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tntreefarm
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
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any comments or experience with mecs software?
thanks, cathy
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 7:43pm | IP Logged
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Never heard of it. Can you link it?
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 23 2008 at 8:09pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
| Never heard of it. Can you link it? |
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Me either - sorry.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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tntreefarm
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 7:11am | IP Logged
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it's advertised in The Link
www.mecssoftware.com/home.htm
sounds good, but I'm cautious with 2 special needs children there is always another expensive program that looks great.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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Wow. I hadn't come across that one before. Hmmm...my thoughts? It seems a little much $$ for what you get.  There are a lot of neat packages offered, but as I read through them I recognized that a lot of them can be downloaded for free from Montessori Materials. Or, let me offer this option: Lori (montessori_lori) at Montessori For Everyone offers some absolutely beautiful pdf downloads which you can purchase one at a time.
Here are the drawbacks as I see it for spending $347 in one sitting on one software package. Take it from someone who has downloaded A LOT of pdf's! It is more expensive than just the initial investment. You'll need to print, and then for the cards to last a number of handlings, you'll need to laminate as well. And all of that printing, cutting, arranging, laminating takes a chunk of time!!! Also, there is the possibility that using the cards/software/printouts won't be as useful a tool as you had hoped. Could be an issue of print size, or maybe the format, or just that your kids might respond better to a different medium.
Now, let me say that 3 part cards are the backbone of our curriculum and have been a big hit for both my 7 and 11yo, but it may not be that way for everyone. It just seems that $347 is a lot to gamble with. It would be nice if you could just pay and download one file at a time to see if you liked it. That way you download what you're studying, it's not so overwhelming when you print, laminate, etc. And...if the kids don't care for it...you've only lost a few bucks and a little time. Make sense?
In a nutshell, I'd recommend downloading from Montessori Materials- the free site - for awhile to see if this form of introducing info fits your teaching style and your kid's learning style. Then, to fill in gaps, you can download from Montessori For Everyone.
HTH!  Just my 2 cents.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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tntreefarm
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 12:05pm | IP Logged
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Hi Jennifer,
thanks for your 2 cents worth- i think your comments are much more valuable. i will check out the links.
the mecssoftware had the advantage of actually doing the work at the computer. i have a 10 year old that has a math LD and Asperger's and working on the computer takes away lots of tension.
do you have any experience with montesorri math in general?
thanks, cathy
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much for the endorsement & links, Jen. You are a dear!
Cathy, I have heard of this software before but never tried it. From what I know, it is not printable materials like I offer but actual programs and games that teach Montessori concepts on the computer.
I think this program sounds great for math LD & Asperger's - as you mention, working at the computer can be much easier for them than doing work offline. And, this program is recommended by Heidi Speitz (a well-known Montessori author) and Tim Seldin, president of The Montessori Foundation, and I would trust their testimonials.
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tntreefarm
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Lori,
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate knowing that Heidi Speitz and Tim Seldin are trustworthy. I don't have enough of a knowledge base in Montesori to sort out who is legitimate.
I had originally begun looking for something to help my daughter memorize her math facts. Her problem with math seems to go way back so I thought it might make sense to start from the beginning again from a different approach (she made progress with saxon 1, but by lesson 110 couldn't finish the 1st grade curricullum) and see if whatever builing block hasn't connected will fall into place. She does much better on the computer and has been helped by some Edmark programs, but like many educational games there are missing pieces that an LD or other special needs child needs to be specifically taught.
I plan on checking out you website for my more "typical" children.
Thanks again for your comments,
Cathy
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montessori_lori
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The only thing I would check before buying would be the levels of the software - just to make sure they're appropriate for your kids.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 24 2008 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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tntreefarm wrote:
do you have any experience with montesorri math in general?
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Cathy,
My own experience with Montessori and the math materials is limited I fear, and I would so much more rely on Lori's experiences and wisdom here! I do have a 7yo son with ADD who has benefited so greatly from the application of Montessori in our home, and in particular in the use of the math materials. However, I have no experience whatsoever with Asperger's...so I'm sorry I can be of no help there. 
If you're wondering something specific though, I can try to answer...or perhaps even better...others here will chime in and you can get a broad opinion that may help you narrow things down.
There is a wonderful group of ladies in the Special Blessings forum that could offer a lot more specific advice to meet your needs I bet! And as I link to them I see that one of our wonderful moderators has already moved your question to that forum, so I'm hopeful you may get some good responses from them.
Good luck with your decision, and God bless.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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tntreefarm
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| Posted: Jan 25 2008 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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Thanks Jennifer and Lori
I appreciate your taking the time to respond. I know how little there is of it in a day.
I do know about the special blessing site- that is usually where I hang out.
thanks again and God Bless
Cathy
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Montessori Educational Software
