Need a math suggestion

[busymama7]

Very artsy, right brained creative girl. Behind in math and I am pretty sure it's due to the method (MUS). I have used it and loved it for years but it's not working for her. I finally crossed out all the long explaining problems and just taught her the algorithm and bingo. She can get the right answer. ;) I want to change to a spiral program for her. I don't want to have to teach a lesson every day. I will have 5 students from 1st to 11th grade and two toddlers next fall. This is why MUS has worked so well. I watched them with my oldest (now graduated) and then the rest just watched them as they went along. I could also help if they got stuck but being able to watch it and then work on the worksheets has been great for us.

 

I don't want Saxon because of the daily lessons and needing to teach it (I know there are videos). I don't want teaching textbooks as I don't have a problem with checking and prefer to do it myself anyways as I can see exactly how they are doing. Also I have no desire to shuffle them all through one computer. We just do a lot better with simple straightforward on paper school work that can be done anywhere even in a power or internet outage!

 

I looked at CLE and I think I would like it but couldn't see placement tests and I'm not sure how much CC is in it (we are Christian but prefer mostly secular schoolwork). Also, I don't want her to know how far behind she is. She already hates math and thinks she's not good at it. I would prefer something without grade levels.

 

I was recommended R and S spelling here and started it 6 months or so ago and discovered that it is a really good fit. I think I'm more of a textbook/workbook homeschooler even though for years I fought that for everything except math. I think with the number of kids and all we have going that covering the basics with a good solid program is what I really need.

 

What am I looking for for math? I'm sure she would love life of Fred and we will use it for supplement starting soon but I don't think it will work alone.

 

 

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[OneStepAtATime]

CLE placement tests link is below.

 

https://www.clp.org/store/by_grade/21

 

I told the kids that CLE is based on levels, not grade levels.  I pointed out that they were able to hop over the early levels because they were grasping a lot of concepts already.  I don't know if that would work for you or not.  My kids use a lot of systems that are levels not grade levels, and frequently have to start with level 1, regardless of grade level, so they were used to that.  Didn't bother them at all.

 

CLE would certainly be spiral and written to the student.  As for the Christian content, it is very light in the math program.  Mostly it is things like in the word problems maybe referring to how much food a missionary needs to feed people they are helping.  If you skip the context story at the beginning of each light unit you would miss a lot of the religious references.  The word problems throughout the light unit usually tie in some way to the context story but it isn't strictly necessary to read that to be able to do the math problems.  You could read through it and determine if you were comfortable.

 

[BlsdMama]

Which child is this for? Age?

[nature girl]

Have you thought about Miquon? It was a hit for my artsy, creative girl. (We did Miquon along with RS, but RS is probably too teacher-intensive when you're working with a lot of kids. Much of Miquon can be done independently once they get the hang of it.)

[busymama7]

She is ten, almost 11 but like I said very behind. Only learning long multiplication now. Has no math natural math sense. I have an older daughter whom I went through this with as well and I just don't want to repeat that mess. We were stuck at fractions for so long. Used at least 3 curriculums. I see this daughter as much the same and I am really feeling like I have to make a change right now and try to catch her up.

 

Thanks for the link to the CLE placement tests. I also see that they don't actually say a grade but are rather numbered 501 etc so maybe she would not notice they are correlated to grade levels. I think I will give her the placement and then decide. I like the looks of it a lot.

Edited June 9, 2016 by busymama7

[busymama7]

Have you thought about Miquon? It was a hit for my artsy, creative girl. (We did Miquon along with RS, but RS is probably too teacher-intensive when you're working with a lot of kids. Much of Miquon can be done independently once they get the hang of it.)

I haven't. I will, thanks! By RS do you mean right start? Or Rod and Staff?

[busymama7]

Alright I printed the CLE placement test 400 and there is no way she knows even a fraction of that stuff. She is almost done wth MUS gamma. I really feel in my heart I need to switch but I'm stressed to switch programs as I know that can be a disaster too. I don't want to have to go so far back that she has no chance of catching up to grade level. All this stuff is taught in MUS but due to it being mastery just hasn't been yet. I really think she would do better with this very spiral approach but I have no idea where to start her. If she can't do the 400 test does that mean she's got to go back to 300? Sigh.

