Another Life of Fred question….

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  • June 16, 2010 at 12:02 pm
    momto2blessings
    Participant

    Life of Fred users, do you feel this is a stand-alone program?  On the Well-Trained Mind Forums I’ve heard  a lot of using it as a supplement to Math-U-See (our current program).  I just bought LOF Fractions to supplement MUS (will let dd test out of MUS and not do all pages if gets 95% or higher on 1st page of lesson). 

    Just wondering for the long run if it will be too much to do both, or if LOF will be enough to prepare well for college level math.  Thanks for any input:)  Gina

    June 16, 2010 at 1:07 pm
    krommama
    Member

    We have used LOF Fractions, and we are now finishing LOF Decimals and Percents.  We don’t do any other math programs, but we use the flashmaster (and electronic flashcard system) every school day.  I also found that my son (finishing 6th grade soon) wasn’t retaining the information in the LOF books as much as I would like, so I put a few problems (no more than 5) on the white board each day for extra practice.

    We like the books.  My son enjoys the story about Fred.  We will continue with the series, but I think I will supplement LOF with MEP this coming fall.  I use MEP with my daughter (finishing 3rd grade soon) and I REALLY like this program.  When she is old enough for LOF, I will use the two programs together for her.

    From what I understand, the series becomes more challenging once you are in beginning algebra.  Then the books have a companion book for extra practice.  And the series is supposed to be a very thorough stand alone math program.

    Sarah

     

    After rereading your post, I realized I didn’t really answer your question.  Laughing

    We don’t use MUS, but I don’t think it would be too much to do both.  The books aren’t very long, and each section isn’t very long.

    I do think LOF will be enough to prepare for college level math.  But your child might need to supplement with the first books that don’t have the companion books with the extra problems.

     

    June 16, 2010 at 6:47 pm
    NorthLaurel
    Participant

    I haven’t ever used MUS but have heard mostly good things about it. I actually have some of the older books. Anyway, with LOF, it can be a stand alone or it may need to be supplemented. I  think it depends on the child and the long term goals. My dd is ‘reviewing’ with Decimals & Percents now and I feel that for her, it will be a stand alone program when she starts Pre-Algebra with Biology. But for my ds, who is finishing up Fractions now, I think I will need to supplement it. Dd seems to retain info longer than ds in certain subjects; math being one of them. Ds isn’t quite that way. I have thought of using MEP with ds as well as some of the games online that are free.

    I agree with Sarah that it will be enough for preparation for college level math but depending on the child, supplements may be necessary. I definitely think that it would be very doable to do both MUS and LOF.  

    June 16, 2010 at 8:40 pm
    Blueridge
    Participant

    We love LOF here. My 12 dd completed the Fractions and Decimals/Percents books this school year and has grown leaps and bounds in math. I also read the worries of moms who thought it might not be enough, so I asked my dd if she wanted to try something a little more, well, traditional, and she begged to continue LOF. My 16dd will finish her math with LOF Calculus, and said the geometry and trig really helped her think more mathematically. I think the neat thing about this method is that the students must wrestle from time to time with the problems, since he doesn’t spoon-feed or just list 50 of the same kind of problem for repetitive practice ad nauseum. This is why students retain so much, because they have to really think through the problems to be able to answer them. And for a bonus, these books are FUNNY!!

    Ginger

    June 17, 2010 at 12:41 am
    Alana Adams
    Participant

    There has been a good bit of talk about Life of Fred, which we LOVE, btw. I’m wondering if anyone has used the Professor B’s math that is recommended on the LOF website for the elementary grades- or until the child is ready for LOF. To me, it looks great… But I’m the lady that has spent a lot of money on bad curriculum… So I don’t always trust my judgement! :0). It appears very much CM friendly… I would love to hear from anyone who knows more about it.

    June 18, 2010 at 3:02 pm
    momto2blessings
    Participant

    Thanks for all the suggestions!  I’m looking forward to trying it next year as a supplement, then will look into having it as a possible stand alone later.  I appreciate the replies:)  Gina

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