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MaryM
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 10:36am | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
bumping.....
Are these not popular math programs right now? Is there a better one?
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Maybe not...even in past discussions of Life of Fred, I think more people are familiar with the Algebra and higher, not the fractions and decimals books you are asking about. I did find it discussed in this old thread.
When the basics (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) are established well and you are looking for the fraction, decimal, percentage piece to get you to Algebra, another good resource is the "Key to" Series. I've used those successfully for two kids as the pre-algebra option. One also did TT Pre-algebra after finishing the Key to series and before beginning Algebra. Now we are doing TT for those in between concepts, not sure if I like it better or not.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Betsy
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 11:02am | IP Logged
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Thanks Mary,
I feel like I am rather on an island with the situation that I am in. I am very reluctant to say my boys are advanced with math, but we seem to have gone through rightstart rather fast. However, I still feel that they need a lot of review and practice with fractions and multiplication facts.
I will look in to the "Key to" Series that you recommended and keep searching for the right program.
I would love to have it be something that is challenging, but they can do on their own, as I will be starting right start level b over this year with my other son.
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Angel
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 1:03pm | IP Logged
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We used Fractions and Decimals! The one thing I think you have to understand about all of the Fred books is that they're very funny, very real life... but there isn't a whole lot of explanation and practice if you don't get it. If you use Fred, I would be prepared with supplements on hand. We used the "Key to" series that Mary linked to above.
Honestly, my first preference *is* Fred because if you understand how to do a problem you understand how math relates to the real world. The problem we had once my ds hit Algebra (and he didn't use the Prealgebra books) was that by ch. 4 he really couldn't do any of the problems on his own (frustrating) and I couldn't always sit down and explain them due to baby not napping, etc. (also frustrating).
On the other hand, I think that *I* understand algebra much better now, and I know that my ds feels that Jacobs algebra (which we've gone back to) is second best. He would much rather do Fred, because Fred is funny. The Fred books really are "living".
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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MichelleW
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 5:44pm | IP Logged
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I started my kids in Fractions and Decimals and we've never looked back. We love Fred!
This is our experience:
I first ordered Fred: Fractions and Decimals for my middle child who is not very math oriented but is a strong reader (he was in 4th grade a the time). He could not get through the book and I switched him back to Singapore and added the Extra Practice book and spent some time remediating him so he could move through Singapore Math.
Then my youngest, who is a math whiz, finished all the Singapore books (through level 6B in primary mathematics) by the time she was at the end of 4th grade. So, going into 5th grade I handed her Fred: Fractions while I tried to figure out what to do about math for her that I could afford. She LOVED Fred and has continuously done well with it. We decided to stick to Fred for her.
When my middle son finished Singapore, he asked to try Fred again. I decided to try it and everything clicked for him. He has flown through the Fred books now. The story appeals to him and he is mature enough that the math is now just the right level for him. We are now in the pre-algebra books and loving them.
My oldest is a special needs kid. He is still working his way through Singapore and he is a reluctant reader. I can't imagine what we are going to do for math for him, but yesterday he told me that he can't wait to do Fred...we'll see.
So, my take, for what it's worth, is that the story is appealing enough to engage a slow reader, as long as the child is also somewhat of a quick study in math.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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Betsy
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| Posted: March 31 2011 at 7:31pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Angela and Michelle,
I am thinking that LoF might be good then as Level E in RightStart covers fractions and decimals, so essentially it will be a review.
Maybe I can find a online game type math program to keep their skills up with multiplication facts and provide more review of the basics.
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: April 06 2011 at 2:30pm | IP Logged
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Ladies, I appreciate the review of LOF for the first two books. I have been using Saxon with my oldest dd for the past two years. I understand Saxon, it makes perfect sense to me, but it is causing my dd to dislike math at all. I just ordered Fractions for her hoping that this will be a good "supplement" to Saxon.
I only say this because we're in the middle of Saxon and I just want to compare which she understands/likes better before completely switching programs if we have to. We ended up going through the summer to finish Saxon(5/4) last year  . She loves reading, has amazing writing skills, can think very logically but math is just her weakest subject (something about so many numbers on a page  ). I'm looking for a program that will take her strengths and make her at least enjoy math by seeing it is part of daily life.
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Jenny
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: May 10 2011 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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We are using the Fractions LOF. She enjoys it, but it only covers fractions. I know it is very thoroughly covered, but I don't know long term how good it will be. It has helped us through some tough areas when we hit them.
We are using Math Mammoth as our main program for both dd7(grade2) and dd12(grade 6).
I'm a little lost where we'll go next year for grade 7. I was thinking Saxon, but the reviews are really really mixed!
More research is needed.
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Erin
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| Posted: Dec 03 2011 at 5:28am | IP Logged
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Chiming in to share we are now using LOF Beginning Algebra with ds16. He is enjoying the story and after an initial struggle is 'getting it'. He is I'm afraid 'way behind' but after going no where fast with his previous maths program, I'm pleased just to see him making some progress.
I wonder does anyone know what grade level the LOF books are in comparison to other programs? Has anyone only used these for their older teens?
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 03 2011 at 6:49am | IP Logged
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I just bought the LOF fractions for my ds after rereading this thread last week. I am also wondering how it compares as far as grade level.... but it does look like a lot of fun no matter. And math is so neat- why shouldn't be it fun?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Angel
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| Posted: Dec 03 2011 at 8:46am | IP Logged
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LOF now has younger, elementary books out that come before Fractions and Decimals. The Fractions and Decimals sequence was originally supposed to function as prealgebra, so it would fall anywhere between 5th-7th grade depending on the child's ability. The Fred Prealgebra books actually repeat a lot of the same information, but, IMO, don't spend enough time on typical introductory algebraic equations. My 12 yo dd just finished both Fractions and Decimals and Percents after starting them in July, but she's going to try out Art of Problem Solving Prealgebra before she goes into Algebra.
You can find the sequence on the Life of Fred book catalog. Basically, the high school books are:
Beginning Algebra
Advanced Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
If Fred clicks with your ds, Erin, he could concievably run through the books faster because they are not as thick as regular textbooks. When we were doing Beginning Algebra, we did use the Home Companion, though, which added more practice.
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Life of Fred
