Just a note to add that his score for language mechanics was 42% for private schools, 56% for public; his score for language expression was in the 78th percentile. Here's the odd thing: I just dug out last year's test scores, and last year he scored in the 97th percentile for mechanics and the 99.9th for expression. What on earth could explain a drop like that? I haven't seen an indication of it in his schoolwork. Again, any recommendations for curriculum to address this area would be appreciated. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

My ds12's Stanford test results arrived today, and for the most part, I was very pleased with the results. He's in 6th grade, very self-directed and independent in his work and fun to teach. Let me say right off, I am not complaining, not trying to compare. Two of my other ds are struggling learners and I know these scores are good; my question is regarding how to strengthen weak areas for this particular ds. Most of his scores (math, reading, spelling) were PHS equivalency, with a notable departure in the area of language mechanics, where he scored in the 42nd percentile. We have done a very Charlotte Mason sort of LA program (after he became deathly allergic to R&S in 2nd grade), using PLL and ILL, with a grammar workbook each year. He has done a fair amount of writing using ILL, and when I edit (I was an English major and journalist), he seems to have a good understanding of grammar usage. Obviously, however, there's something more we could do. The student report states that language mechanics includes "capitalization, usage and punctuation." I am trying to plan his LA for next year and had considered LLATL, but now am wondering whether that is strong enough in this area. I've considered CLE but am wondering about that same "allergic" reaction in him, LOL. Can anyone recommend a product or program that can help with this particular area of LA? Thanks so much, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Thank you, I will likely go for the TM then. Walkermama, I see you have a little one from Korea; my three youngest were adopted from Korea as well. What gifts they are! Thanks and blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7 (today!) - 19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Thank you, these are great suggestions! I love the looks of some of the remedial grammar materials, and I agree that memory songs would be a great idea - this ds plays the guitar, loves to sing and remembers songs and music much better than things I've read to him, go figure. So that might be great! I'll go check out the songs for teaching site. Thank you! Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 7 (today!) -19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Thank you all, very much, for your replies. Because so many of you are familiar with R&S math, perhaps you can answer another question. My ds does well with his math facts 1-10, but has really hit a wall with place value - it just won't register. He was born 9 weeks early and came to us at 3 with virtually no language, so I know some things take a while for him. I have spaced out CLE 1st grade math through the year, taking lots of time and reinforcing concepts, but he hasn't been able to move beyond the 4th out of 10 books. So I want to make sure I'm doing something that really works for him, and I've heard R&S is good for learners who need simple, systematic, black and white instruction. Has anyone had experience with this sort of learner and R&S? And would you recommend starting halfway through first grade, rather than jumping into second in the fall? Thanks again, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I've been using CLE 1 with ds6, but it moves too quickly for him and I am wondering if R&S might be good for him. I'd like to try the 2nd half of the first grade math, just to make sure he has his bases covered before moving into the 2nd grade book. However, I hate to spend the extra $15 on the teacher's guide if it isn't needed. Has anyone used this program, who can advise me on whether I should just buy it or can do without? I'm also wondering whether anyone has found R&S math helpful for a visual learner who takes a while to grasp new concepts; he was a preemie who has some aspie-like traits and auditory processing issues, but too subtle for dx at this point. Thank you; Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I pulling my hair out a tad today, realizing that my ds9, 3rd grade, still is having trouble telling the difference between a pronoun, verb, adjective and adverb. We did FLL in 1st and 2nd grade before switching to PLL, when I realized this child wasn't retaining anything taught orally (the dx of a hearing loss and hearing aid helped with that, this year). This year we've done English for the Thoughtful Child 2, and while it is gentle, it has covered these topics, we've done madlibs for years, we've discussed these things regularly and he's done exercises on them. But he can't. remember. what. they. are. Can anyone recommend a program that can help him with this? Am I worrying too much? He can write a lovely sentence, an interesting paragraph (albiet with random capitalizations and punctuation) and he is a sweet and lovely child. However, he has a low threshhold for frustration, poor memory and needs lots of repetition to learn and remember things. For this reason, CLE math is doing the trick for him, but I am wondering if the CLE LA is too advanced - I think the diagramming might put him over the deep end. I haven't considered the upper levels of FLL for the same reason. I am considering Sonlight because the LA is incorporated into the reading and writing assignments, and I thought he would at least learn the mechanics well using that program. I've heard Climbing to Good English is good (and cheap!) and may just order that for a summer program, to give it a try. I'd love to hear any ideas anyone might have. Thank you! Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I've been using CLE 1 with ds6, but it moves too quickly for him and I am wondering if R&S might be good for him. I'd like to try the 2nd half of the first grade math, just to make sure he has his bases covered before moving into the 2nd grade book. However, I hate to spend the extra $15 on the teacher's guide if it isn't needed. Has anyone used this program, who can advise me on whether I should just buy it or can do without? Thank you; Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

YES! I read about fish oil increasing brain function, and at the recommendation of another adoptive mother, started my son on Nordic Naturals DHA. My son takes on 500 mg gelcap once a day and it has had a noticable impact on his ability to concentrate, as well as decreasing his impulsivity. His speech also increased dramatically within the first week of starting DHA, to the point where people outside the family were noticing. While we're on nutritional things, if ds has nitrates or artificial colors, he becomes hyper and much more spacey, and schoolwork is impossible. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

My littlest, ds6 (7 in two days!), likely does not have FAS (we don't know for sure, he came home at 3), but was born 9 weeks early and does have auditory processing issues, spaces out, and gets a bad case of the wiggles when he has to do his work! Many of the suggestions of hands-on things that others have suggested work great for him, as well as a few other things I'll add. - I bought him a wiggle seat for the times when he has to sit - it's a cheaper version of the disc-o-sit found in sensory catalogs; ours came from the exercise department. - Playdough or something to squeeze when he has to listen helps him focus. - He is also resistant to me telling him what to do when, but if I have a list, he loves to follow it and check items off. We have one for each day of the week (basic ideas like "school," "gym," "co-op" and "church) and I make up a list for the week with very basic things like reading, math, etc. He will zip through much to get to cross items out. And then it is the list, and not me telling him what to do. - When it is time, your ds may really like Explode the Code; short, easy lessons, very visual; start with Get Ready, Get Set and Go for the Code books for letter recognition. - My ds also does best with very simple, concrete work - nothing abstract. We started this year with me reading a short book (with pictures) and asking him to tell me something (anything!) about it. It was so difficult for him, but he is making progress. I can now read a chapter without pictures, though I have to stop regularly to ask whether he understands words, etc, and to help him refocus when he is zoning out. I ask questions every page or so to see if he's with me - about 1/2 the time he is now (sad but what an improvement). It is laborious but I consider it therapy and training as well as reading. - EVERYTHING we do is theraputic for this child, you know? Reading, talking, baking, there is learning going on everywhere. I need to be reminded that sometimes it's really ok - no, it's his work - to go off and paint, ride his bike and make a mess of his toys and blocks. - Exercise - it often helps my ds if I take him for a good 20 minute walk or bike ride before trying to do anything schoolish. -ds loves copywork and loves to draw. Your ds might be willing to copy the letter or word you're working on, and draw a picture to go with it, and you could compile a book of his work. -my ds would like nothing better than to draw trains all day; free drawing time is a reward when he finishes two of his little subjects. Don't know if any of this helps but I do feel for you! One thing that reassures me is to remember that my ds would be SO lost in school, and no-one would know what a great, creative, loving little guy he is. Your son is lucky to have you, who know him best, walking alongside him to help him learn. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Thank you! I checked out the rfwp site, wow! I am intrigued by the writing and vocab materials for middle school and am giving them serious thought. