Erik is totally into math right now. I mean, he's always been into math, but he's REALLY into math right now.
I find pages all over the house with various problems on them. He wants to do EPGY every night. He's at a point where he's learning new things now, but he's still flying. It's kind of amazing--he's at 3.8+ grade level in every topic, about to start 4th. And it's been only half the month! I am not sure he'll get all the way done with 4th grade before the end of May, though, which is what I was hoping. I was planning on taking a break for the summer, so then he has to start at 3/4 again in the fall, and shortly thereafter go to the next level, which means another fee. It's not much, but still. Oh well.
Anyway, he's excited about everything having to do with math, even basic problems. It's fun!
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Heather
Mama to E, 6 2/3 and A, 4 1/2
Erik is totally into math right now. I mean, he's always been into math, but he's REALLY into math right now.
I find pages all over the house with various problems on them. He wants to do EPGY every night. He's at a point where he's learning new things now, but he's still flying. It's kind of amazing--he's at 3.8+ grade level in every topic, about to start 4th. And it's been only half the month! I am not sure he'll get all the way done with 4th grade before the end of May, though, which is what I was hoping. I was planning on taking a break for the summer, so then he has to start at 3/4 again in the fall, and shortly thereafter go to the next level, which means another fee. It's not much, but still. Oh well.
Anyway, he's excited about everything having to do with math, even basic problems. It's fun!
You wouldn't have to start again. your account stays there, just inactive. he would pick up where he left off. And why not keep it active for the summer, an give him 30 minutes of computer time every couple of days. If he's enjoying it... kwim?
Nathan slowed WAY down... of course, I set his time for 20 minutes instead of 40 and we've not been really diligent about doing it every day (aiming for 3 times a week for the last few months). For the first 2 months he flew through because he couldn't get enough. He still loves it.
You wouldn't have to start again. your account stays there, just inactive. he would pick up where he left off. And why not keep it active for the summer, an give him 30 minutes of computer time every couple of days. If he's enjoying it... kwim?
Nathan slowed WAY down... of course, I set his time for 20 minutes instead of 40 and we've not been really diligent about doing it every day (aiming for 3 times a week for the last few months). For the first 2 months he flew through because he couldn't get enough. He still loves it.
I could, I guess... we'll be gone for a month, but my parents do have a computer. I'll ask him what he wants to do.
He hasn't slept with a math book (cute!), but he pops out of bed all the time--to tell me some sort of math problem he's been contemplating. I told DH that it's like any spurt, eventually he'll probably level off and let all of that percolate for awhile, and concentrate on something else. But it's wild to watch right now.
I could, I guess... we'll be gone for a month, but my parents do have a computer. I'll ask him what he wants to do.
He hasn't slept with a math book (cute!), but he pops out of bed all the time--to tell me some sort of math problem he's been contemplating. I told DH that it's like any spurt, eventually he'll probably level off and let all of that percolate for awhile, and concentrate on something else. But it's wild to watch right now.
Yep it does tend to grow into other things. Nate has stayed pretty much with art and math, though.
Although, science is getting more interesting to him. A few weeks ago he and I were talking. He asked me what I thought of this theory... if everyone in the world was to walk in one direction at the same time, would the friction of our feet be strong enough to slow or speed the earth's revolutions depending on which way we were all walking?
Funny thing is... I remember wondering that SAME EXACT thing. I remember riding in the car up to see my Uncle in the middle of PA, and it was a LONG car ride, so I asked my mom the same thing. I don't think I was 10, though, I think I was more like 16. I remember that trip vividly... we made the trip so many times, but I remember sitting in the seat looking out the window wondering that same thing. weird.
Can you all tell me more about this? Seamus turned 4 in Feb and LOVES math. He does single digit addition in his head, and is easily on a K, possibly first level in math. I am wanting to foster it more...so tell me about EPGY!
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Annette
Mama to
Seamus McKoy 2/28/04
and
Julianna Laura 1/10/06
Can you all tell me more about this? Seamus turned 4 in Feb and LOVES math. He does single digit addition in his head, and is easily on a K, possibly first level in math. I am wanting to foster it more...so tell me about EPGY!
It's a gifted program put out by Stanford University. They also have Language Arts courses for children gifted in LA. In order to be accepted they have to have some type of standardized testing that places them well above peers - and after they are 7 they can take Stanford's online test to place.
Annette, we've talked about EPGY a lot in this forum! I'm not sure when he can officially start, I'd guess in Kindergarten, though. I plan to start it with Anders in K (he's 4, too--almost exactly the same age as Seamus!). It's not cheap, by any means, but it's good. Now, if you're planning on homeschooling, we've talked about how it might not be the best math curriculum for your money. But we're not homeschooling, so it works well for us.
The youngest math students do NOT need a standardized test. I think under 7? I didn't have to report any scores of any kind (we didn't have results of testing when we'd enrolled him) Anyway, so that's helpful for the younger ones.
