more curriculum questions

[jenaelisabeth]

I just posted about homeschooling ds who has some special needs.

He is doing ACE math and loves it (in his private school). I knew he was excelling in it but he just told me that he LOVES it and asked his teacher if he could have math homework. So now I'm wondering if I should continue with ACE next year for math or switch to CLE math. I would like to stick with what is working for him. It also helps a lot that it is more self paced so I can spend more time on subjects that he needs help on. I was thinking of Saxon before but I honestly don't think he would like all of the instruction. He likes to get to the point in math. lol

Which would be grammar, spelling and phonics. Which phonics have you loved for kids needing remedial phonics? On the surface he appears to read pretty much on grade level but actually sight reads. So lots of work there.

I would like to have spelling and grammar mixed in together. I have seen a lot on CLE language arts but I don't want to start with writing yet. He has a writing disability and I would like to just focus on copywork. I was thinking of making up copywork using Startwrite and new american cursive. Are there curriculums that don't require the reports or creative writing? I have liked the look of Shurley grammar because of the jingles. He is an auditory learner.

For history and science...I would like to do a once a week science experiment on saturdays that daddy could do with him. Is that enough science for a 4th grader?

And what I'm looking forward to the most - history. I think I would liket o do SOTW. I have a TON of living books to go along with it which would make it fun. I have bought the Beautiful Feet history pack a while ago. Plus I have all of the books from the Sonlight Core 1. He loves the D'Auillare books the best. He really likes being read to. How often do you do history?

And I would like to find a geography workbook just because he is very interested in learning that now.

I really appreciate the help I have gotten here. To think just a week ago I was freaking out and so close to doing school in a box or even public at home school.

[LUV2EDU]

If ACE is working for your son, then stick with it. However, if you are curious about CLE, you can have your son take their Math and English diagnostic test.

Keep in mind that CLE is more advanced than ACE. If he is on grade level with ACE, your son may test 2 grade levels below with CLE. ACE does not have their grade levels printed on their PACE. However, CLE does have the grade levels printed on their books. This could create a problem. Your son may feel that he isn't doing so great if he sees that the grade level is two grades below ACE.

This is not to say CLE isn't a great program. CLE has received great reviews from other parents on this forum.

[ElizabethB]

For older children who need remedial work to undo sight reading, I use my free online phonics lessons and Webster's Speller (linked below in my signature.)

I also like Prescription for Reading Teach Them Phonics by Ernest Christman (also sometimes listed as Rx for Reading), We All Can Read by James Williams and Back on the Right Track Reading by Miscese Gagen.

I also use my phonics concentration game, it makes both real and nonsense words, the nonsense words help break the guessing habits:

http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Phonics/concentrationgam.html

If you have more phonics/spelling questions, let me know, I've been remediating since 1994 with phonics and am currently teaching a class of 11 students with the help of volunteers from my church.

Our last 2 month class in the fall averaged a 1.8 grade level improvement, and we met twice a week. (However, the 3 students who improved the most all played the above linked game with their parents and also watched my phonics lessons on off days. And, some students can improve quickly, others need a lot more repetition before it finally gets into the brain.)

A fun program that my daughter didn't realize was educational for months is "Read, Write, and Type." It's a bit expensive, but helpful and fun, and you can do a free demo to see if you think it's worth it. http://www.talkingfingers.com/

[chaik76]

If ACE is working for your son, then stick with it. However, if you are curious about CLE, you can have your son take their Math and English diagnostic test.

Keep in mind that CLE is more advanced than ACE. If he is on grade level with ACE, your son may test 2 grade levels below with CLE. ACE does not have their grade levels printed on their PACE. However, CLE does have the grade levels printed on their books. This could create a problem. Your son may feel that he isn't doing so great if he sees that the grade level is two grades below ACE.

This is not to say CLE isn't a great program. CLE has received great reviews from other parents on this forum.
CLE is advanced. ACE is slow in the lower grades (they want their students exceptionally prepared and this is the way they choose to do it) but they pick up in higher grades and are on-track by middle school/early high school.

If you continue with ACE (my son loves this program but we use it for extra work) you will want to stick with it...it doesn't transfer well to another program unless you don't mind bumping down grade levels.

Keep in mind, too, that CLE is spiral and ACE is mastery. Your son might not like the spiral approach of CLE if he is a mastery-type kid.