Christian Light Education? All About Reading? BIG UPDATES - February Homeschool Update

[@christinej2828]

I have used Christian Light's Learn to Read program with three children so far. It is so good. I am doing it with a fourth child now.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

That's so fun! I really love the way it looks and it seems to be like such a solid program!

[@lindsaypotter9776]

We are so bored with it. How did you stick with it haha

[@berrypatch5583]

If you like old school, simple and strong programs, CLE definitely fits that bill. I used it with one of my children and enjoyed it. I love their CLE K2 program for a gentle Kindergarten program with Number Stories and once finished a simple phonics program. We have enjoyed TYCtRin100EL and Alpha phonics. We also have enjoyed MFW for K and 1st. Phonics Pathways is also great. I have found personally to do better with having our child do dictation from one of the above programs works better and more tailored, but for my slower student CLE Learn to Read was such a blessing.

[@heatherchancey1861]

I am planning to start homeschooling my daughter in August and have been looking at both TGTB and All About Reading so I would love a video of how you use both of those programs together!

[@hannahhensley8497]

Agreed!!

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

I just posted one about how we are beginning to use both but will definitely post an updated one when we are in a better rhythm with them!

[@berrypatch5583]

After TGaTB preschool you may enjoy Rod and Staff preschool workbooks. For K we enjoy CLE K2...it is a slow gentle peogram.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

Thanks for sharing! I will have to look into them!

[@rosalindreloj7928]

One EXCELLENT curriculum is Rod and Staff. It is 6 light units instead of 10. It is very affordable as well. 4 pages per lessons, however it is very repetitive and fun. They don't sent free samples, but it's AWESOME!!!! I can't say enough good things because along with handwriting, it teaches spelling rules in tandem. Very thorough. I have my K and 1st grader doing it together!

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

Thanks for sharing! I've heard of that curriculum but haven't done much research into it. Maybe I should :)

[@rosalindreloj7928]

@saltandlighthomeschool I really like your channel. I like how you process your purchases. I'm very similar! For handwriting, we used sandpaper letters (Montessori style) that I diy-ed out of laminated cards rock and pipe cleaners. It made writing very fun! Also a dollar tree tray with cornstarch. Just shake away. It took away a lot of the tears in letter formation. Hope that's useful.

[@berrypatch5583]

I love Rod and Staff for preschool and kindergarten workbooks (my children do the last few in first grade), English, Spelling, and Pentimento penmanship. We also own their science and history of which my children enjoy the simplicity and independence it brings. Love Love Rod and Staff.

[@tanyacagle2423]

I use cle but it is not for preschool at all. We love it. We had to quit good and beautiful that we used the past two years. A lot of frustration. So cle starts at age six or seven for first grade and if it’s a lot of handwriting at the age six then do one or two pages and that’s it. They do have kindergarten books which would probably fit your son better. It goes over all the letters and sounds. But cle is very traditional. Tgab is all over the place.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

Yes they are definitely different approaches for sure. And I can see that the Learning to Read program would be better suited for a 1st grader for sure.

[@berrypatch5583]

​@@saltandlighthomeschoolThe K2 program has been a favorite here. We have done it four times now and are doing it a fifth this school year. It is just right for K, without too much extra.

[@brooklynleighhh]

I have been really interested in CLE, particularly for Bible! I love the idea of the smaller units and I have only heard good things! But it does look worksheet heavy and I think little hands get tired. You know I’m used to Abeka so we’re familiar with a lot of worksheets, but that’s one of the things I am not sure about if I were to try another curriculum because I am trying to not use ONLY the more traditional pieces 😂 I’m glad you gave us your thoughts on it! I’m glad you’re still liking Gather Round! I’ve been eyeing unit studies a lot lately haha. Thank you for your updates!!

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

CLE does really look comprehensive and is definitely a great option for people who enjoy traditional homeschooling for sure. I actually forgot they do bible studies as well! I need to look into them for the future. Also, I definitely recommend the gather round unit studies! It's just important to know what to expect with them haha.

[@genebandlucymarie]

If you ever want to give CLE a fair trial, you need to break up the lesson lengths! For a young student, no more than 20 minutes at a time. Then it would be up to you if you do one or two 20 minutes a day sessions. I taught my children with CLE and I don’t think there’s another curriculum quite that complete for teaching children to read. I would also adjust the amount of writing we did. We never filled in the handwriting page, and for the first sounds pages, little ink pads and letter stamps are so much fun

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

Thank you for the tips, they are very helpful!!

[@lisaerin85]

Hi! I’m new to your channel. I’m considering doing one of my own, but I’m struggling with how to make it God centered… for some reason. 🤪 anyways, I also use TGTB. He’s 7 and I’ve been homeschooling him since he became school aged. I was wondering though, I love your shirt, is there a link to it? Also, are your glasses for sight or blue light? I also love your hair and makeup. I’d love to see a video on how you do your makeup and care for your hair… if that’s something you want to share. I really enjoy your channel.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

Thank you, that is so kind! I think you should start a channel if you feel led to. It's been a lot of fun for me to have this community to share our journey with. :)

[@corriezoetewey7860]

All About Reading is my absolute favorite program to use for teaching kids to read. It systematically teaches every phonogram and the books match what the students have learned. TGTB skips around a lot and the phonics readers to not match the sounds the students have learned.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

I can really see the benefit of AAR. I think maybe once they updated the new version of TGTB, the phonics readers now match what the students have learned so that's good haha

[@Trekkifulshay]

We use TGTB for Math and CLE for LA. TGTB LA had too much fluff & was too vague. Like looking for a blend in words in a poem. My kid was like uh what? CLE directly teaches phonics you don't have to hunt for it.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

It's always so interesting to hear others' experience with different curriculums. Thanks for sharing yours!

[@lindsaypotter9776]

We use CLE learn to read. It is honestly very boring. We are almost finished with 102 and we are ready to find something else.

[@saltandlighthomeschool]

Haha thanks for the honesty! It does seem very traditional compared to a lot of the other curriculum options out there now.

[@berrypatch5583]

You may enjoy Alpha phonics and do dictation with them. Alpha phonics has taught six of my seven children to read. It is so gentle on the hands, but excellent to use as dictation. Our children often do TYCtRin100EL first, then Alpha phonics with dictation.