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I was planning to use the Core 4 as history for the 7th grader; and was hoping I could find a schedule to coordinate it with SOTW 4 as well, but haven't found that yet. I have many other books for that time period, having cycled through it once already with olders, and would likely supplement for him. I like the looks of the HO, but I am hoping not to throw in an extra program, as I will have to do littlest separately as well - I'd like to keep the older three together for the most part. I'll go see what they offer, though. I'm sorry, what are MCT and rfwp? Clueless here!:001_huh: (thanks!) In past years, we have done Sonlight cores preK, K, 5 and 6, and I do love the materials they choose - really fabulous books. Ds 12 is a voracious reader and so I want to figure out how to supplement for him; I am hoping it will get both ds9 reading more and more. Thanks for your input! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I am trying to make plans for next year, when I will have a second grader, two fourth graders and a 7th grader. The littlest is a very visual learner and will need much of his curriculum tailored to him. However, I'd like to combine the older three, at least in history. We used MFW Ex-1850 this year, and had planned to use the next course, but although the kids have enjoyed it (and I have enjoyed much too), I miss Sonlight's books. I am tired of having to hunt all over for book basket books, and I have paid HUGE library fines this year. We have also used Biblioplan in the past, and again, for the same reasons, I am looking for something else. I long for something in a box that I can supplement IF I want to/have time/have no crises. So I am considering using Sonlight again - I love their books and approach, as long as I allow myself to be flexible and don't have to do two cores. I'm considering using core 4, with the two 4th graders using the Sonlight LA4 and readers. However, then I'm stumped on LA for the 7th grader - he's quite a reader and nice writer; I'm thinking I could choose readers and outside LA materials for him. Has anyone done this? I'd be interested to hear what has worked for others - however, I don't think I will ever be organized enough to be a TOG sort of gal so that's not in the running, LOL! Thanks and blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I too have a very wiggly ds, 7 next week. He is prone to "zoning out" in his seat during seatwork, or hopping up and doing a dance, wandering away, etc. 15 minute work-sessions are biggies for him, and I've been trying to make sure his work fits his learning style. For example, certain workbooks (not my favorite teaching mode) are great for him because he is such a visual learner. He loves the Spectrum reading workbook with Little Critter - not WTM by a longshot but hey, he reads, he writes, it works. He loves ETC workbooks. He loves having a timer set to see how much he can get done. He does well with copywork too. Math...not so much, we are working on that, but he does much better with flashcards than with sitting and looking at his workbook. He does two subjects in the morning and then can have snack, then a bit more work. Perhaps your little one could do some scattered 15-minute work sessions during the day, with playtime and exercise in between as motivation/sanity savers! Some things I've found that help ds focus: no nitrates or artificial colors; a brisk bike ride or walk every morning before school; regular meals and snacks; an exercise disc to sit on (we call it his wiggle seat); early bedtime; keeping the big kids calm around him. If we had littles, it would be all over, LOL, so I feel for you! A good friend recently reminded me (during an SOS phone call I'd placed) that sometimes playdough, watercolors, hearing good stories read aloud and playing outside are just what a child this age is supposed to be doing. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

This thread is good for me to read, revisit, think about. We started as very relaxed homeschoolers 7 years ago, when I had one little one in K and one 6th grader schooling at home. Over time, we've added multiple kids through adoption, weathered surgeries and health issues, etc, and our style has changed; the past few years I've been more rigid, in an attempt to make sure I'm covering all the bases, but I miss relaxed! Here are some things we've done in the past and have been returning to, along with some new things. - We used FLL followed by English for the Thoughtful Child for grades 1-3; easy, low pressure, fairly fun. Reading was Pathway Readers (simple, fun), and lots of good literature from the library. - Regular copywork - poems, things from history stories, etc. - We double up as many subjects as we can: copywork in best writing could count as handwriting; birthday cards well made with verses or poems could count as handwriting, etc, sometimes English depending on the day and length of the passage they've written. - Delight/discovery led learning: if ds found a turtle, the turtle became much of the day's lesson: we looked him up in the Handbook of Nature Study or another book, drew a picture of him, wrote a few sentences about him, sat and watched him for a while before returning him. That was science, handwriting, English and nature study. - If you didn't already get this, feel free to drop some subjects if you're covering them in other ways, and it's ok to skip some completely once in a while. - Food prep: lots of lessons here and the kids LOVE it. At our house, if people