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Ordering Books to follow SCM some not needed?
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I am ordering my books for my upcoming school year for my 3 children. I am starting from ground level, beings I have pulled them from public school this will be all new for them and I am so excited.
Ok, here’s my question… Im ordering some of my curriculum from Amazon, and when I do it suggests other CM books, that arent on the list as “needed”. ALthough there are reviews and they are good on these “extra” books, should I consider them?
Just thought I would ask, since I liked the fact that CM suggested a prayer for not over buying… Thank you..
As someone who has been there, done that with overbuying in my early homeschooling years, I would say, buy what you need and do not go overboard. Of course I am all in a favor of starting a wonderful real book library in my home and now after many years collecting, I have a super library of my own. The difference is I think, that after my initial stupid overbuying phase, I finally came to my senses, and made a plan. My plan was to buy only from time to time, obviously if there was a super bargain available and I had the money then I would buy; scour library sales. and second hand on Amazon, ebay etc, and to only buy books that I felt pretty certain we would use. There are loads of great books out there, but only a certain amount of time in a day, so to have say 20 books on Ancient Rome, even if they are all wonderful is overkill. If you have the funds and money is no option you have lots of choice, but still choose wisely – otherwise you waste more than you gain and you nedd space in your home, I believe a home should only hold the things you really love and that includes books. It is exciting though isn’t it? Enjoy your journey.
I think I would just order what I needed unless you have tons of bookshelves and your kids are voracious readers.
I would only order the books on the suggested list first. Once you see how quickly your family gets through each book/module, etc. then you might add a book here and there, but only after you get the feel of your family’s routines and patterns.
You may not be like me, but if we have it (on topic book, textbook, whatever) then I feel we MUST read it, do it, whatever and that just adds unnecessary pressure. It takes the joy out of the whole experience for me.
Plus when you’re on amazon they always show the extra books that can go along with other books, but that’s just their way of advertising. They probably can go together, but like I said, if it’s not the suggested one for the module/lesson then ignore those books for now.
I’m a recovering curriculum junkie. Do yourself a favor and remember *Less is More*. You’ll be happier and your children will love you for not overloading them and yourself on all the great homeschooling supplies:)
Thank you ladies…. I had be forwarned by a friend of mine who had over bought. I didnt want the hassle of having to “re-sale” curriculum or books that werent being used… That being said it is hard when you first start out, because if you havent been homeschooling you dont quite know what books will work for your kids..
Im struggling on Math curriculum, because I cant afford RS… I am leaning to Math Mammoth, and Im praying its a good decision…. I think Math has been the hardest decision thus far.
I notice parents tend to supplement quite a bit with various curriculums as well, and Im trying to watch for what to use together as well…
It can get confusing…
We have been using Math U See for several years and it has worked well. It is a little more expensive than some programs but well worth it. I liked the videos in the beginning since I am not strong in Math and these helped me gain my confidence.
We use Math Mammoth, too. My oldest uses Saxon, but I felt he needed a supplement of just fractions. It’s very affordable, especially for one concept, I have really learned alot from the simple explanations, too.
I would consider using the program as our text in the future if something stops working:)
I am using MEP math (Mathematics Enhancement Programme) It is free except for your paper and ink – and it is excellent. My 2 children LOVE it and are always thrilled when math time comes.
It is UK, and it is designed for a classroom, but easily converts to homeschooling. (You do have to do the teaching, but the lesson plans are very helpful.) There is also a Yahoo group for MEP homeschoolers that you would want to join – lots of support.
The thing is with it being free – you can always try it, and if you don’t like it, you haven’t lost anything….
http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm
Thank you for MEP… Does this go by grade level? I know that Teaching Textbooks isnt like grade level, so I wasnt sure? Can this be used a your core? Or do you need supplements?
Thank you so much you have been so helpful!
Hi,
Re: MEP – You definitely don’t need supplements it’s quite a full and challenging programme. So this would be a core programme for sure.
Don’t be fooled that because it’s free it can’t be that good. It is a top quality programme and we gave it a go because it looked great and it was a bonus that it was free. They offer alot of help through the site as well as the yahoo support group. As the children work up through the grades they are lead into more independent learning, so the teacher load diminishes substantially.
I like to keep things simple and effective and cut out busy work and I can say that doing MEP has been quite enough. We do play games as well but that’s because we enjoy them not because we need to.
I have a ds8 (Yr3 in Australia) who is very active and we take no more than 20 -25 mins to do a lesson, for attention and best effort. I’m really proud of how ds8 is going with MEP maths.
My ears always prick up when people talk curriculum because I’m always listening for the best most effective to add to our HS as we need it, but I haven’t felt the need to change math at all.
Just my opinion, but hope you will find it helpful.
Blessings
Renelle
We also use MEP and love it! I have two boys 7 & 8. It’s a great program and they have learned so much through it. A very full math program, lots of manipulatives and games. A spiral based program, so introduction into many different areas of maths from the get go. We really enjoy this program.
Thank you, so then it isnt grade levels as we know them in United States…. I need to go on and read to figure the levels my kids would be in… and just try it out. Thank you again, this would be a blessing especially since it can be used as the core and no cost, wow!! Once last question, I have heard this and Math Mammoth to be compared to Singapore is this what you see?
Again thank you so much…
Hey, I see you have already been answered – but YES, MEP is a full curriculum. It tends to be quite challenging, yet teaches the concepts well.
I haven’t looked at Singapore – but have heard similar things about Singapore and MEP (ie, challenging, well planned out, etc…)
The people at the yahoo group are great to figure out placement – in general the advice is to start at a lower year number and go fast until the student is learning new things instead of starting at a level, and having to move back… Some of the concepts are taught a little differently, and there are things like puzzles and logic questions that take getting used to. (We are in Year 1 – and there have been some questions that really would be algebra questions…. solving 2 equations with 2 unknowns….. the kids do it by trial and error and instinct instead of algebra methods – but it IS different.)
Note that the money will be in UK – but as they now use a base 10 money system, you can just change pense to pennies and pounds to dollars…. and the measurements are in metric. This is actually a benefit as it helps the younger kids get a unit place firmly in their head – and metric is used in science, and pretty much world-wide except for the States…. you can either supliment with a cheap workbook, or do US measurements in everyday life. (This was actually a bonus to me as we use metric here too…)
I know on the MEP yahoo group, that a question was put up some months ago that if you had to pay for MEP would you still use it – and everyone resoundingly answered YES. It really is high quality.
Hi again,
Re: Placement for MEP. Our ds8 is in year3 (Australia) but we started with MEP Yr 2 this year and have found that his confidence has been boosted.
It’s challenging enough as well as concreting some already mastered areas. We get through some lessons fairly quickly so all going as I expect we will start Yr 3 half to 3/4 through our school year.
We first came into contact with MEP through a blog of another Australian homeschooler who showed how they use it in great detail http://www.ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/search/label/Mathematics
Blessings
Renelle
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