Heather in OK Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 (edited) We're dropping CLE Reading. Yesterday I learned about Lightning Lit. It looks good and like something my dd would enjoy, but I see mixed reviews. Is there anything else I should consider? I've looked at Teaching the Classics before and I don't think it's my cuppa. Oh..I should add..this is for my oldest dd who is in 6th grade. LOVES to read!! We haven't done much writing however. Discuss. :lurk5: Edited January 7, 2010 by Heather in OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jld Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Why not try it? My dd did LL7, and is starting LL8, and really likes it. I understand that it's not the most challenging program out there, but it does seem enjoyable. Does everything have to be hard, hard, hard? Can't some things just leave you with pleasant memories? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've seen several other families on TWTM board here successfully use LLl7 with a 6th grader. Here are some past threads with reviews and comments on the program. BEST of luck, whatever you decide! Warmly, Lori D. Lightning Lit 7 -- what did your child gain from this http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1613&highlight=lightning+lit Anyone using/have used Lightning Lit? http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134352&highlight=lightning+lit Lightning Lit vs. CLE http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99646&highlight=lightning+lit Trying to Decide between Lightning Lit or CLE http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94512&highlight=lightning+lit Anyone Combine Lightning Lit and CLE? http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38183&highlight=lightning+lit Lightning Lit 7? http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102501&highlight=lightning+lit Question for those who have used Lightning Lit 7/8th http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107500&highlight=lightning+lit Lightning Lit 7 & 8 users http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116820&highlight=lightning+lit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 PS -- and yes, we used both LL7 and LL8 and loved both! We have not tried CLE reading, but have heard good things about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 Oh..I've been through all the threads here about LL. Which is one reason I say I see mixed reviews and I'm having a hard time deciding. :( It seems most are really pleased with the depth that CLE Reading teaches. I'm wondering if I had my dd in a level too low for her. Thus the absolute boredom she's feeling. Perhaps moving her up a level or two will provide more of a challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 (edited) It seems most are really pleased with the depth that CLE Reading teaches. I'm wondering if I had my dd in a level too low for her. Thus the absolute boredom she's feeling. Perhaps moving her up a level or two will provide more of a challenge. Was that the case? CLE reading is not difficult. It's the lightunits that require criticial thinking that most dc are not use to because in the past they've just read books and have been required to answer simple comprehension questions or narration only. CLE reading demands critical thinking. Yes, some of it is simple comprehension but most is not. I've used LL&C 7 and the books/poems covered are very good but the basic literary analysis is just that basic; most of it is comprehension questions with some writing but not writing instruction. With my older ds we used LL&C 7 for awhile before CLE reading 7. Then we used them both for awhile but then I found LL&C 7 did not fit our needs. What we needed was covered with CLE reading 7 along with a writing program (IEW); we added in whole books along with Shakespeare and discussed those works with online helps. People either like or dislike CLE reading. My dc do NOT like CLE reading (not the reading but the lightunits) but "I" think they are GREAT! I have not found a better resource for teaching ALL that CLE reading teaches in an easy homeschool friendly way. I hope you find what works for your dc! :D Edited January 8, 2010 by MIch elle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 I asked her (again) earlier why she didn't like doing it. Did she not like it because it was hard or was she finding it boring b/c it was too easy and not challenging her?? She told me the latter and I believe her. I had her in level 500. She did excellent on the LU pages and tests but hated doing the work each day. I am going to bump her up and see how it goes. I just can't find anything else out there to fit what I'm wanting to teach. I LOVE CLE too but in seeing her boredom I thought maybe we should switch to something else. I just need to :chillpill: LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 (edited) Oh..I've been through all the threads here about LL. Which is one reason I say I see mixed reviews and I'm having a hard time deciding. :( It seems most are really pleased with the depth that CLE Reading teaches. I'm wondering if I had my dd in a level too low for her. Thus the absolute boredom she's feeling. Perhaps moving her up a level or two will provide more of a challenge. Not knowing your DD personally makes it very hard to advise. ;) One other thought is to go ahead and start adding in some complete classic literature -- either using the LL7 in addition to bumping up your CLE level, or just using some of The Great Book selections in LL7 and other lists and start putting into practice the literary analysis terms and techniques being taught in the CLE: - WTM (gr. 5-8 academic excellence overview; scroll down page to "Reading" for lit. lists by grade = http://www.welltrainedmind.com/academic-excellence-grades-5-8/) - 1000 Good Book List (gr. 7-9 = http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000-junior.html) - Veritas (grade 6 literature = http://www.veritaspress.com/products.asp?dept=1061), etc.) - Ambleside (grade 6, scroll down to "Literature" and "Free Reading" headings for lists = http://www.amblesideonline.org/06bks.shtml) Did you have a chance to look over the sample LL7 lesson online at Hewitt Homeschooling? That is a good representative of what the program is like, which should help you compare with CLE to make a decision: sample student guide lesson = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/pdfs/3249.pdf sample teacher guide chapter = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/pdfs/3250.pdf list of works read, and literary lessons covered = http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/book/blight7.asp Finally, sometimes students are bored when it's just "practice" (worksheets), and light up when they are doing "the real thing" (reading, discussing, analyzing actual works). Just a thought! Warmest regards, Lori D. Edited January 9, 2010 by Lori D. added info and website addresses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 We started LL7 in 6th grade with my son who loves to read. It was a good fit - gentle but a good introduction. There are quite a lot of suggestions for longer writing pieces, but there are also lots of workbook pages with short answers. We did it over two years. We are now working on literature independently. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Well what level does your dd read on her own? It might be bumping up to LLfLotR would be a good fit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 Lori ~ Yes, both she and I looked over all the LL samples. Including showing her what they have for High School. sometimes students are bored when it's just "practice" (worksheets), and light up when they are doing "the real thing" (reading, discussing, analyzing actual works). Exactly. Which is why I think I had her in too low a level with CLE. Elizabeth ~ High School level. Ohhh..yes..I looked over that too. It's definitely something I want to use someday but I just can't spend that much right now. I went ahead and ordered CLE6. We'll stick with CLE for now and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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