form) aged 11. The child starts school in the September when they are 4 years old. Children with an August birthday will be the youngest in their class, those born in September will be the oldest. Year 1 in MEP would be for 5-6 year olds." According to this description and the MEP website, placement would be as follows: Primary (ages 5-11) Reception (4-5) = US K Year 1 (5-6) = US 1 Year 2 (6-7) = US 2 Year 3 (7-8) = US 3 Year 4 (8-9) = US 4 Year 5 (9-10) = US 5 Year 6 (10-11) = US 6 Secondary (ages 11-14) Year 7 (11-12) Year 8 (12-13) Year 9 (13-14) GCSE (ages 14-16) Year 10 (14-15) Year 11 (15-16) AS (ages 16-17) Year 12 (16-17) Some US MEP users feel that this program is one or more years ahead of traditional home school curriculum and therefore suggest that the child be placed one year below their actual grade level. Year 1 (6-7) = US 2 Year 2 (7-8) = US 3 Year 3 (8-9) = US 4 Year 4 (9-10) = US 5 Year 5 (10-11) = US 6 Year 6 (11-12) = US 7 As with any curriculum, children will need to be placed based on their previous math experience and their current skills. There is no right or wrong placement and it really is best to choose a level that provides sufficient mental challenge without causing undue stress (not too easy and not too hard)."

Hi, there! Let's start with the little ones. I would start both 5yo and dd6yo in Y1. You can teach them together. it will be more challenging for 5yo. Some of it will be review for 6yo, but she'll benefit from adjusting to "the MEP way". If you find she gets bored, try Y1-B. I'm finishing MEP Y1, with my 7yo, soon to be 2nd grader. For 11yo and 13yo, I would actually try the MEP years 7-9 materials on for size. Years 7 to 9 were designed for students who did NOT go through MEP Primary 1-6. So it reviews/revisits many of those concepts and then adds pre-algebra. You can find more info about this at the MEP Homeschoolers Yahoo Group. Here is a very helpful intro to MEP blogpost: http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/2009/06/mep-101.html Here is some help placing 'upper level' students from one of the yahoo group files: "Placement for Upper Levels MEP upper levels Y7-9 and GCSE cover the following US mathematics courses: Pre-Algebra = MEP 7, MEP 8 Algebra 1 = MEP 8, MEP 9 Geometry = MEP 9, GCSE 10 Algebra 2 = MEP, 9, GCSE 10, GCSE 11 Trigonometry = MEP, 9, GCSE 10, GCSE 11 Statistics = MEP, 9, GCSE 10, GCSE 11 Calculus* = AS (12th grade - optional) * optional; math or science/engineering majors There is some overlap between courses so to ensure proper coverage, students should begin in Y7 unless they have already taken Algebra 1 or Geometry. "

Amazing list!! Skim-read through post, but did not see: MATH - Full Curriculum: MEP Math http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm

We use MEP. I do not have experience with Singapore. If your friend is looking for lots of Saxon-type drill, this is not it. But MEP does have a lot of drill. It's just sort of disguised and spread around the lessons. MEP and Singapore can be used together. I know some folks do that. Based on what I've heard, MEP and Singapore, although completely different math programs, are similar in that they really develop mathematical thinking in the child. The exercises tend to look like puzzles, and so it trains the child to approach math problems asking their own questions, "what if I did this?", "would it work if I solved it this other way?"...

I'm ordering God's Design science for my dc.

Hi, all! Here is a 10% off coupon you can use for orders of $30 or more, at the Answers In Genesis online bookstore. It is valid until July 31. Happy shopping! coupon code: 7CJPM09 :)

:lurk5:

trisharog, do you have "the loom" for your year plan? I am on Y1, and the Loom has a pdf file all about the map with transparency overlays....

You are most welcome! I agree. That was a really nice thing for her to do. I was skeptical at first. After all, it involved NO MONEY. How could it be any good? ha, ha, ha!! But I figured, all I had to lose was a few sheets of paper, some ink, and a few hours spent teaching. If the kids hated it, then that would be it! No books to return, no phone calls to customer service, no re-packaging, no explanations. Well.... we're still printing practice books. We use MEP exclusively. Happy printing!!!

Hello, Hive! Happy 4th of July!!! I am currently using MEP with my dc, and we all love it. It works well for us. I've seen several posts curious and asking about this program. The MEP homeschoolers Yahoo group recently posted a link to a blog from a MEP-mom who did a fantastic job of writing up and introduction to this math program. Here it is, in case you are curious... http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/2009/06/mep-101.html FROM THE BLOG, for those of you who are wondering what MEP is.... "What is MEP anyway? MEP stands for the Mathematics Enhancement Programme. It is a maths curriculum developed by the CIMT - Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching - at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom. It is currently undergoing trial in British schools. MEP is free for non-profit use and while not specifically designed for home schoolers, the programme works well with a little modification for a 1-on-1 teaching style. You'll find the programme at their website: http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm."

In case you were asking me... My children are 7 and 10. The oldest will be starting 5th grade. I plan on doing UG with ds10, and LG with my dd7. I will study the Rhetoric level myself while my oldest does Dialectic, so I am ready when they both get there. I am excited at the prospect of learning all of this myself. This is not the way History was treated at my school. I would say, you can start now, but really treat it as a grammar level poll-parrot thing, almost a reading list. Your children are so young. Language seems to me far more important at their age than History. If your dc have good language skills they'll be able to devour ToG later. Just think of it, you get a whole year to get familiar with a year-plan of TOG, where most people have to do it over the summer. Focus on putting up pegs where they can hang things their second time around. Don't read the teacher notes for the next level up, so you don't spoil it for yourself :-). This way, you will be familiar with the layout, the order, what's coming, when it really counts for your dc. ToG planning will be much easier for you, and you probably won't face the fog everyone talks about. My 2 cents, coming from a total lack of experience. :tongue_smilie:

:iagree: I'm with-ya! I did not choose to homeschool. God sort of hit me on the head with it. I still have a bump. :lol: I've been reading this thread with interest because I'm starting TOG with my own dc in the fall.

The short answer to your question is YES!!!! I work from home while homeschooling, but I've read and heard about others who do it while working outside the home. It really depends on your and your dc's personality and learning style. Do you believe he would 'do school' while you are at work if you leave him assignments? Other info that will help answer questions: Will your son stay home by himself while you are out? Are you going to work PT or FT? It also depends on the curriculum you select. A lot of it is 'teacher-led', but there is plenty of curriculum out there that children work through on their own. Some are self-paced workbooks with teacher answer keys that you simply correct. Others are completely computer-based. There are accredited schools that offer comprehensive curriculum, including video lectures, tests and grading. How do you homeschool now?

Reading through this thread with interest..... If we get bored revisiting a topic every 4 years, I can't imagine how boring it would be to be a school teacher who has to teach the same thing every year.... sometimes more than once a day. :tongue_smilie: I think I'll take 4-year-cycle boredom :D

Hi, Laurie! I am not in pre-algebra yet. But I would suggest you join the MEP yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mep-homeschoolers/ They really know their stuff. I think Years 7 through 9 are for students who did not go through the MEP primary years Y1-Y6. But I know for sure the MEP Yahoo group has a file in there that discusses your question. HTH Ivette