like the food, they clap, and the cook is expected to stand ON their chair and take a bow. They are SO anxious to help me cook now! - Lots of reading; cuddle-up, couch time, great books from Ambleside, Sonlight and our MFW curriculum, which brings me to: - MFW - I have done Biblioplan the past few years and have just about exhausted myself and everyone else here trying to get EVERYTHING done during the day (although I adored the book choices). This year we did MFW Exploration to 1850 and it has so relaxed our homeschool! It is rich enough that it can stand alone on busy days and light enough that I can enrich it with extra books or go on a tangent with something else that interests us. I feel like I'm covering the bases in a relaxed yet thorough way. Whew! The kids are actually expressing gratitude for MFW as we finish up the year and reflect on it in comparison to past years. - Lastly, CLE math. It has been such a Godsend for the three youngest in our little school - all but littlest can do it independently, and they are retaining it, hooray! One caution, it does run advanced should you decide to have a look. Don't know if this helps at all. It's gotten me thinking, thanks! Aimee Mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Can you have her tested by a Developmental Pediatrician? That person would likely be more qualified than the school district to test for specific issues, like auditory processing. I know there are tapes designed to help with listening comprehension, but I can't recall the name. Anyone? I have been using Writing With Ease with my ds6; I've actually had to put it aside for a while because even repeating back details from a paragraph I'd just read to him was too much for him...and maddening for me LOL! He's almost 7 now and doing better, but I've actually looked at WWE as a type of therapy, to train him to listen for detail. OH, and if I tell him to focus, that is a sure fire way to get him to shut down his brain; he does better with a chunk of playdough or on his wiggle-seat (exercise disc on his chair) where he can move a bit. Perhaps Sdd could use something like WWE - don't be worried about starting at a lower level, she may need it - just use your own paper instead of the big lines given for copywork. We are using CLE math for my ds9 with auditory issues; he has similar problems with math and the spiral nature is helpful and the first program he's doing really well with (he didn't do well with Horizons or BJU). I'm considering using CLE LA for him, hoping the spiral, workbook format might make something stick (nothing we've worked on since 1st grade for grammar has stuck (though he writes beautifully) - I'm now trying again to teach him nouns and pronouns and verbs along with ds6 in FLL, and doubt it will be any more successful this time! If you do look at CLE, remember they run AT LEAST a year ahead, don't worry! I've also heard good things about cheap little workbooks called Climbing to Good English. They sell them at Rainbow Resources and I'm considering buying some for these two to give a try over the summer - they are less than $4 each and I've heard they've helped a child with similar issues. I would concentrate on helping her get on target in reading, math and writing. In terms of history, I'd just suggest that for now, perhaps lower your expectations. Read some D'Aulaire books or other colorful books about the time-period you're studying. Find some things at a lower level for her to read about the time period. Will she play, pretend or act things out? Would she like to bake something related to the time period? Would she just enjoy helping in the kitchen and learning some things that way? Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I have 2 Ds who displayed the same type of learning you describe - namely, none at all from things I've read aloud. We learned last year that one Ds has a hearing loss, and a hearing aid has helped tremendously. Still, he is mostly a hands-on learner and needs to read/write things himself to remember them (this would be me too!!!). Littlest Ds6 has me stumped - I'm thinking he has auditory processing issues. He can only digest very small amounts of information read to him, and we are working to increase this slowly. He does best with a simple workbook approach, though that's not my favorite teaching style - seems to work for him as we build up his tolerance and attention to auditory things. It occurs to me that if Sdd has been having learning issues in school, her learning may well be at a much lower level than her grade level. Maybe scale back a bit, try her with lit/reading/history at a simpler level than you might think she should have - maybe really simplify to see where she is in her learning, and let her adjust to being homeschooled. She may really be able to enjoy some much simpler things, and not realize that she is learning in the process. Blessings to you, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