If you're looking for something for him to do now, Erik really enjoyed the Singapore series. We were doing the 1st grade curric with him at 4, but I played around with it a little with Anders, and he's so totally not ready for that. But the earlybird series is fun, and really really cheap. I haven't done it with A yet, because he's just a different kind of kid--he's really learning math more through manipulatives and games. If Seamus is into easy workbooks, though--it's colorful, fun, and would probably work great.
Heather would know about the younger set. I had Nathan take the Stanford online assessment and he was accepted through that. Before I had him do that, we were looking at standardized testing... which I am not convinced I want to do with the kids. I was glad when I found the Stanford one for the course. BUT... the child has to be 7 to take it.
I have a question for either of the Heathers. My son is finishing up 3rd grade at public school, but is over halfway through Saxon 65 here at home. How do they determine where to place the child when they start EPGY? Do they have to start at their age appropriate grade level?
I have a question for either of the Heathers. My son is finishing up 3rd grade at public school, but is over halfway through Saxon 65 here at home. How do they determine where to place the child when they start EPGY? Do they have to start at their age appropriate grade level?
I know the other Heather (lol) was able ot work with them on placement. I didn't worry about it. Even though Nathan had been working above grade level, I started him at the age level that he would be in their program... which happened to be 3/4. He flew through the 3rd grade stuff in a matter of a few weeks. Then, Dad left for Iraq, Mom wasn't as diligent at making sure Nathan was working as regularly - so he slowed WAY down (from working 5 days a week for 40 minutes to now working 3 days a week at 20 minutes). So he's finishing up the 4th grade stuff - but a lot of it is WAY more than 4th grade stuff. It's presented in such a different way - presented for gifted children. It incorporates so much more than just math skills - it's higher level thinking, lots of logic, etc. I completely see the value in placing them at the age level they are - because of the way the material is presented. Even though it's walking Nathan through long division now (and he could do it before), it is also adding in a LOT of stuff I never would have thought of (atomic and molecular number sentences ???) and that are not included in typical math curricula. And it's presented in a way that if the new concept is understood the first time, they don't ask too many questions before moving on (I believe they do 5 to make sure the child understands, and they move on if they get them all right - if they miss them all, they move on and come back to that concept later, too!). It's so individualized, it's cool.
I started Erik at grade level, actually (it was Jen--mamaj--who was working to advance Tucker's grade level). But I started him in K, when he was in K, so it's not so far to get ahead.
He went through K-2 in 2 months, but only 30 days' worth of work. He got a lot more motivated to work once we hit 3rd grade, because there are new things. The 1st grade stuff was really dull for him. (he did the K level in 2 days. )
I think it's good to start at grade level, and let them know that it will start easy, but they'll get through quickly. My reasoning was that I didn't want him to have any gaps. However, I've not done any homeschool math. You might already not have any gaps.
You could start out at his grade level, then after a few days ask his tutor if he could take the test to see if he could advance. But it might be good to see what it's like on his grade level, since it really goes through the concepts, not just the computation. Even at the 3rd grade level, I've learned a lot!
Oh, and other Heather--wow, I'm excited about what Erik will get to in 4th grade. It sounds like he really will slow down some, and get some really cool stuff. Great!
I started Erik at grade level, actually (it was Jen--mamaj--who was working to advance Tucker's grade level). But I started him in K, when he was in K, so it's not so far to get ahead.
He went through K-2 in 2 months, but only 30 days' worth of work. He got a lot more motivated to work once we hit 3rd grade, because there are new things. The 1st grade stuff was really dull for him. (he did the K level in 2 days. )
I think it's good to start at grade level, and let them know that it will start easy, but they'll get through quickly. My reasoning was that I didn't want him to have any gaps. However, I've not done any homeschool math. You might already not have any gaps.
You could start out at his grade level, then after a few days ask his tutor if he could take the test to see if he could advance. But it might be good to see what it's like on his grade level, since it really goes through the concepts, not just the computation. Even at the 3rd grade level, I've learned a lot!
Oh, and other Heather--wow, I'm excited about what Erik will get to in 4th grade. It sounds like he really will slow down some, and get some really cool stuff. Great!
ITA - that is exactly why I didn't push to go up to the next level. And it most definitely will cover any gaps... and in this, there will be gaps because it's just different than typical curriculum. I was going to push for Nate to start at the 5/6 level, but I am glad I didn't. it's given him the confidence that he CAN do it on his own (he was afraid he couldn't do it on his own) and that if a concept doesn't make sense at first, it's ok to skip and it will come back later. Also, it's given him yet another way to think about the basic mathematical concepts. Sure he could do long division, and he did understand it... but walking him through step by step in their methodical way has really ingrained it in him and he is so much more confident in his own skills.
Military wife of a deployed soldier. 
I'll ask him what he wants to do.
My son is finishing up 3rd grade at public school, but is over halfway through Saxon 65 here at home. How do they determine where to place the child when they start EPGY? Do they have to start at their age appropriate grade level?
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