As I have blogged before, I feel math should be like other subjects and not left to be taught by a curriculum, and I have adopted the Math Enhancement Programme as my math spine.

I have started using MEP and we really like it.  Mostly I like the way the program introduces advanced concepts in bit-sized pieces to store away for later.  I also like that each lesson has a variety of activities, some to fill out in the student book, some done mentally with oral answers, and others done at "the board." We have a large dry erase board but with one sudent a personal one would work just fine.

We're supposed to do all the activities for 45 minutes (that's for a whole class of students) five days a week.  Friday is "revision" (review.)  I won't be doing everything everyday, that's for sure.  Some days we may play games or read books.  I certainly have enough math literature on my book shelves, never mind the endless others at the library.  I want these to be an important part of our math learning, just like other subjects.

For ds#1, the focus is on fractions, decimals, and percentages--and I have 3 years to master this by "public school" standards.  For ds#2, the focus is regrouping and multiplication.  Ds#3 will do patterns, counting, adding, and subtracting informally.