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CLE math


Mtngrace
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I think it's wonderful. We used it to remediate some issues from public school and are still using it for Algebra I. I'm sad it's our last year. I keep hoping they'll update the other levels before we get to them. We tried TT and weren't completely unhappy, but dd loves CLE much more. It just clicks for her.

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So far, so good. We're using it this year with my 4th grader. I had tried it for him when he was in 2nd, but for those young ages, I felt it was too many pages of work. Lots of mumbles and grumbles. It's perfect for a 4th grader though. My 3rd grader is doing BJU, which we've done since 1st for both boys. I do have to admit though, now that I see the beautiful spiraling in CLE, the mastery approach of BJU worries me a bit. But-it's colorful (which we all like), fun, and well done. I think I'll definitely stick with CLE from 4th grade on though. It's so incremental, love that.

Edited by Meadowlark
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I think the CLE spiral approach improves retention and the variety of problems keeps things interesting.

I do add FAN math Process Skills for Problem Solving, because I think CLE word problems are the weak link in the program.

 

We began in the 500's and are in the 800's now. I plan to continue through CLE Algebra I. 

 

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I've used it in the past and had only one child for whom it wasn't a good fit.  They introduce the basic addition and subtraction facts in first grade as one new fact a day and one of my guys just didn't understand either addition or subtraction introduced this way.  I'm not sure why but it just didn't work for him the way it had worked for his older brother.  We switched back to Saxon which introduces addition and subtraction facts as 'families' (all the adding 1, adding 2, doubles, doubles plus 1  . . . ) and he's finally nailed those facts down.

 

Just mentioning that because I know it works great for a lot of kids and it was a beautiful curriculum to remediate one of my children who was really struggling in math during their late elementary/early middle school years but it wasn't a great fit for this one child.   I didn't catch the problem right away or I could probably have corrected it more easily.  By the time I caught it, he was so confused and frustrated that we really had to start over.

 

I wasn't willing to risk it with my next kid in line so we went back to the safe choice of Saxon.

 

Edited by JanOH
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Love it for second grade and up. First grade struck me as too, too convoluted.

 

I get frustrated with people who do one of two light units and declare it not-enough :glare:  Especially if one of the LU's was an '01 (review).

Edited by OKBud
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Love it for second grade and up. First grade struck me as too, too convoluted.

 

I get frustrated with people who do one of two light units and declare it not-enough :glare: Especially if one of the LU's was an '01 (review).

Agree with this. The first light unit is entirely review. After that each light unit slowly build on the previous one until the tenth one. It can seem subtle but actually a ton of ground is covered. The student just isn't hit over the head with a sledge hammer. If you only use two light units and say it is too light you haven't actually seen the program in action.

 

I do agree with upthread that this approach won't work for all students.

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We loved CLE Math at first.  I still like the idea of it.  
However, my math-y child used it for 3 years and then wasn't math-y anymore.  :(

 

Not saying CLE is to blame (though I would certainly supplement with multi-step word problems), but both girls' math scores were surprisingly low last year and both dreaded math (and it was starting to take forever to get done).

 

We've switched to Math Mammoth and it's getting done.  (Much more quickly, too.)

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I tend to prefer conceptual programs personally, and plan to use them with my kids if I can, but cle has been the best thing for my 8yo. The tiny chunks, constantly reviewed and built upon slowly over time is really working for her. The independence aspect is also great. For a more traditional program, it really is a wonderful option.

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I used RighStart A through 1/2 of C, and then Singapore Math in Focus with a heavy dose of c-rods 1B through 5A, prior to switching to CLE beginning with their 500 level.

 

I have added conceptual instruction to any place in CLE that I think is missing it, using materials including Math Mammoth, AOPS videos, and Arbor Algebra materials. It's needed far less conceptual supplementation than I had expected. I do think, as I mentioned above, the word problems through the 800's at least, aren't as strong as they should be. It benefits from supplementing those if possible.

 

The topics covered in each level I've used has matched at or above Singapore Math in Focus. I even found that topics covered in AOPS and Arbor Algebra at the Algebra level are covered in CLE in the pre-algebra (700/800 level), though not with the same rigor/depth/challenge. Generally, it feels like CLE presents material with such baby steps that it almost always feels easy somehow, even if it adds up to things not so easy. I think brains grow best with some stretch and challenge, which is another reason I use FAN math process skills with CLE. My math oriented child did actually ask for more challenge after we had been using CLE for a while. I gave him AOPs contest materials stuff, and then decided to add Arbor Algebra when we got to Pre-Algebra. I probably wouldn't have added the Arbor Algebra if I were only teaching my LA oriented kid.

 

I'll add that I also like the personal/business/practical math weaved into the pre-algebra levels.

 

I really love CLE for both my kids--the math oriented one and the more LA oriented child.

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Note;  I do cross out a few problems every day for my son.  He loves to see me cross out a few problems for him.  Something about knowing that he's not doing all of them, makes it so he does what's left without any complaining.  I am careful to cross out things that I know he's solid on, but later in the unit, those might be the ones I don't cross out, just to be sure he hasn't forgotten them.  

 

It's pretty easy to figure out after a bit of time what's safe to skip or not.

 

Also, I love it that even if he doesn't get a concept the first time it's presented, that's ok.  My guy often struggles at first to grasp a concept.  The pressure is off and he can come back to it later.  I know that by the time a month has passed, he'll have gotten it.

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What's fan math?

Sinapore math word problems with clear, systemic instruction in techniques for solving problem types and fully worked solutions to all practice problems.

 

The books aren't too long, so you can supplement CLE with just a problem a day for example.

 

I'll link Rainbow Resources page, because I think you can view them all there.

https://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=Mathematics/10&category=Process+Skills+in+Problem+Solving/492

 

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I love the looks of this math and have used it on and off in the past. Do you think this math teaches kids well? I like how it's open and go. Math stresses me out.

YES! 

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After using both BJU and CLE, I prefer BJU's teaching of concepts through 4th or 5th grade.  We switched back to CLE for my 6th grader this year, and it is going well.  The BJU lessons started taking too long to teach, and I felt my dd could use some spiral practice this year to shore up all the concepts she's been learning the past few years.  We both appreciate the shorter teaching time.  The lesson pages feel long to her, but she seems to prefer it to the long teaching time in BJU.  She can at least do the We Remember on her own if I'm not available for teaching the new section.  I think this year of constant review will be good for her.  I'm planning to continue with CLE for pre-algebra, but am still evaluating my other options.  We also add the Process Skills books for bar modeling/word problems, and the Math Express books for mental math practice.  I think these two books round things out nicely.  I do still pull in some of the concepts taught in BJU to bring more conceptual teaching into the CLE lessons.  I just think BJU does a better job in the early years with flushing out the concepts, but I think CLE also serves a purpose with its spiral review.  I'm hoping this combination will give us a good foundation for upper level math.

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