Christian Liberty Press

Robin - posted on 05/04/2010

The kindergarten one comes with a parent's guide. The kindergarten one says to read 1 page per day. But the 3rd grade doesn't really say and the chapter is ALOT longer. I may just split it up and read it throughout the week. For instance, the first chapter is on ants. But there are different little sections then at the very end of the chapter is questions. So I would assume that you spend all week reading the chapter then give the questions sort of like a test type of thing.

Cheryl - posted on 05/04/2010

The way we've fit in the nature reader is at bedtime or when we're actually out on a bike ride or walk- we'll stop and take a break and I'll read one of the stories for everyone as they sit and have a snack and rest. Is it scheduled at all in the parent's guide (I never had one so I don't know)

Robin - posted on 05/04/2010

Question, for those of you that have done CLP. I have one that will be doing Kindergarten and one that will be doing 3rd grade. Generally I'm going to try and stick to a 4 day school week and do arts and reading on the 5th day. I was wondering how you did your daily schedule. I am a little unsure how to set up my 3rd grader's nature reader book. Should we just read a little each day or what? Any suggestions would be greatly welcome.

Nicole - posted on 02/14/2010

My little girl is finishing up Preschool and I am planning on using most of CLP's stuff for Kindergarten...however, she has already gone through ABeka's Kindergarten Phonics, so we are getting ready to start CLP's phonics B. I am doing my own reading program, because I prefer the classics above anything else... I think it all depends on your child whether it is too advanced or not. It is definately not for mine...the books I have looked through are exactly what she is on now...I prefer ABeka's history however. Don't be afraid to mix and match to find what fits you the best!

Robin - posted on 02/10/2010

Just wanted to let you all know that I am still waiting on my order. I did call yesterday and they said that one item was back-ordered from another publisher. It did however arrive on Monday so I should be receiving my shipment soon. I can't wait!

Robin - posted on 02/06/2010

Thanks ladies! My little one has a pretty good foundation in phonics. We have been working our buts of with phonics plus she also attends speech therapy 2x a week. She has had some pre-school experience. She went for 3 months but I couldn't afford it anymore. I think we'll be fine, my in-laws live next door and both are teachers. My husband is enrolled to become a teacher too. Plus, I usually do school stuff with them year-round but don't start the curriculum stuff till august.

Cheryl - posted on 02/05/2010

I think CLP is a great curric to use if your child had a solid preschool experience. We did Hands on Homeschooling for 3s and 4s, but they're own 5s program was not working, so I tried some Abeka K stuff I had from used sales- WAY too easy. I was trying to use Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons- also too easy. My daughter was so frustrated! We got CLP and jumped right in- she was reading within a month, loved Horizons math, loved the Father's World science and the little nature reader they have too. History was great too!!! For my oldest daughter, it was perfect for K!!!
I hope you have a similar experience!

Laura - posted on 02/03/2010

I tried using CLP when my son was five and tried the whole kindergarten thing, but it was way too advanced. Last year I sent my son to K5 and my daughter to K4 at a christian school and they used abeka. This year I am homeschooling them in first grade and kindergarten using abeka, and though it is somewhat costly, it is an easy system to use and I've heard it's top of the line. My daughter learned her phonics in K4, so it was a cake walk for me to teach her how to read. You can go at your own pace and can pick and choose what you want to use. I love it.

Misty - posted on 02/02/2010

Good Luck Robin! I was so excited when we got our curriculum in the mail too! I don't regret trying CLP, and it does have some great qualities. Just let you child work at their own pace and you will be fine! Have fun :)

Robin - posted on 02/01/2010

A friend of mine used Rod and Staff and I just really didn't like it. My kids like things that are colorful and lively. Alpha omega is good but I like to be able to have more interaction with my children instead of putting a book in front of them and expecting them to do it. Abeka I really love but even that would have cost me more than I could afford. I'm happy with the choice I made of trying CLP this coming up year. I already ordered my supplies yesterday and I am excited about starting.

DEBBIE - posted on 01/27/2010

rod and staff is cheap! but black and white. Alpha and Omaga is really good.colorerful.
Abeka is really really good!

Anna - posted on 01/25/2010

I have used the K history and science, I thought they were a great beginning. I liked them....You just have to read them to them to make it easy...I liked that they were basic and traditional and I could expand/expound on anything I wanted to explain further. The teacher books give you a lot of lea-way (sp?). They give suggestions and let you add as little or as much to the student book as you want. I personally use Abeka phonics for K and 2nd (skipping 1st because it is a lot of seat work) because I like the more colorful pages and especially how incremental and thourogh they are (and its what I used in school...I'm biased) My older 3 are voracious readers, just like I was.

