Life of Fred Math?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by Gina, Dec 11, 2013.

  1. Gina

    Gina Member

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    I've been wondering about Life of Fred Math. I've checked out the website, and downloaded the samples, but there is only so much you can learn from a website. I was wondering what those of you who have experience with it can tell me. How do you like it? What are the lessons like? Are they easy for parents to teach, and for children to understand?

    The website also refers to Professor B Math. Has anyone here ever used that?

    Thanks for your input.
     
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  3. ochumgache

    ochumgache Active Member

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    I have not use LOF for elementary, but I love it for secondary level math. I started with Fractions then Decimals then moved on to both Pre-Algebra books then Beginning Algebra and Advanced Algebra. I worked through it with my niece and am now doing it again with my daughter. I love it! I am not a natural-math-mind, but I get LOF. A student SHOULD be able to work through it successfully on his or her own IF he/she is really motivated to learn and not just trying to "get it done." I don't feel like I have any child who is motivated to learn math enough for me to trust them to do it correctly, so math is one of those subjects in which they get my undivided attention. We read it together, and I work the problems along side of them. I think LOF helps student really understand the concepts and not just memorize the algorithms.
     
  4. Gina

    Gina Member

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    Awesome! You answered my questions precisely. And, I agree, I can't imagine just being able to hand my son a math book and saying "Here, do this." He's going to need my undivided attention. Period.
     
  5. hermione310

    hermione310 New Member

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    I've used the LOF elementary books. My daughter loved the creativity in humor in them, and begged me to read them again and again. I think they served as an excellent supplement and facilitated natural learning -- she learned practical applications of math while being entertained. I thought it was genius in its own way......but I couldn't imagine using it as a math curriculum. That wasn't my goal, however, so it served well as a supplement.

    I don't have any exposure to the secondary level books so I can't speak to those.
     
  6. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I used the fractions/decimals and per cents books. My kids liked them. It was good for Faythe, but Phillip really wasn't getting it. It really doesn't have enough practice. But, as Hermione said, the kids loved reading them.
     
  7. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    We use LOF. My daughter is 16, and she completes the lessons independently. We use the curriculum as a complete curriculum. We have only used Fractions and up. I do not know much about lower levels of LOF. The geometry book is THICK! I can't imagine it not being used as a complete curriculum. But this is the beauty of homeschooling. :D We do what is best for our kiddos.

    We LOVE LOF. After trying many different publishers,we hit the mark with LOF. It is interesting, entertaining, and puts learning into a different persepective. It was exactly what my daughter needed.
     
  8. Amethyst

    Amethyst New Member

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    We tried LOF briefly. It was cute for about 3 lessons. Then...well...there's just no avoiding it. Math. My child hated math. Still hates math. Fred did not make it any more enjoyable. We went back to Teaching Textbooks.
     
  9. 2littleboys

    2littleboys Moderator

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    We've used all of the elementary books, and we have the older ones, but we haven't started them yet. We LOVE them. For little guys, you'll want to do them together. For older ones, it's a complete, independent curriculum for those who are able to stay on task and who actually "get it" after only 4-5 tries. For those who need page after page of practice, Fred should be only a supplement. I'm very hands-off with math. My older one HATES math, but since switching to Fred, he loves it, and he begs for it. I never thought I'd see that!!

    By the way, Fred also has a middle school physics book out now, and he's in the process of writing a grammar series as well.
     
  10. BatmansWife

    BatmansWife New Member

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    Maybe another question should be: are they easy for parents to understand? :lol: They still have me scratchin' my head and thinking, "What???!" We are in Cats (going through them really slow) and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Fred is a 5 year old college professor. :eek:

    But, my 10 year old likes her Fred books. I don't think I can personally agree with Mr. Schmidt's claim that his books are all the math you'll ever need...but I haven't gotten into the upper levels yet, so time will tell.
     
  11. BatmansWife

    BatmansWife New Member

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    Really? Huh. Well, I certainly hope Mr. Schmidt has editing done on his grammar series. Goodness....the lack of editing in the elementary math has me bonkers. :roll:
     
  12. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    My daughter does not get math after a few tries. She needs many tries. This is why Fred works for her. She is like me, she doesn't get it. :D I do not know much about lower levels of LOF, but Fractions and up allows the student to go back to strengthen their skills. Because it reads like a chapter book, it isn't boring. Since my daughter loves to read, and LOF is unusually comical, it is a perfect fit. I also noticed that along the way, the author works previous concepts into other problems. LOF doesn't stop teaching a concept once it is already taught. LOF allows for application in a way that traditional texts tend to leave out. There are many times where the author asks, "Do you remember when we learned about..."

    It is definitely a different type of curriculum, and not for everybody. It was everything my daughter needed because she was struggling with all the other texts we tried. We used Math-U-See, Teaching Textbooks, Making Math Meaningful, A Beka, and Saxon. I still can't say that math is her favorite subject, but she enjoys it now. :D
     
  13. aggie01

    aggie01 New Member

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    I use CLE math and when my kids finish a years worth of math we do LOF for the rest of the months until the next year is suppose to start. That way my kids get math all year, without it being constant the same thing all the time. That being said my kids would not be where they are now without the CLE math. LOF elementary doesn't "teach". It does introduce things, and talk about them a little bit but at least for my 2 oldest kids it isn't near enough for them to actually grasp the concept and be able to apply it. We will start E on Monday. It has been great review and keeps them using math when they normally wouldn't. My oldest is starting 5th grade, and my middle is starting 4th, and youngest is starting 1st grade.
     
  14. Blizzard

    Blizzard Member

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    We love Life of Fred! Both my boys are hooked on the series, and often request that I read another chapter. My oldest uses CLE math and my youngest is using Singapore math, so Fred is more of an interesting supplement for review and a different perspective.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2013
  15. ShellChelle

    ShellChelle Member

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    My youngest loves LOF, but my oldest isn't a fan. I use the elementary series as a supplement for my son who begs to start each day with Fred! I think my son enjoys the books because for now he only has to answer a few questions at the end of each chapter. In the secondary books, students also have the addition of "Bridges" they must cross in order to move on. Those can sometimes be frustrating for my daughter if she does not pass the first Bridge with 90% proficiency. But, I like LOF, and I feel they learn more than just math.
     
  16. Gina

    Gina Member

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    Wow! Thanks for all the input. It sounds like it works, at least as a supplement, for most people. At any rate, I think it's inexpensive enough to be worth the risk.
     

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