For Suzuki Mom-Are you still using MEP?

Hi!

At the moment I am not using MEP with any of my kids.  It was the program that I used with my oldest and the next before we switched to RightStart Math.  I did really like MEP – but my son was kind of stuck and I didn’t know how to proceed with MEP.

That said – I am planning on using the Year 7+ MEP program for my kids once we are done RightStart.  When my oldest finishes Level E, he will move into MEP – probably year 7 (although he will probably be grade 8 by then.)    My next child will probably do RightStart Geometry (Level G) before moving back to MEP.

That is my plan at the moment anyway.  I’ve done a lot of looking at the MEP 7+ program and I think it will work out well for us.

Well, I did MEP year 1, and about half of MEP year 2.  So I can’t attest to the more real life situations…

I liked MEP.  I did a post on my blog a long time ago on how I felt that it fit well with my understanding of CM style of math, and so did a friend blogger.  It does do a lot of puzzles and stuff to work with math, especially in years 1-6.

That said, I love RightStart.  It teaches concepts really well.  I’m amazed at how it teaches things like fractions and division.  And if one of my kids get stuck we can play the games… or even call customer support, which I have done.

I do have some MEP help links – blog posts etc. If you need them.

Yes.  Honestly, I wouldn’t change a curriculum that is working well for you unless there was a good reason (like you can’t afford the next level or something.)  The grass is always greener…. and problems can occur when you switch – especially if you end up switching a lot.

Now, switching if there is a problem and a program isn’t working well for you – that is something different.

RightStart is a strong program.  I do wish it had a bit more problem solving, but otherwise it is great.  The script makes it easy for me.  The games give me a course of action if one of the students seems to struggle with a concept.  And I have spent time on the phone when I had questions and concerns.  (My oldest has dyslexia which affects his math too…)

MEP is cool, and has good problem solving with their puzzles.  But you are basically out there on your own.

Also know that switching wouldn’t be too easy as they approach things differently.  MEP teaches Addition and Subtraction at the same time, using small numbers and moving up to bigger numbers.  RightStart focuses on Addition more – fairly quickly using large (4 digit) numbers to really get place value understood.  Then it starts subtraction later.  There is merit to both methods.  Your 8yo might end up having to go back quite a bit.  (That works both ways – when we switched my oldest was 8 – and placed into Level B which is a starting math (grade 1) type of level.