[I like to get used BJU history and science starting in 3rd. When they can read on their own, I assign books about the early Americans like Washington, Franklin, Jefferson that are at their level and ones like Where was Patrick Henry... by Jean Fritz and others of hers for the inbetween time (you can time line profile of them..) I also like the Berestain Bears Big Book of Science..got it from sonlight.]

I have the History Stories for Children from CLP, I think that's 3rd, and the A Child's Story of America, 4th? I believe they are readers, but I use them towards history, because mine already read plenty. I like them a lot..very traditional and enjoyable.

Misty - posted on 01/20/2010

Just read this and wanted to respond. We actually used CLP for K this year, and I have not been to thrilled with it. My daughter is 5 and the history was way to advanced so we are going to put it up for next year. She would cry everyday because she hated phonics, it was a little much I think for Kindergarten. We have really enjoyed the science and she LOVES the math. The Hearts and Hands book that comes with it is really nice too. I would suggest waiting on the history, and if the phonics is to much, using more of the Hearts and Hands until a lil later in the year, then moving into the phonics.
Good Luck!

Robin - posted on 01/20/2010

I want to thank everyone for their input. I think I am going to go ahead with Christian Liberty Press, it doesn't really seem like a lot to me. My kids love doing worksheets and schoolwork so that doesn't bother them. I like being able to have the interaction with them too. It's not just throwing a book in their face and saying "Here do it". I have the chance to elaborate on some things and learn right along with them. I also like that it comes with the class planner so that I can lay out their school year and keep records of grades/attendance and etc. It's very affordable for my family and the more I look at it the more I seem to like the curriculum and layout.

Cheryl - posted on 01/18/2010

We used CLP for Kindergarten last year. Loved it!! The only reason we're not using it this year is I had found pretty much the whole Abeka 1st grade at a used sale- I just needed a couple of workbooks. A friend is doing 1st grade CLP though and she says there is ALOT to do. I don't know how it goes for 3rd grade but I guess it depends on what style of homeschooling you want. Some kids may not respond well to so many worksheets.

I would recommend Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Homeschool Picks. She has two quizes in the beginning- one for how your child learns and another for how you teach. Then she has a chart where you compare your results and she gives you alist of possible curriculums that may suit you best.

Good luck!!

Birgit - posted on 01/16/2010

I really like the CLASS program. It is bible based - only downside its KJV - It gives you all the teaching tools. My daughter is in third grade and we have been with them since Kindergarten. I don't have to invent the wheel with the program and I do not need many hours of preparation. I usually do three hours of table lessons four times a week. Wednesdays are our field trip day.

Lisa - posted on 01/11/2010

Hi Robin,

I have been using Christian Liberty Press now for about 10 years. I too like their Bible based lessons. It shows in every subject. I have a 10th grader, a 8th grader and a 5th grader. The lessons are easy to teach and most subjects come with a "teachers edition" and test packets. Also the curriculum comes with a lesson planner so that you can keep track of the work your child does each day. It also comes with a couple of good readers(story books) for each grade which gives your child a good start to reading interesting stories. My two oldest can now work on their own each day with little help from me. I order the full curriculum for the oldest child. We make copies of the test. When the younger children enter this grade I already have the text books, teacher's editions and tests. I only have to order the workbooks. This saves tons of money. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Lisa

Jenny - posted on 01/06/2010

Hi Robin. I have been homeschooling my kids for 4 years. I have older kids who went to public elementary school. I looked at Christian Liberty Press and my homeschool used bookstore had some books on hand to look through. Have you homeschooled all along? Do you have your goals lined out? Since you mentioned the "inexpensive" side of Christian Liberty Press, I assume you would prefer to cut cost as much as possible. I encourage you to look at all the different methods of homeschooling. Your kids are at a perfecft age to take it slow and help them learn to love learning. I cannot tell you what would work best for your family, but if I could go back to the K-3rd grade I would be more eclectic and do a more classical approach. If your family needs the boxed curriculum then Christian Liberty Press, Abeka, Bob Jones, and Rod and Staff are all good choices. Don't forget you can buy many books and full curriculums online used through ebay and other websites. I may not have helped at all, but those are some things to think about before making a big commitment to curriculum.

Jenny