This guide provides important information for using the high-quality and free MEP Math Curriculum to homeschool Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.
Grade Placement
MEP Math Curriculum years approximately line up with U.S. grade levels as follows:
| MEP Math Year | Approximate U.S. Grade Level |
| Year 1 | Kindergarten |
| Year 2 | First Grade |
| Year 3 | Second Grade |
| Year 4 | Third Grade |
| Year 5 | Fourth Grade |
| Year 6 | Fifth Grade |
Please note, MEP is an academically rigorous math curriculum and the grade levels suggested here may not line up exactly with your student’s current skill set. If your student has recently received an inconsistent math education or struggles with math as a subject, please use the previous grade level curriculum and work with your student at their own pace. Establishing strong math skills is far more important than lining them up with the grade levels on this chart.
Free Resources
How-to Videos: Watch the how-to videos to learn to use the MEP Math curriculum to homeschool by clicking here: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade.
Daily Schedule: A free daily schedule is available for each grade level by clicking here: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade.
Getting Ready to Use the MEP Math Curriculum
Downloading the Curriculum: All MEP Math curriculum can be downloaded from the MEP Math website. Click here to view a how-to video for downloading this free curriculum.
Lesson Plans: There are 6 sets of lesson plans for each year of curriculum and these make up the teacher’s guide for the curriculum. The lesson plans are broken up by lesson number ranges so the files are smaller to download.
- Option #1: To teach a lesson you can simply open the PDF file on your device and navigate to the lesson for that day.
- Option #2: Print all six files double-sided and place them in a binder or have them spiral bound at an office supply store.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a European curriculum and is formatted for size A4 paper instead of the standard 8.5”x11” paper common in the U.S. To print any of the curriculum documents you should either purchase A4 size paper or use the “fit” setting in the file printing options. Please note, if you use the “fit” setting, activities involving learning measurement won’t work properly since the content will have been squished to fit the smaller paper.
Practice Book: There are 6 sets of practice book pages for each year of curriculum and these are the worksheets for the curriculum. The practice book is broken up by lesson page ranges so the files are smaller to download.
- Print all six files double-sided and place them in a binder or have them spiral bound at an office supply store.
Practice Book Answers: There are 6 sets of practice book answer pages for each year of curriculum. The practice book answer pages are broken up by lesson page ranges so the files are smaller to download.
- Access these PDF files on your device when you need to check your student’s work. While these files can be printed, it is unnecessary to do so.
Copymasters: The copymasters are demonstration sheets you will use to teach your student. The copymasters are broken up by lesson number ranges so the files are smaller to download. Each copymaster has a letter/number combination listed in the bottom right-hand corner. For example, LP2/5 refers to Lesson Plan 2, Activity 5.
- Print all six files copymaster files for Year 2 and place them in a binder or have them spiral bound along with the practice book pages at an office supply store. These files can be printed double-sided.
Optional Support Materials: These files are available on the MEP Math website and are for your reference only. These files do not need to be printed.
- Learning Objectives: A summary of the skills the student will learn during the school year.
- Facts to Know and Remember: A reference sheet of the math facts your student should memorize throughout year.
- Revision Questions and Answers: As errors in the curriculum are found, this is where the publisher posts the revisions.
- Exercises and Solutions: You do not need these files to homeschool.
OHP Transparency Collection: (Kindergarten and First Grade Only)
The lesson plans will alert you when an OHP Transparency is needed (referred to as “OHP”). You will access those here: https://www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mepres/primary/ohptrans/transmen.htm.
You may find it easier to print these files, particularly if you have access to a color printer but is not necessary to do so. OHP files are only used for Preschool, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade. Not all OHP files are used every year so don’t print them until you see a specific OHP called for in an upcoming lesson.
The Poster Collection: (Kindergarten and First Grade Only)
The lesson plans will alert you when poster is needed. You will access those here: https://www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mepres/primary/posters/posters.htm.
For some activities you may find it easier to print these files (particularly if you have access to a color printer) or you may need to adjust the activity a bit to accommodate viewing the image on a screen. Poster files are only used for Preschool, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade. Not all poster files are used every year so don’t print them until you see a specific poster called for in an upcoming lesson.
Math Manipulative Files: (Kindergarten and First Grade Only)
You will use these documents to teach your student throughout the school year. All of these files should be printed on cardstock if possible. Alternatively, you could laminate the pieces so they hold up better during the school year.
- Number Lines: Print the number lines file, cut into strips so each number line is its own piece. Optional: Color each number line a different color so they are easier to identify at a glance.
- Number Cards: Print the file and cut into individual cards.
- Sign Cards: Print the file and cut into individual cards.
- Shape Cards: Print the file and cut into individual cards.
- Shape Cards with Dots: Print the file and cut into individual cards.
Getting Organized
Lesson Plan Organization:
- Each lesson plan includes several numbered activities. Each activity is scripted so you will know exactly how to present the information to your student. Each activity also includes a column listing any manipulatives or other supplies needed.
