[If you left MUS...]

We switched to CLE. My older DD had used Primer through the start of Delta. Younger DD did Primer and Alpha. They really weren't retaining the information like they should. The mastery approach really doesn't work well for them. They used to dread math and now they don't mind it at all anymore. They really like CLE. I do as well. :001_smile:

 

We also supplement with MM (although we haven't been using it lately), and I think that is a great program as well. My DDs just don't like it nearly as much as CLE, so that is why I don't use it as our primary math program.

 

Currently we are supplementing with Singapore's Challenging Word Problems, and DD is working through LOF Fractions as well.

 

We're much happier since we switched. :001_smile:

[CLE math]

We switched to CLE Math this year and it has been a huge success! We used MUS before, and my daughters did "ok" with it but not great. The spiral approach of CLE is working SOOOOO much better for them. And amazingly they really like it too. Math used to be something they tolerated, but didn't like by any stretch of the imagination. Now they don't mind it at all. :001_smile: And I can tell that their confidence level and proficiency have increased so much. It has been a great thing to see.

 

I do have them do some problems from Singapore Challenging Word Problems once or twice a week and my older daughter also does Math Detective at least once a week. We have MM as well, and I was supplementing with it here and there, but I haven't been doing that lately.

[Veteran HS'ers If you could have only ONE]

program for the 3R's in for the 1st-3rd* range, what would it be?

(Or K-3. We don't really do 'K' we do first grade for ready 4yo's.)

 

I mean ONE Math program, ONE Reading program and ONE Writing/English program, what would it be? Of course, if you're doing English and Reading from the same program, thats equally valid.

 

What would you pick for Reading? CLE

 

What would you pick for English/Lang Arts? CLE

 

What would you pick for Math? CLE

 

PS. What does it mean to be a HomeSchooling veteran? :001_huh: I'm just wondering if there is some (un)official/widely accepted standard that I should know about, given the way I titled this thread...

:)

[Another CLE question...]

I have no experience with them, but as much as I'm loving what we've done through CLE so far in regards to Math, LA and reading, I wouldn't do the other subjects with them. It'd be workbook overkill in my house.

 

I'm looking at MFW for next year, with CLE. :)

 

I agree. They might be wonderful, but as we already use CLE for math, LA, and reading, anything more would be overkill.

[The more we use CLE, The more I love it!!]

I agree! We switched to CLE Math this year, and I wish that I would have "discovered" it a while ago. It is such a great fit for my girls! They are doing so much better with it than our previous mastery-based curriculum. Once I saw how much they liked CLE Math, I ordered CLE LA (older DD was hating FLL). We are thrilled with that as well. Then I ordered CLE Reading. It is my least favorite of the three, particularly for my 2nd grader (a lot of seems overkill and tedious), but my girls enjoy the stories want to do it, so it is a keeper.

 

CLE has definitely helped to simplify my homeschool, as well as filling in some "holes" that I had found in some of our previous curriculum. Big CLE fans here!

[Gamewright games: your favorites?]

We have several, but our favorite is definitely Rat-A-Tat-Cat!

[What Do You Feel Like You Should Be Doing, But Aren't]

My main one is science. It is my nemesis. Like someone else said, I hate doing experiments. Hate it. If it was just reading, I'd have no problem. But I really can't stand doing experiments. Fortunately, my kids do have a great science class that they do at homeschool co-op once a week. So, I guess it could be worse. :001_huh:

 

I've also fallen down on music. My kids were taking piano, but we really didn't like the teacher, so we dropped it. I've been meaning to find a new teacher, but haven't. :glare: I need to get on that.

 

I would be a huge failure in art if I didn't farm it out. Luckily, we have a wonderful art program that my girls go to every week (an hour and a half each time). In addition, they also take art at the homeschool co-op.

 

I bought Rosetta Stone German 2 years ago and haven't even installed it yet. :glare:

 

And I am pretty sure that my girls have also forgotten most of their cursive handwriting since we don't practice it enough.

 

I'm glad that I'm not alone! :lol:

[Math U See frustrations, should I chunk it]

We used MUS for a few years. Older DD did Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and a little bit of Delta. Younger DD did Alpha. I didn't want to switch around either, so I stuck with MUS longer than I should have. My DD did "okay" with it, but not great. We switched to CLE this year and both of my girls are doing GREAT! They both love it and I just love the spiral approach. I definitely think it is a better fit for us. I wish I'd switched a long time ago.

[LOF is a hit!]

So, great to hear. I have LOF Fractions on the way for my 10 year old. I'm so excited for her to start it, and she is too!

 

EarthyMama-- LOF is Life of Fred. MM is Math Mammoth. HTH!

[Do I Need CLE LA 400 TM?]

I don't think there is any need for the TM for LA 400. I bought it but never use it.

[Adding a Second Math Program]

We use Math Mammoth as our secondary program and CLE as our primary. I love the combination! :001_smile:

[Did your children find the audio for SOTW boring?]

:iagree:

 

 

I can't stand his voice or manner/tone in which he reads it. It's so monotone. We have the CDs for both volume 1 and 2. We listened to part of volume 1 and haven't even opened the box for volume 2. My kids just read the book themselves.

 

Agree! I bought them because they seem so well-liked but my girls hated them. I didn't like them either. We gave them up.

[Pls. recc. horse books for 7 almost 8 dd]

My 9 year old is horse-crazed too! She has read pretty much every horse book that exists. :001_smile:

 

For your daughter, aside from the Breyer books, I'd recommend the Keeker and the Sneaky Pony series. That should be right at her level. She might also like the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series. She might also be ready for the Pony Crazed Princess series soon.

[Make me feel better - what $$$ have you spent on curriculum that didn't work out?]

Nothing major yet. I'm sure that there are a few things here or there, but they weren't expensive so they don't bother me too much.

 

However, I'm seriously considering dropping Winterpromise's Hideaways in History. I love the idea of the hideaways, but none of us are enjoying SOTW at all. :001_unsure: I have purchased the first two volumes of SOTW, the first two accompanying workbooks, the CD for the first book, the TM for HIH, additional readers, and a bunch of accompanying coloring books and activity books for the periods of history. But I'm about ready to chuck it all. We're just not having any fun with it.

[head spinning......first grade curriculum]

I used to stress over the same decisions you are making when my children were little. They are now 16, 13, and 11 and I wish I had not worried so about things like history and science when they were little. It is not necessary to do anything more than read some fun library books on the subjects and don't worry about a program at that age. Keeping their interest, excitement and love for learning will serve you far better in all the years ahead then they will ever get from starting history and science earlier. Don't worry about how much you cover either, as it is only for content, exposure, something to read aloud for together time, they don't have to master anything in those areas that young. Just focus on phonics. Math is not even essential, but I am from the Teaching the Trivium camp on that issue. You can do fun, light math if you really want to, but it isn't necessary. Just don't make everything tedious and discourage the child from loving to learn. On the other extreme, if everything is tediuous, tons of information is required to be learned, every subject in the world is studied in a boring way, things like this and it causes the child to dislike learning or doing school, you will be sorry later.

 

HTH

Eva

 

 

I'm so interested in this discussion. I have been struggling with what to do for science and history for my two girls starting 2nd and K. I love a few of the WP programs, but I'm just wondering if they are "too much" and will be too overwhelming.

 

If you could do it all over again, when do you think would be the right time to begin formal science and history programs?