Advice needed: Christian Liberty Education

[papillon]

Hi,

I'm thinking of using CLE for a few subjects next year--LA, science, social studies, and maybe history, but I'm wondering if the curriculum will be challenging enough for an advanced learner. Anyone have any experience using CLE with their children? Mine are 6 and 8, prefer a set routine, and need to be challenged. Thoughts?

Thanks!

[SnowWhite]

I can't say anything about Christian Liberty (CLASS), but wanted to point out that the positive reviews you read on this board about CLE are about Christian Light Education, not Christian Liberty.

[papillon]

Oh, my goodness ~ you're right! My mistake. I guess I've been doing way too much looking around and got my wires crossed. I did mean Christian Light Education ~ thank you! Any info would be most appreciated from anyone who has used it, in terms of its being challenging and thorough. Or, alternatively, is there another complete curriculum that you know of that would provide this? I lean more towards classical/eclectic, but if one program did it all, that would be great, too. Any recommendations for CLE or another complete program? Anyone??

Thanks.

[SnowWhite]

I can tell you that I graduated from CLE homeschool in the 80s (the curriculum has been revised several times since then for the better) and did well in college. You'll likely get more views and replies if you post with a CLE or Christian Light title.

[papillon]

Good suggestion, Jennifer. I think I will. After you pointed out my titling error, I changed the name in the actual thread, but I couldn't seem to change the main one. I think I'll just start fresh. Thanks for your help!

[HappyGrace]

I've used CLE math and some CLE LA. The benefit to using CLE to accelerate is that it would be simple to have them do a couple lessons per day instead of just one-they could move at their own speed to stay challenged. I think it would work for a dc who likes routine because it is very routine-oriented. In the math you could skip some of the spiral review-there is a TON of it! I personally love the math. I haven't heard great things about the science, and you'd have to check history carefully for doctrinal/cultural differences-I know the Mennonites are pacifists so that would be a major difference you would want to look into!

From what I've read, I'm not sure that a workbook curriculum like this would generally work for most g/t kids but you said specifically that your dc like routine. It is very cheap-you could always order a few Light Units and see how you like it!

[skaterbabs]

We're using CLE math, language arts and science with all three kids. The boys are twice exceptional - gifted with learning disabilities (autism spectrum.) Dot is level 2 to level 3 gifted.

It definately challenges the boys, but there are a great deal of basic info introduced in the lower levels to which they haven't been exposed. We do reduce the amount of drill in the math for Dot, but she will do anywhere from two to four lessons at a sitting anyway.

I've been very pleased. The material is academically rigourous, yet introduced in a very gentle way. At the early levels the amount of writing required is limited, and the child really can move at his or her own pace.

It's not a very colorful program, so yesterday I gave Dot a break and gave her several worsheets from a workbook designed for gifted children that are bright & colorful, and designed to be fun. She hated them and wanted to do her regular lessons. LOL

When you add to that the minimal cost involved, it's a winner all around. :D

[papillon]

Thanks, Becky. It is so helpful for me to hear that your children are challenged by the curriculum. I recently got a catalog in the mail, and I'm thinking of getting their math and language arts programs. The online samples look very good. Is CLE easy to implement? Do the kids just do one lesson of each subject daily and then I just fill in the rest of the day with their other subjects? I like the idea of prepared lessons and knowing that the core subjects are academically strong.

What about CLE's Sunrise Reading program? Does anyone have any experience with that subject? I'd love to hear a review.

Thanks!

[skaterbabs]

We're not using their Reading/Lit program. At the upper grades it's too heavy with their non-intervention philosophy considering my son is in Civil Air Patrol and we're heavy military supporters (altho no military in the immediate family.) Dot took one look at the 1st grade reader and pronounced it "boring." :tongue_smilie: We're just reading real books for now.

Implementing the program is very easy, but does require some (limited) pre-prep for each lesson from the teacher.

A few things I'd recommend having:
~a small dry-erase board and erasers
~loose change (pennies, nickels, dimes & quarters) and a small container to store them (the coins are required manipulatives; I use a small snack container and old RX pill bottle)
~a base ten set
~ large paperclips (for marking your place in the books; I use the springy book clips)
~ something to use as counters (we use a pack of small erasers from the dollar store)

Dot does 2+ lessons each day; the boys usually only do one.