Gracegiven3 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 I'm trying to decide btwn the two reading programs, BJ vs. CLE. I'm hearing good things about CLE. I did BJ years ago and it was good. My 8 yr dd did it for 1st grade and liked, but CLE is less expensive. If there going to do the same thing I would really rather switch. Any thoughts......:confused: Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 BJU is colour and CLE from what i can find online isn't. Black & white doesn't fly here so it would be BJU all the way. Not sure on content though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 CLE will send you a free sample unit, and BJU has extensive samples online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracegiven3 Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 I'll check the samples. My daughter says she likes the stories in BJ, but I think the color really helps. I'll have to find used if I go with BJ. Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyR Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Then your best bet is to go with the BJU. I have used BJU's reading in the past and my oldest really liked it. We skipped a few years due to being in a cyberschool then I pulled her out in January to use CLE's reading(which is good in my opinion by the way). I had to use it due to not having enough money plus in the 5th grade and up is a program you could use in the first or second half of school. Its not a full year. Anyways she detests this reading program and wants BJU. But we just didn't have the time because BJU's reading is a full years worth of work. If she's asking for the BJU and prefers it I would go with that( I know it hits the pocket book) because otherwise your going to have a battle of the wills if you don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neesek Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 I love BJU's reading program. I have always been able to find it used at reasonable prices. I have also looked at CLE since we use and love their LA, and it looks good too, but I like BJU better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracegiven3 Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 Tracy, I know you have a point. Thanks for your input. Used text and TM may be the way to go.... Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorbackmama Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We've used both. We were pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable the CLE stories were, though BJU offers a wider variety (you won't find talking animals in CLE, for example;)). There is less busy work in CLE, and it is MUCH more independent than BJU. My kids really enjoyed them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamom Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We just love CLE's reading progam. It's more affordable, really makes them think and reinforces a lot of good character qualities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 BTW, don't forget to watch the sale/swap board around here for stuff! I've been so busy, I haven't posted any of my stuff yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacalm Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Vastly prefer BJU Reading and I also have CLE Reading. It may have something to do with BJU Reading getting done consistently in my house. I was able to piece together BJU Reading TM, worktexts, student books at a very good price. Just watch for items coming up in used homeschool materials sites like we have here in wtm board. Having said that, and with all the raves about CLE Reading, it still makes me look at CLE at night and look through it. But for the meantime, BJU reading gets done daily with my girls so I'm very satisfied with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaof2andtwins Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 We have only used CLE and R&S. So, my choice would be CLE. It is very easy to get it done consistently here as the lessons are broken down so nicely. It does touch on the inferential thinking very early on, and some students might not be ready for that yet. The color vs. non-color is not an issue for me. Jennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMe Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 I've used BJU and R&S and am eyeing CLE. We enjoyed the BJU stories and my dd enjoys reading them on her own. We also like the color. But I didn't think the worktext made them think enough. I didn't see results like I do in R&S. But R&S is long, however, my dd loves the bible stories. I love the analogy work, the rhymes, opposites, prefix, suffix work in the pre-reading portion of R&S. So I was eyeing CLE thinking it would be a combo of both. But after really pouring over the workbook/worktext samples, hands down I think CLE shows kids how to think and decipher (sp?) what they're reading. I don't know about other levels of BJU, but I hated the grade 2 level TM. I mean the info was all over the place and while consistent (it took a while to figure out) the layout was odd. CLE's TM looks much easier. And...there is way less clutter with CLE. Oh my the books, TM's and answer keys with BJU. So I vote for CLE's workbook, R&S's pre reading workbook info and BJU's reader. :lol: I can do that, right? :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 BTW, could I just go on the record that, while I use the BJU reading, I agree with the WTM that it's MUCH more important to have them reading real stuff, real books. I never even touched the BJU reading till the 5th gr book, and even then it had a lot of press-authored stuff (so-so, some ok some lame). The 6th grade book we're doing is about 1/2 press-authored, and we're skipping a good portion of that, at least 1/3 of the total book. In fact, I made out a chart of everything we're doing so I could keep track, and I have it down to 90 lessons. I did the McCall Crabbs books that SWR recommends when dd was in 1st and 2nd, the ages people are talking about in this thread, and they were efficient and promoted careful reading. Mainly they were just fun. At only 3 minutes a pop, it wasn't a big deal to do two a day. But I don't see the point of doing something like the BJU reading with a 2nd grader, my personal opinion. It's a lot of phonics and whatnot at that age, from my looking at it. I'd let them READ, READ, READ. Also, one other thing. The BJU Reading 5 and 6 hit on a lot of important skills, including outlining and things we around here are forever trying to weave in. The BJU materials balance out when you use them as a whole. For instance, they're building LA skills in the science curriculum, with writing assignments, instruction on research and reading articles, etc. The writing carries over into the reading and is not just in the writing chapters of the english book. If you want to have your dc read the BJU readers, I suppose you could. They're not really that good, mercy, lol. You can pick up the old editions really cheap and try. I'm sort of picky, with the philosophy that what my dd reads will shape the way she writes. But I'll tell you, if you use them selectively, doing the upper grades, tossing any mediocre stuff, and using whole books for the selections where you can, the BJU reading really is worthwhile. And the 6th gr level is shaping up to be really fun. It was like a regular Sonlight box when I showed her all the whole books we're using for it! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.