Short lessons and math

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  • Rene
    Participant

    How exactly should short lessons work with math?  If I want the children to do math for 20 minutes, do they just keep working problem after problem until the time is up?  What I had been doing is just having them do one page a day, but sometimes that page took 5 minutes, and sometimes it took 30. 

    suzukimom
    Participant

    Sounds like you are doing ok.  (I note that you didn’t mention how old your kid(s) are….)   It won’t hurt if things occasionally take a little longer if it most of the time doesn’t.

    I will say that I enjoy MEP math the most for short math lessons.  Math for my 6yo son would take about 20 minutes most days… about 15 to 25 minutes generally (this is with MEP.)  But what makes it even better is that each MEP lesson has around 4 to 7 activities in it, which can add variety and make it like a lot of short lessons.  So it might have an activity introducing a new number (in year 1), and then doing a few problems that involve that number.  Then it might have you sing a counting song, then doing some review type problems, and then doing a math puzzle….     

    Rene
    Participant

    I have 3 daughters, they are 8, 10, and 12.  They are all very behind in math.  It is one of MY worst subjects and I have not been consistent with teaching it.  My 12 year old is just learning mulitiplcation.  Currently they are all using Spectrum Math workbooks.  My 12 and 10 yo girls are using the grade 3 book, and my 8 yo is doing the grade 1 book, but she is not doing very well with it.  In the past I’ve tried Math-U-See and have also used Math Mammoth.  I looked at MEP months ago and it looked very confusing to me and I couldn’t figure out how to use it.  I’ve just learned there is a yahoo group for it and I requested to join.

    cherylramirez
    Participant

    Have you considered Math U See?  Math is not my strong point either and my dd is doing pre-algebra on her own.

    Rene
    Participant

    I edited my post above to say that I did try Math U See years ago.  It just wasn’t a good fit for us, and I couldn’t afford it now anyway. 

    I forgot to mention that we will also be using CalcuLadder this year.

    suzukimom
    Participant

    The yahoo group does help a lot with MEP. 

    Also, check out this helpful blog post (not my blog)  http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com/2009/06/mep-101.html

    Rene
    Participant

    If I was to use MEP, which I’ve heard is very teacher itensive, would I need to schedule Math one-on-one with each daughter, since they are all at different levels?

    Rene, Have you looked into Math on the Level?  http://www.mathonthelevel.com/  This is a self contained curriculum, although, we have used it as a fun and engaging suppliment. It helped the kids and myself to see the everyday practicality. Before using Math on the Level, I did not consider how often we really do apply math throughout our day.

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