My ds6 (7 in May) sounds very similar to your son, and I have been trying WWE and FLL with him as well. It's interesting, with LOTS of repetition, he can memorize the poems and our Bible verses, but to repeat what I just read - yikes. We've really stepped back with the WWE as it is just painful (for me too LOL)!!! However, I am using the method with other, shorter pieces of information I read to him. As someone else mentioned, what I'm finding works best for him is anything visual. He reads pretty well, and anything he reads himself really sinks in. While we use SOTW with the bigger kids, he can't retain any of it, so I choose books with pictures at his level, with short text, to illustrate the time period we're studying. Something that works well for him: in a book he's read (Sam the Minuteman, for instance), I have him choose a passage he'd like to illustrate, and then I choose a sentence for him to copy. He copies and illustrates in his journal and is SO proud - and can tell me what it's about. A last thing - he enjoys the Spectrum Little Critter Reading workbook. Not WTM, but it is colorful, visual, catches his attention and he is able to write sentences to answer the written questions - that he likely couldn't answer if I'd read him the story in each lesson and asked him to verbally answer. Don't know if any of that helps, but hang in there, he will learn! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Thank you, the index card is a good suggestion. I did see some of his characteristics in a list of symptoms, and yet others weren't so clear. My husband suggested asking him to read a book with larger type, and when he read that aloud to me yesterday, he was MUCH clearer, missed less, and stumbled on the words less. It makes us wonder if this is some sort of vision issue in part. I'll need to have him re-evaluated for that. I think he is realizing he has some trouble with smaller print, and both my husband and I shared that we need to use something for tracking when reading smaller type. So until we get his vision checked again, I think he will be more comfortable with something like the card you suggest. I'll go read the dyslexia list again as well and see if it doesn't give more insight. Thank you! Blessings, Aimee

Thanks so much for the suggestions, I will look those up. It is notable because it is such a contrast to his math skills and his auditory learning ability - he learned English within a month of coming here at age three and seems to understand everything he hears. He knows where everything is in the house - we all go to him if we've misplaced something - and how everything works, and he can give amazing narrations after history readings and cross apply his knowledge. So to see him struggling with reading is a surprise and something I know we need to address. I'm looking forward to seeing those books and programs, thanks so much! Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Good morning; I posted this on the special needs board but didn't get any bites, I am hoping someone here might have some insight for me. My ds 9 is extremely intelligent, and remembers everything I've ever read to him or that he's ever heard - anywhere. He does very well in math. However, I started to notice last year that while he'd learned to read on schedule, he wasn't improving as much as I'd expect for a 2nd grader - and what's more, he had no memory of anything he'd read even a few moments before. I also noticed that he sometimes leaves out little words like "the" and "and," and/or substitutes other small words. He makes guesses for some big words and when reading aloud, plods on through even if his ommissions and substitutions make no sense. He is a perfectionist and has really resisted my suggestions to put his finger under the line he's reading, to keep his place; I've been trying to determine if this is a tracking problem. In reading a website of dyslexia symptoms, I noticed some of his speech patterns that we attributed to him learning English as a second language; he takes a long time to find the word he wants sometimes, gets frustrated when he can't find it, loses his train of thought. I'm also seeing some of the ommissions/substitutions appear in his writing, and I am getting concerned as he's in 3rd grade and I feel like these things should be improving. I notice the contrast now between him and my other ds9, who read later, but now reads with fluency and ease as this brother stumbles along. This child is so very bright, I don't want this issue to hold him back as he gets older. He has a physical disability and his academic ability is something he's always been proud of - of course we are proud of him, period. Any ideas as I try to help with this reading issue? Thanks and blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

