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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Jan 12 2009 at 1:48pm | IP Logged
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I am thinking about getting this for my dd13 who is struggling with fractions. Is this a good program for a struggling learner? I read in the Rainbow Resource catalog it is for 9-12 graders. If you are using this do you feel that is correct?
Please share if you have any experience with this program. I am feeling so desperate right now. We need to get through fractions!
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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| Posted: Jan 12 2009 at 4:16pm | IP Logged
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I have not used the program yet (I do have it) but I can tell you a little about it. It is mostly in story form. (A very silly story about a 5 year old professor.) The math seems to include bare bones instructions with very little practice. It appears to be a good review or supplement. It does apply the math which is a positive.
I would hesitate to recommend using it with a struggling learner if the struggles come from not understanding the math. If the struggles stem from boredom and a story would engage her, then it may be a good choice. Or if your dd understands the math but has trouble applying it, it may be a good choice.
I have heard wonderful things about the Key to... series. Good explanations, enough practice problems, etc. That might be something to look at.
Good luck.
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Blessings,
Tracey
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Martha in VA
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| Posted: Jan 12 2009 at 4:20pm | IP Logged
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We started Life of Fred Beginning Algebra back in the fall. (Sorry no experience here with the fractions book) My dd is in 7th grade this year. She is really enjoying this program and learning a lot from it. If you have questions for the author, he is very accessible through his website. He responds quickly with very helpful answers, too!
There are many on the WTM board who use this program. That's where I did my research before ordering it.
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Mary G
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| Posted: Jan 12 2009 at 7:00pm | IP Logged
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MC -- definitely email or call Stanley Schmidt ... he is definitely accessible and a joy and will answer any questions/concerns you might have.
I had the whole series ... but really only ever used the algebra book with Catie. She was failing Saxon algebra in 9th grade (a BIG piece of it was a 14yod with her mama and fireworks in EVERY subject!) ... I had her take the LoF Algebra ... she went thru it in a month, 6 weeks and passed Saxon Algebra ... (she then went on to honors math classes and is doing Calculus at Seton -- all WITHOUT mom teaching her of course).
I like the LoF because his whole premise is to make math approachable for all ... yes, the story is silly ... but then thinking math is hard is silly too! It shouldn't be ... a concept that is hard can be broken down to small manageable bits and that's what Schmidt does in LofF as far as I can see. I did a review of the series ... but again only USED it for Algebra.
I'd call Dr. Schmidt.
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MaryG
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| Posted: Jan 12 2009 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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I just reread my post (and learned a lesson not to post when you don't have sufficient time to think about the tone and word choice).
I didn't mean to sound negative about Life of Fred. I think it's a brilliant approach and we love the silly story! Like any program, it likely will not appeal to all students. I simply mention the Key To series as a completely different approach, worth comparing with a specific student in mind.
I think it's great the author is available for questions- what a bonus!
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Tracey
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Carole N.
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| Posted: Jan 13 2009 at 2:10am | IP Logged
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I used the Key To series as well. I had only used the Life of Fred for algebra. We enjoyed the story, but felt we needed a more indepth explanation. As with Mary's family, we were struggling with Saxon algebra and looking for alternatives. We ended up going to Teaching Textbooks which we love.
But my dd needed work with fractions, decimals, and percents, so I bought the Key To series. It worked really well with her and I feel she has mastered the concepts.
I do like Stanley Schmidt. He is very accessible and helpful. But in our case, Key To was the better answer for us.
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Jan 13 2009 at 7:49am | IP Logged
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Thank you for your thoughts. Dd did work through the first two books of the Key to series with her tutor last year. Then we stopped the tutoring and started MUS. Sometimes I get so frustrated with all the extra steps in MUS. I have the Key to series sitting in my cart over at Rainbow Resource, maybe I will just go with that.
Thanks again!
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Martha
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Life of Fred Fractions has been great for my 13/14 yr old son this year. I supplimented with Key To Fractions starting around chapter 17, b/c that chapter was particuliarly difficult for some reason for him. But otherwise, LOF has been suffificent.
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Kristie 4
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We used the Key to series with my then 11-12 yos when he was stumped in the fractions in Math u see. Did the trick...so has the Algebra when we are stumped in Jacob's Algebra.
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Kristie in Canada
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Life of Fred Fractions????
