Life of Fred elementary books

We’ve read Apples and my boys love Fred.  Judging by this one I would not say that it could be a stand alone curriculum, but a fun way to introduce concepts and why they work.  They are also full of snatches of other interesting info that may or may not be related to math.  My boys are well beyond Apples, but are very interested in reading the rest of the series, and I am sure they would eventually find their level if we did.  I wish I could afford the whole set.  We are wondering if the original series is more complete in its instruction as I think my older son would especially like them.  He’s not a strong Math student at this point.  We have just swtiched to math mammoth, so I hope that will change.  We were using MM light blue series.  Good program – worked very well — for my younger especially, but I think my older son will benifit much more from the multi-sensory approach. 

Life of Fred has been an answer to prayer for our family. We currently have the complete Elementary set, Fractions, Decimals and Percents, Beginning Algebra and Advanced Algebra in our personal library. My 10 year old son is begging me to skip ahead and purchase Calculus so that he can read the beginning of Fred’s story. :0) Three of my children are using it as a stand alone Math, while my mathematically challenged 13 year old son is reading thru the elementary series as he completes MUS Delta. My 16 yo son is completing the Algebra books and I am AMAZED at his understanding. For my younger students, we do make flash cards to correspond with the math facts presented in the elementary books. We also use a Judy clock with moveable hands during the “telling time” lessons, and actual coins during lessons involving money. My just turned 6 year old daughter is finishing Math U See Primer, and I plan to start her in Apples. If I sense any difficulties in understanding, I plan to have her work MUS: Alpha alongside LOF. I guess it can be said we use it both as a stand alone AND with something else. :0) I know that when I first researched the books I planned to use them alongside MUS, but for us it has morphed into LOF being our primary math curriculum. Life of Fred really does teach the “why”!

Alana

Hi, we have worked through Apples and are almost done with Butterflies.  I plan to continue the whole series.  My 5 year old is doing them along with Miquon Math.  These work really well together.  The Miquon gives her the hands-on, concrete demonstration of the math and the LOF gives her the verbal explanations to go along with it.  Looking back, I wish I had been able to do this combo with my other kids.  I think it is ideal for early elementary.  My other kids, aged 7, 10, and 11 use Strayer-Upton math and are all at different spots in the first book.  I am having them go through LOF even though they are beyond most of the concepts, simply because they enjoy the books and I think he gets the kids to think mathematically.  The Strayer-Upton books are very inexpensive and you could definitely pull from them to supplement the Fred lessons.  For example, if they need more work on their 2’s times tables, you would teach that section from the Strayer Upton and have them do some of the problems.  We have also thrown in the Simply Charlotte Mason pet store math for good measure, and because my kids think it’s really fun.

amama5,

The books are impressive and filled with a LOT more information that just math facts. However, the online descriptions DO, at times, use harder names to describe what the child is learning in the books. :0) I have even learned things while reading the elementary books. :0) As far as the age of the child, I feel confident that my 6 year old will have no problem with them, but I will add hands on manipulatives. I read the books to my dyslexic 9 year old son who is still learning to read. Although he still writes some of the numerals the wrong way, he has no problem enjoying or understanding the books. I am having my 10 year old son work quickly thru the elementary books up to Fractions. He is reading the books and writing the answers on paper, as is my 13 year old. My 16 year old will read any Fred book that comes in the door…oh, and so do I. :0) The author did not intend for the books to need a supplement, but that’s the joy of homeschooling… customizing books to fit the needs of your family. Is all that as clear as mud? :0)

pslively,

We are also using Miquon and Fred.  I haven’t figured out the best way to combine them though.  Suggestions?  Right now I am waiting til my daughter completes one workbook then we’ll work through one Fred book.  I tried some other combinations before using Miquon and just couldn’t come up with a good plan.  Using Fred only once per week seems to interfere a little with the story line, but I like a little more practice between each chapter.  Would love to hear your “schedule.”

Jennifer

Jennifer,

I would love to tell you that I have a great plan integrating the two curricula, but the truth is that I don’t.  We do one chapter of Fred per day, along with one or two pages of Miquon.  We were about halfway through the Miquon Orange book when we started Apples.  Right now we are almost done with Orange and we are on chapter 11 of Butterflies.  So far it has worked out well.  I realize I may have to tweak in the future, but for now, my daughter is connecting all of the concepts in her mind.