- At the top each lesson plan is a box with an overview of the lesson topics:
- “R” refers to the review topic for the lesson. MEP Math is a “spiral” curriculum, so it incorporates regular review of previously learned concepts. Review activities should generally be completed each lesson day but can be skipped occasionally, if a student has mastered the skill being reviewed.
- “C” refers to the core topic and is the main teaching for that day. Core activities should be completed each lesson day.
- “E” refers to extension or extra activities which are optional. Not all lessons include an extension/extra activity. But when they do, there will be an “extension” indication in the right-hand column next to the activity so you’ll be able to identify that portion of the lesson and decide whether to skip it.
- “R” refers to the review topic for the lesson. MEP Math is a “spiral” curriculum, so it incorporates regular review of previously learned concepts. Review activities should generally be completed each lesson day but can be skipped occasionally, if a student has mastered the skill being reviewed.
Common Acronyms Found in the Lesson Plans:
- “T” = Teacher (you)
- “P” = Pupil (student)
- “BB” = Blackboard. This generally indicates something should be written out and shown to the student. If you do not have a white board, chalk board, or board paper handy, you can write this information out on a regular piece of paper.
- “LHS”/”RHS” = Left-hand side and Right-hand side
- “Book 2, page 5” or a similar designation = The practice book (worksheets) and the page number
- “Poster” = Show the student the specific poster indicated and those files can be found here: https://www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mepres/primary/posters/posters.htm (Kindergarten and First Grade Only)
- “OHP” = Show the student the specific OHP Transparency indicated and those can be found here: https://www.cimt.org.uk/projects/mepres/primary/ohptrans/transmen.htm (Kindergarten and First Grade Only)
Advanced Preparation: It is highly recommended that you should always read through each lesson the night:
- Ensure that you understand the material and can follow the script for presenting it to your student. This is a very high-quality math curriculum focused on fostering deep understanding of mathematical concepts, but it is a different approach than most American adults experienced in their own education. Giving yourself time to process and understand the material will make for a more smooth and efficient lesson with your student.
- Ensure you have all the supplemental materials handy. Sometimes you will need to make a simple set of materials such as writing some math equations on index cards.
Using Manipulatives: (Required for Kindergarten and First Grade, Recommended for Second Grade)
While it is easiest to keep all math manipulatives in a box near where you do math lessons, most lessons will list supplies or math manipulatives needed in the supply column. The main math manipulatives needed for this program are included on the Homeschooling Supply List and include things such as counting sticks, dominoes, Cuisenaire-type rods, etc. You will also have downloaded and cut apart several sets of materials as part of preparing the primary materials for this course (see pg. 3).
In addition, it is recommended that you encourage your student to gather counting items that are meaningful to them. Items such as rocks or pebbles, sticks, plastic blocks, toy cars, etc. can all be appropriate.
Review or Catch-up Days: Kindergarten through Second Grade of this curriculum is set up for a 4-day math lesson week. The daily schedule does not list a formal lesson on Fridays. Instead you can use this day to review concepts taught during the week or as a catch-up day to complete any missed lessons. The Third Grade through Fifth Grade curriculum is set up for a 5-day math lesson week.
Important Tips
European Curriculum: This math curriculum was developed by the Center for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching and was tested in a number of European Countries. If you are an American family, using this European curriculum, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- All curriculum documents are formatted to be printed on size A4 paper instead of the standard 8.5”x11” paper common in the U.S. To print any of the curriculum documents you should either purchase A4 size paper or use the “fit” setting in the file printing options. Please note, if you use the “fit” setting, activities involving learning to measure won’t work properly since the page will have been squished to fit the smaller paper.
- Metric system measurements and European currency designations are taught throughout this program. You will need to teach your student the imperial (U.S.) system of measurement and the dollar currency designations separately. The website www.math-aids.com is a free website to print practice worksheets including those for measurement and money activities.
Designed for Classroom Use: This curriculum was designed for use in a classroom setting. You will need to make small adjustments to activities when working one-on-one with your student.
Time Suggestions on Lesson Plans: Every lesson plan has a time designated for each activity for a total of 45 minutes per school day. These time suggestions are meant for classroom teachers and are of little use to homeschooling families.
One-on-one instruction is almost always more efficient than classroom instruction and you will likely complete lessons in 20-30 minutes. If your student has trouble sitting still or focusing on math for that much time, remember you can break up the lesson and do parts of it throughout the day or float some activities to the Friday catch-up day listed on the daily schedule (insert link).
Correcting & Reworking Problems: In addition to encouraging your student to consistently produce neat and properly formatted math work, generally speaking you should also establish the habit of correcting the work as soon as the student has completed it. You will use the Practice Book Answer files downloaded from the MEP website. The student should then rework any incorrect problems. You can give hints as needed but the practice reworking and correctly solving the missed problems is an important part of a high-quality math education.
This correcting and reworking process tends to more organic younger students as you’ll be working through each problem with them and can provide hints and gentle corrections in real time.
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MEP Math has been made available through the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching.
