Rockymountainmom
- Reviewed on Saturday, November 14, 2009
- Grades Used: K, 2nd
- Dates used: 2009-2010
This has been a lifesaver for me this year. This curricula is truly open and go, and my kids aren't intimidated by it. It is laid out simply, but still contains analytical lessons and is chock full of traditional family values. There's not so many windows and colors on each page that the children are confused, they know right where to find the directions. We are using the Learning to Read program with my 4 year old and he loves it, we do 3 lessons per day. We are using the full 2nd grade curricula minus the Bible because I like to do my own bible devotions and the only thing I've really felt that I needed to add was history lessons once per week. The social studies is lacking world history and is more of local family and community. I love how this curriculum teaches values such as getting along with siblings, helping out your parents, and being a good friend. I also like how they incorporate ideas of sewing, farming, and cooking into their lessons, so many kids don't know much about that anymore with the high-tech age we now live in.
This curriculum promotes very traditional values (mom is cooking, dad is going to work,etc.) which works ok with our family because we are pretty traditional.
We love the Lightunits because a child can begin lessons at any level, so you don't have to purchase the entire second grade curriculum for each subject. You can start wherever your child needs to and not feel like you are wasting money on stuff your kid is just going to skip anyway because they already know it. This is our 3rd year homeschooling and the only year we have found a curriculum that fits our family! I have been eclectic and pieced together my own stuff in the past because other curricula were either packaged by grade level and too expensive or had so much in it and it took me 3 weeks to read the teachers' manual! I love the simplicity and beauty of CLE!
|
dreamer
- Reviewed on Thursday, November 05, 2009
- Grades Used: 2nd-4th
- Dates used: 2009
We just started using CLE's math, reading, and language arts with our 3 kids who are adopted and playing "catch-up" with their education. After trying many, many different curriculums, I believe we have finally found a wonderful fit. These workbooks are thorough and basic, yet challenging. They review all the concepts in each lesson, and include quizzes and tests in each workbook. They are moving through them at a good pace, and I am very thankful that they finally appear to be remembering what they are learning. They tell me that they like them and my 12-yr old actually wants to take her workbooks and colour some of the pictures they have in it! Thank you CLE for giving my kids the education they need!
|
mystika1
- Reviewed on Wednesday, October 28, 2009
- Grades Used: 1
- Dates used: 2009
This curriculum saved my sanity! I have used many different curriculums and although I did like some of those choices I was never this organized. I can sleep at night knowing that we have it all covered. I am using the entire 1st grade curriculum which has Bible, Reading, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies and Science. I have heard others say that they use only a couple of CLE subjects because they felt their child would get bored using all CLE subjects. My daughter is very happy waking up every day knowing what is expected of her. This curriculum has helped us to build a much needed schedule. The guidebooks tell you everything you need to know. It is very easy to grade quizes and tests as they have instructions for each test/quiz.
Math is our favorite. The problems are spaced out nicely and a lesson consists of about 3 pages and a speed drill. I was unsure as to how the drills would go over with my daughter but she LOVES them. She gets excited when I tell her it is time for drill.
Reading is also nice. I take turns reading out of the I Wonder Reader with her as I feel some of the stories are a bit long. She enjoys reading them with me so it is not a problem. We have not had any problems with the workbook. No complaints.
Language Arts is very effective. She had a lesson a while back about when you have a short vowel word ending in f, l, s or z you must double the consonant. Such as fuzz. She remembered the rule when she was spelling the word buzz a week later!
Science so far is going well. My daughter already knows alot of the material covered but she never complains. They have been working on circle, triangle and rectangles.
Social studies today focused on family and being polite and taking turns. I am happy to have these topics discussed as my daughter needs work on that. (She fights with her sister alot and it is nice to have the behavior reinforcement in our lessons)
It only takes about 1 1/4-1 1/2 hours to get our work done and that leaves lots time for a lapbook or unit studies if we choose to add it in for fun.
I am planning on using this as long as it continues to fit the needs of our family. It is also nice that it doesn't cost a fortune to use it. I suppose it could be costly if you use it for a very large family. I consider it cheap as I paid over $500.00 for the literature based package I used with her last year.
Some people make fun of or bash workbook type curriculum. I am a proud user of CLE materials. No more pulling my hair out with planning. No more expensive trips to the store for hard to find craft materials. Our schoolday starts at 9:00am and I have enough time during the day to cook and clean my house. Yipp eeee. :-) Finally the grass is greener on my side of the fence for a change!
|
TNMom
- Reviewed on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
- Grades Used: 2nd-6th
- Dates used: 2008-2009
We are using CLE Math, LA & Reading. It has been a great fit for our workbook oriented family. The material is rigorous, yet gentle.
Math: A new concept is introduced & then a few problems are worked involving the new concept. The insturctions & examples are clear & easy to understand. There is plenty of review built into each lesson...including fact memorization. A speed drill is included in each lesson for the younger grades. Quizzes & tests are included in the light units.
LA: Follows the same pattern as the math. The penmanship is "light". We supplement with a writing curriculum. The spelling is sufficient. However, I have natural spellers & they are acing the spelling tests. They are learning many new words, though. The spelling portions also works on vocabulary. Quizzes & tests are included in the light units.
Reading: This is the one I am most pleased with! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE CLE Math & LA...but the reading is excellent! The light units are a must for us. They include literary skills that you would miss if you simply use the reader. Also, the questions in the light units really make the child think. They are not simply fill in the blank questions. This can be tough for kids, but I love that it is teaching them to take the information they know & come up with their own conclusion...it's teaching them to think for themselves! Brilliant! Again, quizzes & tests are included in the light units.
My overall experience with CLE is excellent. We are currently considering adding in science & possibly history as well.
|
|
