CLE Learn to Read or All About Reading

[Guest]

Which would you choose for phonics instruction, CLE Learn to Read or All About Reading?

 

 

[Tenaj]

I've used both and would now choose All About Reading hands down but that's because my two youngest love, love, love hands-on stuff and very interactive, mom-intensive curriculum - LOL!  

 

I used CLE's very successfully with my now fifth grader and he loved it but he's a very independent kind of guy.  When he was learning to read I had two toddlers running around the house and it's probably good that he loved workbooks because I'm not sure that anything else would have gotten done.  With the Learning to Read I was able to be present to help and listen but had my hands free to hold babies and toddlers.  I did try it again with the next kiddo but he hated writing and wouldn't have anything to do with it.

[MerryAtHope]

I'd try to see them in person if you can, or look at online samples for each one--here's a link with the AAR samples. That often helped me decide which way to go. AAR breaks things down in a way that would have been very helpful for my kids. HTH as you decide which way to go!

[TheAttachedMama]

I would pick aar personally.

[Caviar]

AAR

[Anliena]

I did pick AAR.  Not sure about CLE but AAR has hands on games, a slow and logical approach, and they have incredible customer service the few times I've emailed them when my son seemed to be having problems.

[dessertbloom]

Can anyone compare the scope and sequence of AAR and CLE LTR? If I understand right, AAR takes the student to a 4th grade reading level once they have covered all 4 levels of the program. I'm not as familiar with CLE's scope and sequence. If I understand right, it teaches letter sounds in KII (like AAR Pre-Reading), and then basically covers everything else in what they call 1st grade, right? Beyond that they have the "Reading" program, which is more practice reading and comprehension, etc., right?  Is AAR more thorough, or do they end up covering the same amount of phonics? Another consideration is that from the samples I've seen, I think CLE would involve more writing, whereas AAR involves no writing (at least in the levels I've seen).

[mommy5]

How hard is it to do each day?  I have an almost 6 year old and a 4.5 year old along with 18 month and will have newborn in December (and homeschooling older kids).  How much time do you guys spend on AAR?

[Syllieann]

Can anyone compare the scope and sequence of AAR and CLE LTR? If I understand right, AAR takes the student to a 4th grade reading level once they have covered all 4 levels of the program. I'm not as familiar with CLE's scope and sequence. If I understand right, it teaches letter sounds in KII (like AAR Pre-Reading), and then basically covers everything else in what they call 1st grade, right? Beyond that they have the "Reading" program, which is more practice reading and comprehension, etc., right? Is AAR more thorough, or do they end up covering the same amount of phonics? Another consideration is that from the samples I've seen, I think CLE would involve more writing, whereas AAR involves no writing (at least in the levels I've seen).

Aar has 4 levels, but that doesn't equate to a 4th grade reading level. After level 4, all the phonics rules are taught. It is just a matter of gaining fluency and learning rule breakers. Once you get all the phonics mastered, reading level is really more about vocabulary development and background knowledge. So, after aar 4 a child might be able to decode pretty much anything, but comprehension will be limited to the child's oral language ability. I can't compare this to cle, but aar is awesome. :)

[MotherGoose]

How hard is it to do each day? I have an almost 6 year old and a 4.5 year old along with 18 month and will have newborn in December (and homeschooling older kids). How much time do you guys spend on AAR?

In your situation I'd do cle. You can teach the lesson and hand over the workbook for practice. Unless your child hates workbooks, then that may not work.

[MamaTX5]

How hard is it to do each day? I have an almost 6 year old and a 4.5 year old along with 18 month and will have newborn in December (and homeschooling older kids). How much time do you guys spend on AAR?

With AAR, you don't have to spend a certain amount of time on it. It is very flexible and the amount you spend will be based on your child, but they do recommend you do it every day. Some people at a timer for 15 minutes and just continue on from where they stopped each day. I do love AAR, I just hate the cost! :-) HTH!

[SnMomof7]

We switched from AAR to CLE LTR with DD2, DD3 used it all the way through, DD4 will use it this fall.

 

It moves at a faster pace when used as scheduled, but we often did 1/2 lessons (they can be longish). After LTR, phonics instruction continues mainly in LA, but Reading includes some to, up to around 3rd.