CLE LA & R&S English

[Carolinagirl1]

I've just started my daughters on CLE LA but I've heard so many great things about R&S English that I'm wondering if I am missing out. I am liking CLE so far but I'm using an alternative penmanship and considering supplementing spelling. If you have compared the two curriculums, would you mind sharing what you like better?

[mrs.m]

I liked CLE better. R&S didn't have enough review for my kids. The workbook format worked well for my two oldest. My youngest disliked CLE so I went totally Classical with him. I don't think one or the other is better academically. It just depends on the style that you want to teach. If you plan to supplement spelling, how about if you use R&S?

[gratitude]

I have only used R&S and love what it is giving my children, but I have heard that CLE is very good too.

 

The main differences I have seen:

*CLE is spiral learning. Thus, review is built into each unit of the program and will spiral through the topics regularly.

*R&S is master learning. It dives into one topic for an entire unit and spends a lot of time on it. Review is built into the program too through short review sections at the end of sections and in the TM, but it isn't written as a spiral program.

*CLE I believe is a work book format ? Thus, you write in the book.

*R&S is a text book format. So when they have to write out a diagramme they have to write out the entire thing themselves. I think this is good, but others don't necessarily prefer it.

*CLE includes spelling and handwriting in their LA program.

*R&S sells its spelling separately, and it is in a work book format and focuses on phonics for teaching spelling. I use a different hand writing program that isn't R&S.

 

I truthfully think they are both good programs. They are different in teaching methods and style. If you prefer spiral review, work book format, and having the LA all inclusive CLE will work better. If you prefer mastery type style of learning, text book format, and having the spelling & handwriting separate from grammar R&S will work better.

 

I hope this is helpful.

[Mommy22alyns]

They are both good, solid programs. I used CLE LA 100 for Sylvia and it was good, but we hated the diacritical markings. That's why she disliked Reading 200. I personally prefer R&S for both girls, and their spelling is great too. But I haven't used any other levels of CLE.

[Ellie]

The reason I like R&S English is that it is a textbook. I think it's important for children to have to write on actual paper when they're doing English, rather than primarily filing in blanks on worksheets. I think the pen-to-paper factor is an important one.

 

I would disagree that R&S's Spelling by Sound and Structure focuses on phonics to teach spelling. Although there may be some review in the second grade book (maybe the third, also), spelling rules are different from phonics rules. SSS does spelling by focusing on spelling rules. :-)

[mrs.m]

I have used both and there is plenty of pen to paper in CLE. It isn't just a book of fill in the blank worksheets.

[Ellie]

I have used both and there is plenty of pen to paper in CLE. It isn't just a book of fill in the blank worksheets.

 

You could be right. :D I still prefer writing on actual paper. :-)

[Another Lynn]

After trying both, one of the things I like better about CLE is that the review is in the student worktext rather than dependent on oral drilling using the TM. I really didn't like depending on the TM to determine what and how much to review. The mantra of SO many people who use R&S is not to do every problem, but if not all, then how many? I just never got into a rhythm or felt confident with it. The other thing I didn't like about R&S is each chapter focusing on a part of speech and diagramming only the sentence skeleton - when were we ever going to parse and diagram an entire sentence? Honestly, we dropped it before we got to the end of the book, so I never found out. I really like that with CLE, there's a little bit of teaching at the beginning of the lesson and then the student can complete the rest of their own. I like that CLE is spiral, constantly reviewing, slowly going deeper.

 

Just my .02.

[Carolinagirl1]

They are both good, solid programs. I used CLE LA 100 for Sylvia and it was good, but we hated the diacritical markings. That's why she disliked Reading 200. I personally prefer R&S for both girls, and their spelling is great too. But I haven't used any other levels of CLE.

 

 

So R&S does not have the diacritical markings? They are kind of bothering us too, but mostly because I have on daughter starting in the 300 level and we haven't studied them yet.

 

I do like the idea of a spiral program, though, as I think it will help with retention. I have just heard so many great reviews of R&S and that it really gives the student a deep understanding of grammar and prepares them thoroughly for college level work. I don't want to miss out on that. We have only completed 5 lessons in CLE so maybe we need to give it more time. I am teaching 2 kiddos and as a new homeschooler, I am still trying to figure out how to juggle the two different levels (1st and 3rd grade) so it is nice that CLE is mostly independent. It gives me a chance to work on Math with the younger one while the older one is working on LA. I suppose I should just break down and buy the R&S TM and see how it is.

[coralloyd]

We use R&S. Just so you know, the review in th TM is very very quick and usually oral. Plus most of the lessons have a review & practice section. Then there is reviews after every chapter. I don't understand how some think there is not enough review.

 

 

[mrs.m]

It's the method of the review. It isn't so teacher dependent with CLE since it is built directly into the student text. Also I like that it is all-in-one. I dislike having a book for spelling, penmanship, and grammar. Although, I'm back to that now even though I still dislike it. ... R&S has a long standing excellent reputation. CLE Sunrise editions are comparatively very new and it seems to not be as well known as R&S and may still be holding onto the old version reputation. I don't know a single local homeschoolers who uses CLE but I know many that use R&S. So that might be why you aren't seeing the strong reviews for CLE. I don't think you will go wrong with either one though. It really comes down to whether or not you and your children like the curriculum. A wise person on this board once said that the best curriculum is the one that gets done! (or something like that 😉)

[SilverMoon]

We use R&S. Just so you know, the review in th TM is very very quick and usually oral. Plus most of the lessons have a review & practice section. Then there is reviews after every chapter. I don't understand how some think there is not enough review.

 

 

Agreed. Starting at the 4 book practically every lesson ends with a review section, right there in the student text. Those chapter reviews are meaty, too. If a DC struggled with a chapter we'd break those reviews into two days, odds one day and evens the next. The oral reviews from the TE are considered optional.

 

 

FWIW, I didn't trim exercises off R&S English lessons unless the DC demonstrated "blindfolded with one arm tied behind his back" type mastery.

 

 

I didn't add to this thread earlier, as I can't really compare R&S to CLE. The only info I have on CLE was read at this forum. I can tell you we're very happy R&S users, and we've been using their English books successfully for years. We also use their Spelling by Sound and Structure and couldn't be happier with it. I can't help with the separate penmanship though. My little ones' copywork doubled as their penmanship once they knew how to form the letters correctly.

[sleeplessnights]

I have used R&S levels 2&3, and have switched to CLE. My kids are now in the 100's, 200's, and 400's. We primarily made the switch because of the teaching time and CLE's spiral approach. Now I teach LA to my daughter (100's), but my older two are essentially independent. If they have questions or need help, I sit down with them, but they can usually read the lesson and work on it by themselves.

 

During R&S 3, my oldest son was having a difficult time determining the verb/verb phrase in sentences. It was taught in a couple lessons, then there was very little practice. Then the book moved on to a different topic and he forgot a lot. I added in some of my own practice, but I realized that he's the kind of kid that needs daily practice until it has sunk in.

 

We use Memoria Press' program that focuses on learning English grammar through Latin, so I didn't feel that I needed to spend so much of my own time teaching the kids grammar. CLE has fit the bill. They are mastering parts of speech and diagramming independently. The lessons are written so that the student can understand without adult intervention. My oldest (400's) takes about 20 minutes a day and checks his own work. Then he brings the book to me and we go over the problems he missed. It has definitely helped his ability to read instructions carefully and take ownership over his own lessons.

 

We do use R&S's spelling program, but plan to continue with CLE LA. I like the workbook format because I want grammar to be fast & efficient. I figure they write plenty in other subjects.