My ds 9 is extremely intelligent, and remembers everything I've ever read to him or that he's ever heard - anywhere. He does very well in math. However, I started to notice last year that while he had learned to read on schedule, he wasn't improving as much as I'd expect for a 2nd grader - and what's more, he had no memory of anything he'd read as little as a few moments before. I also noticed that he leaves out little words like "the" and "and," and substitutes other small words sometimes. He makes guesses for some big words and when reading aloud, plods on through even if his ommissions and substitutions make no sense. He is a perfectionist and has really resisted my suggestions to put his finger under the line he's reading, to keep his place; I've been trying to determine if this is a tracking problem. In reading a website of dyslexia symptoms tonight, I noticed some of his speech patterns that we attributed to him learning English as a second language; he takes a long time to find the word he wants sometimes, gets frustrated when he can't find it, loses his train of thought. I am also seeing some of the ommissions/substitutions appear in his writing, and I am getting concerned as he is in 3rd grade and I feel like these things should be improving, not worsening. He is so very bright, I don't want this issue to hold him back as he gets older. He has a physical disability and his academic ability is something he's always been proud of - of course we are proud of him, period. Any ideas as I try to help with this reading issue? Thanks and blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids, ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

Thank you for the input, I will look into those choices. Something interesting we do for math, that I started with another ds and am using with this little ones, may (or may not) be similar to the cuisinaire rods. At the suggestion of a friend, we use dried beans. I glued groups of ten beans each to a number of popsicle sticks, so there we have groups of ten we can pull out, and the singles are in a baggie. We keep the whole thing in a basket and pull them out when we need a visual. Don't know if that works the same but might be an extremely cost effective option for some. Thanks again, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I am rethinking my teaching materials for ds 6, an interesting little guy who keeps me guessing as to how he thinks. For background, he joined us through adoption at age 3, and had virtually no language at that time. He did speech therapy for two years before he tested out, but he was recently retested at my request, and has lags in his expressive language. He also has a great deal of difficulty recounting anything read to him and restating it. I am filling out paperwork to have him evaluated by a developmental pediatrician, but in the meantime, want to do the best I can teaching him. He is undoubtedly bright and has some "spectrumy"/sensory traits like an obsession with trains, incredible eye and memory for detail, unusual interest in order and schedule, inability to think unless he is moving, concrete thinking - trouble with the abstract. However he has decent social skills and great motor skills. The issues: 1. Math - we are using CLE 1. He is having trouble with the abstract concepts. When there is something to count, he does great. But understanding tens and ones places confounds him. He can do a story problem in his head, but when asked to put it on paper, he can't think of what numbers to put where or why. I don't know if it's not developmentally "clicked" yet, or if it's the wrong approach. However he LOVES the timed math tests. I am considering getting levels 2 and 3 of Developmental Math for him. Any ideas? 2. LA - He reads well and the Pathway Readers are great for him - simple, black and white, not distracting. We're using FLL and he is great at the poem memorization. He learns best with repetition - lots of it; in fact we are memorizing the book of James with the bigger kids, and he floored us all by opening his mouth one day and reciting the first 11 verses - perfectly. But read a paragraph and ask him for a few details - ugh! I have found that using books with pictures (if I'm reading to him) helps a lot, but abstract concepts like what a noun is, or even a grandmother or uncle, are just impossible. Because he is a visual learner, I've tried drawing a family tree to illustrate the grandparent concept, talked about it to death, and while he knows who his grandparents are, simply cannot recount that they are his parents parents. On the one hand, using FLL helps me to uncover some areas of weakness in his learning style, but it can be maddening! Should I keep using this, or is there something that would be better? We are also using WWE 1 and while it can be crazy-making as well, when asking him to recount detail, I think it is good practice for him in listening, and he does enjoy it - even when I have to read the paragraph two or three times for him to pay attention. I would appreciate input if any of you have a learner like this. He is a fascinating, delightful little person and I'd like to serve him best and help him live up to all his potential. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6

I am interested in these suggestions because I am using CLE 1 with my first grader, and I think developmentally he just isn't ready for all the concepts. CLE is quite advanced - my accelerated third grader is in the 3rd grade book, and my more at speed 3rd grader tested into the second, so it makes sense that not all first graders will be ready for CLE 1, and I can't imagine all K students being able to do it at all (though I have had some who would have enjoyed it). I have been considering using Developmental Math books 2 and 3 to fill in the gap until my little one is ready to grasp all the concepts in CLE 1. Blessings, Aimee mom to 6 great kids ages 6-19, schooling grades 1, 3, 3 and 6