Edited June 9, 2016 by busymama7

[Caviar]

Did you give her the 300 placement test yet?  See how she does on that.  FYI the first light unit in every level is a review of what was learned in the previous level, so, light unit 201 will be a review of level 100, light unit 301 will be a review of level 200, light unit 401 will be a review of level 300, etc....  With my artsy dd who claims to hate math, we were actually able to skip light units 306-310 and start in 402 (but this was after we had done light units 301-305).  As you see, you can skip whole light units, or only work on the new material in light units, or just have her do the problems that you know she needs work on and skip the rest.  Such as, if I know my dd knows how to add and subtract multi-digits, I cross them out, so she knows to skip them.  You'll also want to keep in mind that CLE is a bit more advanced than some other programs, but, IMHO, not by that much.  My 11 y.o. 5th grader is doing CLE 400 Level work, this is not uncommon.  My 10 y.o. 4th grader is finishing CLE 300 Level this month - I hope!

[busymama7]

Did you give her the 300 placement test yet? See how she does on that. FYI the first light unit in every level is a review of what was learned in the previous level, so, light unit 201 will be a review of level 100, light unit 301 will be a review of level 200, light unit 401 will be a review of level 300, etc.... With my artsy dd who claims to hate math, we were actually able to skip light units 306-310 and start in 402 (but this was after we had done light units 301-305). As you see, you can skip whole light units, or only work on the new material in light units, or just have her do the problems that you know she needs work on and skip the rest. Such as, if I know my dd knows how to add and subtract multi-digits, I cross them out, so she knows to skip them. You'll also want to keep in mind that CLE is a bit more advanced than some other programs, but, IMHO, not by that much. My 11 y.o. 5th grader is doing CLE 400 Level work, this is not uncommon. My 10 y.o. 4th grader is finishing CLE 300 Level this month - I hope!

No I didn't. I wasn't sure if I should just skip the tests because she's going to have so many holes and just make a guess at where to start. I'm glad to know it is a bit ahead. And that the 01 books are review. Maybe we could take that book slowly to catch up. I saw on another thread that some posters don't feel it's that good of a program. I'm conflicted. I have always felt like just about anything would work as long as it as a solid curriculum as long as it could get done. I'm afraid that a more challenging choice would make overhelm us and this seems to be something that is doable.

Edited June 10, 2016 by busymama7

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

If it is the best fit for you and prepares your daughter adequately, who cares what others think? If you are struggling through what others deem to be a rigorous program, that doesn't serve you well either. I am not familiar with CLE. I know it's a traditional math though. The trend right now is focused on problem solving and more abstract thinking vs traditional algorithms. So some who think this is what defines rigor may look down on a traditional math program. But curriculum is a tool, not the teacher. If you are supplementing with LOF, there isa bunch of problem solving and deeper thinking in those books to supplement, and CLE s going to give you the practice you need with the traditional algorithms that you desire. If this fits your needs and goals best, and you have addressed any potential weaknesses or gaps (as ALL curricula will have,) you are covered.

[busymama7]

If it is the best fit for you and prepares your daughter adequately, who cares what others think? If you are struggling through what others deem to be a rigorous program, that doesn't serve you well either. I am not familiar with CLE. I know it's a traditional math though. The trend right now is focused on problem solving and more abstract thinking vs traditional algorithms. So some who think this is what defines rigor may look down on a traditional math program. But curriculum is a tool, not the teacher. If you are supplementing with LOF, there isa bunch of problem solving and deeper thinking in those books to supplement, and CLE s going to give you the practice you need with the traditional algorithms that you desire. If this fits your needs and goals best, and you have addressed any potential weaknesses or gaps (as ALL curricula will have,) you are covered.

Thank you so much. I really feel this will be a good fit for her and she will do better with things like fractions if they are introduced in increments instead of waiting until the year for fractions to even know what they look like.

 

I ordered level 4 yesterday. We are going to take as much time as we need going through 401 to catch her up and then we will see how she does. It's two grade levels behind which doesn't make me happy but honestly that's where she was anyways. We school year round and I really think she will like this approach so might even choose to work faster to catch up on her own.

[three4me]

CLE is great for catching up. You can do the new things in a few lessons but skip the review for the first one or two. Also, if you're schooling year round you can skip the first book of the next level since it's all review.