Mama2Three Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Hi there! Just read the poll for the longest used curriculum, and I noticed a lot of families have used Rod and Staff for English and math. I was planning to buy Christian Light Education math and maybe English for 1st grade, but now I'm wondering about R&S. I was planning to choose CLE because of its traditional style, spiral curriculum that supported moral standards (I'm Christian, but my curriculum doesn't have to be :)). It reminded me of how I was taught when I went to a small Christian school in early elem. I also like its black and white layout and short light units. I've read that the math has been described as a workbook-y Saxon, which I though would be a good supplement to RightStart. Does anyone know what the main differences are, for both math and English? Is my description of CLE on target? Or does it sound like R&S might be a better fit? I'm going to get my first peek at CLE this weekend at a hs curriculum conference, but there isn't a R&S display there. TIA!!! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 then switched my younger ds to CLE math 5 this past year. I'm glad we made the switch. (I bought CLE math 5,6,7 to preview before we switched.) CLE math is more advanced than R&S. He'll be using CLE until grade 7 then on to algebra I program. I may alternate CLE math 7 with Life of Fred algebra for grades 7 & 8. I "think" we'll be trying CLE LA 6 this upcoming school year. If it works out we'll stick with it; if not we'll go back to R&S English (I have/had them all). Look carefully at R&S and CLE samples to see what will fit your teaching style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Here's a link to the R&S Math 1 sample pages at Rod and Staff Books: http://www.rodandstaff.info/samples/1/math/ If you look around their site you can see samples for R&S reading and Pathway reading (a Mennonite curriculum similar to R&S and CLE). Good luck finding the right curriculum for you. We've been very happy with R&S Math and Pathway reading, but these are all solid programs so it comes down to the one that you find most appealing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in MS Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 If you want to join this loop you can view some CLE sample pages that have been posted in the photo section: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/christianlightfamilies/?yguid=6287980 This may help you prepare for this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah in tenn Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Is one or the other less parent involved? I am a single parent who works and was thinking about CLE. Any input would be great! sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Is one or the other less parent involved?I am a single parent who works and was thinking about CLE. Any input would be great! sarah I personally like CLE better and I also think it's less parent-involved. Many, many people here do R&S mostly orally with their kids. We didn't and dd hated it. It was a lot of writing. CLE has a better graphic layout to me, though it is also simple. Kids can use it independently. I think it will be easier for my kids to like. Both are thorough programs so you can't go wrong that way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyR Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I agree both are very thorough programs . But CLE is less parent involved ( if you want it to be of course ) . It is set up as an independent study course . The math does have manuals in the early grades and some short lessons but so far I haven't heard of anyone complaining about that . If you are wanting something more set up like Saxon then CLE would be your better choice . Rod and Staff is mastery math with review . It works on one topic at a time and it does review . I have read that many families prefer the graphic layout of CLE and that it has just the right amount of math problems for each level , where R&S the higher up it goes in grades becomes overkilled with math problems and alot of children just buckle when they see a ton of math problems on the pages . Even when the parents assign math problems . Also how well does your daughter write on her own ? R&S math only has workbook form for 1st and 2nd grade . After that its textbook . For some families this matters and some it doesn't . Some children don't mind writing math probelms out but the vast majority don't . Of course you can have her write them out on a dry erase board. But again that takes time and for you to oversee . So if you want her to be more independent then CLE math is a better choice . Of course we all can't tell you what to use because what works for one family doesn't always work for another . If you think that CLE math is a better fit then go for it and see how it goes . If it so happens to not work then you could switch to R&S . So far though all I've heard is great reviews about CLE math . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah in tenn Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Thanks for the input> sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Three Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 Thank you all for your input!!! You have firmed up my decision for CLE. DS has trouble with writing, so I wouldn't want a curriculum that would expect a lot of writing from him, and definitely not copying math problems in 2nd grade. Just wouldn't be a good fit. I also like that it's more independent -- I spend a lot of time at the table with him, but also wanted something that he could do more on his own. Great, thanks again!!! :001_smile: 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.