CLE Math for Higher Grades?

We are in level 4 and so far we like it.  My son does Life of Fred on Fridays though.  And we skip the quizzes and tests and sometimes I mark out some of the We Remember problems so there isn’t too much.  But I like the worktext being written to the student, and all the review and practice of facts, etc.  And there are story themes to make it more interesting.  I just ordered the whole next level to keep on going.  But for grade 7, I plan to use only Life of Fred for pre-algebra, unless we need something more.

At the beginning of math in 1st or 2nd, they use RightStart level B and so they also use their AL abacus when needed with CLE.  But my son in level 4 does not use/need the abacus so much now.

Angelina, did you use the newer Sunrise edition?  I am not sure if it matters, but that is what we use.  My son did RS level C and then moved into 304.  There was some overlap of concepts already covered, but also new concepts I helped him with.  Then in 305, he came to me only when he did not understand.  Then I would maybe show him on the AL abacus or draw a picture or use other manipulatives, but honestly only ever use the TM for the answers shown on duplicate student pages.  And we correct the missed problems together so he learns from his mistakes.

My daughter still uses RightStart B some, but I have her doing some problems in 208 because I do not plan to do RS level C with her.  She will just do level 300 and start Life of Fred once a week.

So as far as I can tell, the Sunrise CLE Light Units are written to the student midway through level 200.  But I do tend to help her more than I do with my son who is older and in the 400 level.  HTH.

We’re up to grade 5 in CLE’s math  – and we’ve used it since grade 1.  I think the switch to writing to the student happens around book 203.  I still need to read to my daughter who’s in book 208, but she’s dyslexic.  And I still need to occasionally help my daughter who’s in book 504 with new (And not-so-new) concepts…..but I think that’s due to this daughter not reading slowly and carefully.

My plan is to keep using CLE as long as I can.   I’m not sure how far it goes – I have heard of people using it until 7th or 8th grade and then moving to Saxon.

I would like to experiment with Life of Fred, though.  It’s the cost and the fear (is it really enough to stand on its own; and if it’s supplementary, do we really need it?).

Oh – I do the same as Wings2Fly and sometimes cross out problems that I know my daughters can do.  I guess that’s something else I like about the curriculum – it’s spiral.  So, it introduces a topic, you practice a bit (like 3 – 5 problems), then you move on to reviewing the other things you’ve learned.  The next lesson, you practice that new stuff more (like 3 – 5 problems again) and continue the review of older topics.  In my head, I can understand why a mastery program might be better — but at the same time, it’s so frustrating for my oldest daughter to not “Get” a topic and be forced to work at it over and over and over.  I like that I can help her with all the problems the first day, with some the 2nd day and then she can do it on her own the 3rd day.

Karen,

My son started LoF before we did CLE when I was looking for something more independent for his math.  I did not think the elementary set was enough on its own.  I searched and searched until I found CLE and liked the samples.  We have been with CLE about a year, as we started mid year last year.  We had only 6 weeks off for summer and he did two LoF books then.  I skipped the 401 book since it is review and we just kept on going to the next book.  There are 13 lessons per light unit with no quizzes or tests (which are just more practice problems without any new lessons, IMHO).    My son likes LoF and I hated to drop it.  And he sometimes has the same concept from his CLE math, but in a little different way of showing it in LoF and that seems to really challenge him.  I like that he gets math in a different way like that.   And he looks forward to his math on Fridays with LoF.  That is our lighter school day when we occasionally have a field trip or run errands.  I tried to match up the books as best I could, so I can help you with that.  I wrote them on the CLE scope and sequence I printed.  The author recommends starting at the first book, but you would not have to.  But there is more to learn in them than just math.  He talked a lot about Archimedes in one of the earlier books.  And he often talks about thinking through purchases to make a good decision.  If they are in level 5 CLE, I wonder if the intermediate set of three LoF would be right.  The Fractions book on up are set up differently and have more problems and lessons and would take longer to get through, which is why I plan on trying to do only LoF when we get to that point.  The elementary books are $16 each and have 18 lessons each.  So we get through 3-4 books per year.  I have him do a book on winter break and summer break so he is still doing some reading and math.  And we get through 11 light units in a 36 week school year.  I feel he is a little behind since we had to transition into CLE.  I have heard they are a whole level more advanced than other curriculum.  So we just keep going at a good pace for him.

Thank you for that info — I’ll more seriously consider them, then.

Right now we struggle to get all the CLE math lessons into our 180 day year because of reaching day 180 (I include field trips, etc. in our day count) rather easily.  And because my daughter doesn’t really like math – so it’s the last thing she wants to do.  We’re slowly working on this, and the last two weeks, she’s been doing pretty good.

For my part, I’m trying not to stress about finishing the lessons – it really doesn’t matter, esp. since now (in PA) the public school superintendent will NOT see her portfolio (and therefore won’t see what math lesson she got to).