Life Of Fred Eden Series

Description

Move over, Gossie and Gertie; Life of Fred is breaking into the early reader genre with the Eden series. Fans of Fred will immediately recognize the trademark sparse graphics (not in quantity, just as a type) and subtle humor. Prof. Schmidt even makes a couple of cameo appearances (as a bus driver/ticket seller in Bus and as himself in Duck). As a LOF fan, I enjoyed reading through each one. They are not phonetic readers, though they have controlled vocabulary that is much more true to beginner reading level than many of the larger publishers' series. Here children will meet both Fred as a (more or less) average four-year old and his compatriot, Kingie (the talking, artistic doll that appears later in the LOF series; notably in Calculus). They will also learn about colors, travel, packing for a trip, counting, how to make French fries and mashed potatoes, and a little grammar. Mostly, though, they will learn about the life of Fred on a trip at age four. I like that the books are part of an overall storyline that begins in Blue and goes through Rain (and possibly beyond). The books are appropriately silly, look like a mishmash of drawings by a four-year-old and graphic art, and are reasonably priced for hardback books. If you're already a Fred fan, you will enjoy introducing your budding reader to him. If not, it's worth a try as an easy reader series. All books are hardbound, 32 pgs.

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.