Comparing CLE LA 1 and AAS

[jer2911mom]

Hi,

 

I've been reading the CLE LA 1 TM and have been surprised to see that it is 90% phonics or more. I don't see much in the way of grammar. It does cover punctuation, capitalization, alphabetical order, etc. I had planned to use AAS alongside it, but it seems the two would be very redundant and possibly even confusing due to teaching things different ways. Has anyone used both who could compare the two?

 

Thanks!

Kathy

Edited November 8, 2011 by jer2911mom

[boscopup]

I haven't used the LA, but I did use CLA Reading 100, and they waaaaaay overuse the schwa. If I had to pick between the two spelling programs, it'd be AAS hands down.

 

My friend uses CLE LA, and she kind of glosses over the spelling, feeling it's a bit weak (her child is 4th grade and used it in 3rd grade also).

 

You don't need grammar in 1st grade, so you could safely drop it and just use AAS. Or if you REALLY want grammar, pick up FLL1. But again, it's not absolutely necessary. Everything is reviewed in 2nd grade grammar in every program that I know of. :)

[mrs.m]

I'm not using AAS at the same time as CLE LA 1 because I am also using CLE's LTR. So our day is pretty full without the extra spelling lessons.

 

However, I am using AAS for DS9 and it seems to be going well.

 

I think you could use them together but I'm not certain that it would be necessary. I would pick one or the other based on your child's learning style and your teaching style. We are making great progress with CLE that I don't think we would be making with AAS with my youngest. I think CLE is thorough enough in the grammar for 1st grade. They hit grammar harder in 2nd because they focus so heavily on teaching the 1st graders to read.

 

I don't believe that if you used both at the same time that it would cause confusion. If anything it could be helpful. The rules they teach are pretty much the same so one should compliment the other. The exception is the schwa coverage. (which I'm thankful for because we schwa and schwi too many words. We are working on diction along the way as well!)

[Crazyderiver]

I use both programs. I use AAS first and much farther ahead then CLE. Then CLE comes in as a good review and further practice. For example, my ds is currently on AAS level 2 step 19 and in CLE LA 108. I prefer to teach new phongrams and topics in AAS, but I don't care if it happens to show up in CLE first. I always use AAS as the spine and meat because I love, love, love spelling rules. I use CLE because my kids like workbooks and need tons of review. CLE is also very independent as review and AAS is teacher intensive. Both strengths for how I use the programs.

[jer2911mom]

We are making great progress with CLE that I don't think we would be making with AAS with my youngest.

 

Thanks for your comments. I was wondering if you could elaborate on this. I feel like we are plodding through AAS but it's hard to pick up the speed for some reason. Do you mean that CLE covers ground faster, is more thorough, has more review?

 

Thanks,

Kathy

[jer2911mom]

Or if you REALLY want grammar, pick up FLL1.

 

We've been using FLL1 and are about to drop it, thus the reason for checking out the grammar in other programs. :001_smile: I don't feel like we need a lot in 1st grade, either. I was just surprised at how much of CLE LA was phonics. Thanks for your comments!

 

Kathy

[jer2911mom]

I use both programs. I use AAS first and much farther ahead then CLE. Then CLE comes in as a good review and further practice. For example, my ds is currently on AAS level 2 step 19 and in CLE LA 108. I prefer to teach new phongrams and topics in AAS, but I don't care if it happens to show up in CLE first. I always use AAS as the spine and meat because I love, love, love spelling rules. I use CLE because my kids like workbooks and need tons of review. CLE is also very independent as review and AAS is teacher intensive. Both strengths for how I use the programs.

 

Thank you! This info. is helpful! So you don't feel like they teach the rules differently, or at least not differently enough to cause confusion?

 

At what point did you start CLE LA? How far into AAS were you?

 

I see you also use ETC. Do you feel that it is not too much overlap with CLE and AAS?

 

I use WWE as well. Do you do the handwriting portion of CLE?

 

Thanks,

Kathy

Edited November 8, 2011 by jer2911mom

[mrs.m]

Thanks for your comments. I was wondering if you could elaborate on this. I feel like we are plodding through AAS but it's hard to pick up the speed for some reason. Do you mean that CLE covers ground faster, is more thorough, has more review?

 

Thanks,

Kathy

 

The approach is very different. CLE uses a highly structured workbook approach (the progrm isn't entirely workbook if you follow the teacher guide but it is very structured!) and AAS is very hands on with less writing necessary. AAS will help a child learn to read but I feel like CLE LTR is very thorough in phonics and reading instruction and makes progress faster than what we would accomplish with AAS. CLE provides an all-in-one package too with LTR. And CLE is excellent at review.

 

But CLE LA is a bit different than LTR (they are meant to work together) and I'm not sure that it would do a good job teaching reading. Of course that depends where your child is at in reading instruction.

 

I haven't used AAR which is another AAS product that might do a better job at teaching reading.

[jer2911mom]

The approach is very different. CLE uses a highly structured workbook approach (the progrm isn't entirely workbook if you follow the teacher guide but it is very structured!) and AAS is very hands on with less writing necessary. AAS will help a child learn to read but I feel like CLE LTR is very thorough in phonics and reading instruction and makes progress faster than what we would accomplish with AAS. CLE provides an all-in-one package too with LTR. And CLE is excellent at review.

 

But CLE LA is a bit different than LTR (they are meant to work together) and I'm not sure that it would do a good job teaching reading. Of course that depends where your child is at in reading instruction.

 

I haven't used AAR which is another AAS product that might do a better job at teaching reading.

 

Thanks, we are wrapping up OPGTR and my dd is reading well now, so I'm not looking for reading instruction. A review of phonics/more practice would be helpful, however, especially with regard to her spelling. She also has not had any experience with markings, so that would be a new concept for her.

 

I saw that the CLE LA is meant to be used alongside the LTR 106-110. If you aren't using the LTR alongside it, what are you missing?

 

Thanks,

Kathy

[mrs.m]

LTR 106-110 is indepth phonics instruction which would have been covered in OPGTR. I think it would be just fine to skip it and just use LA.

[jer2911mom]

LTR 106-110 is indepth phonics instruction which would have been covered in OPGTR. I think it would be just fine to skip it and just use LA.

 

Thanks!

Kathy

[Bloggermom]

After doing most of CLE LTR and going to other phonics programs and floundering we are going back to CLE LTR for good. We are combining it with the Language Arts and plan to stick with CLE language arts all the way through elementary school for our son.