I need a math supplement...Miquon?

[calynde]

We're using Oak Meadow 1st grade as a base, as it matches up with the local public school curriculum and we're in a very regulated place. We supplement it with countless other resources, but now we need a plan for math. DS likes the Waldorfy math in OM but since we're dealing with yearly testing, we feel like we should work a bit more with traditional math. We're looking for something easy to follow, creative and hopefully not too boring, and that presents math in a "normal" progression so that testing isn't a worry.

Any suggestions? How about Miquon math?

[theretohere]

Originally Posted by calynde

We're using Oak Meadow 1st grade as a base, as it matches up with the local public school curriculum and we're in a very regulated place. We supplement it with countless other resources, but now we need a plan for math. DS likes the Waldorfy math in OM but since we're dealing with yearly testing, we feel like we should work a bit more with traditional math. We're looking for something easy to follow, creative and hopefully not too boring, and that presents math in a "normal" progression so that testing isn't a worry.

Any suggestions? How about Miquon math?

A lot of kids like Miquon, but I don't know if that's exactly what you are looking for. Miquon is all hands on lab sheets- it's not exactly the same scope and sequence as a traditional program and most people I know who use it and who have testing concerns have to supplement with something more bookish.
Have you looked at Math Mammoth? I love it because it's cheap, you can print as many sheets as needed on problem areas, and it's focused. CurrClick offers it for good prices and it's available for instant download.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by theretohere

A lot of kids like Miquon, but I don't know if that's exactly what you are looking for. Miquon is all hands on lab sheets- it's not exactly the same scope and sequence as a traditional program and most people I know who use it and who have testing concerns have to supplement with something more bookish.

I agree - we love Miquon, but I think it wouldn't work very well in your situation. We use Miquon with Singapore; Singapore is more straightforward, IMO.

I definitely try to find some free online sites - there's a million of them - and see if you can get what you need that way.

[theretohere]

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

I agree - we love Miquon, but I think it wouldn't work very well in your situation. We use Miquon with Singapore; Singapore is more straightforward, IMO.

I definitely try to find some free online sites - there's a million of them - and see if you can get what you need that way.

OP I haven't used it, but MEP is free. http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm

http://www.currclick.com/advanced_se...lt.php?tag=185 Math Mammoth downloads are between $2-$4 and you just pick the levels and subjects you need.
I don't know of any other free or low cost complete online programs, but I'm sure others will.

[craft_media_hero]

If you use Miquon, your kid will be getting a very solid foundation in Math. We use Singapore, too, but I think if I had to pick only one, we'd do Miquon all the way through and then switch back to Singapore at a higher level.

So far (we are in Orange/Red right now), Miquon has more than addressed everything my DD's ps peers are getting in math. Maybe add in some story problems (Waldorf style) or a few workbook sheets (that's where we use the Singapore) so that your DS is getting familiar with the "style" the ps uses.

Yay Miquon! We LOVE our Miquon. I think it's an amazing program (started in a US public school by a teacher), and just yesterday I was telling my DP how I thought that if public schools used Miquon for the primary grades, US math scores would start improving drastically.

Miquon fosters real understanding of mathematical concepts (like Waldorf math), not just memorization of facts or spitting out the right answers. I guess you can tell where my opinion is on the matter

We started out with the Waldorf math approach, and my daughter really responded well to it (like your DS), then added Miquon/Singapore. We still do living/waldorf math about half the time, and it's a pretty good balance.