Guidance in simplifying

[Mibellesmom]

I love Heart of Dakota! We've been using since Little Hearts and Beyond and now I have both on CTC, 4th and 6th grade.
Next September, we plan to start RTR. My husband and I decided to enroll our son in homeschool classes for Writing and Math. The writing class will use IEW. Both classes are very rigorous and will require 3-5 hours of work at home weekly. We feel that our son, really needs to focus on writing and math next year. I am overwhelmed thinking about doing a full HOD day, considering what we've added. I tend to use the curriculum as written & it makes me feel sad to skip things, because everything has been wonderful. For those of you who have done this guide, would I miss too much just doing the right side of the guide? I'd like to do the history read alouds, Shakespeare, Science, Girl and Boy study. I guess another solution is to do half speed, but I'd like to have my son on Missions to Modern Travels by 8th grade. ( because of the subsequent HS guides) My daughter is on the young side of the guide, so it's fine for her. Can anyone give me some guidance, please?

[8arrows]

Well, if your son is doing another IEW writing class, you will be skipping the one in RTR for him, so I don't see that that will add too much time (a little I understand), and you are just switching out math. My children frequently spend an hour on math, so I don't think that is too much. I understand that Singapore doesn't usually take that long.) The Shakespeare study is optional, so that is where I might start. The girl/boy study is something that could be done in a summer. Maybe that would be an option to bypass during the school year. I think you might be surprised. It may not be as difficult as you think. I think I would try it before I started cutting too much, but you are wise to consider the possibility that you might need to make alterations.

[Tidbits of Learning]

We have used IEW in an outside class when dd was doing CTC for 6th quite a few years ago. It really was not that bad. We didn't do the IEW during school hours to be honest. We were already using something else for the grammar/lit portion so I had dd finish her HOD first then work on the outside class "homework" as if it were that...homework to be done after school. I would give the standard hour for math every day using whatever you are using with the outside class, but I would plug in the writing on writing days or after HOD is done for the day as homework. What are you using for grammar and literature? ...b/c when we did IEW it was solely about writing. The class really did not expand on the rest of language arts. You would still need to use something besides IEW to cover all of language arts and literature.

[Mibellesmom]

Thanks for the feedback, it's so helpful! The class will include grammar, tests, book reports, fused outlines and compositions. I have been informed that I can select our own books for book reports so I think that will help. Right now, CTC with both kids takes us about 4 hours a day.

[my3sons]

Are you sure about the IEW class? I know you and your dh have talked, and I totally respect that, but I can't help but think how that would stress me and my ds out. RTR has IEW's Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons planned in it already, and it is wonderful! It matches the history, and it is done in manageable increments that allow you to really partner with your dc. My ds and I are doing it right now, and I am seeing his writing growing by leaps and bounds. With the IEW class, you would have to work alongside your ds with his homework anyway, and the attention you'd be able to give your ds with a 1:2 ratio at home doing the IEW Medieval History Based Writing lessons compared to whatever ratio is represented in his class would be much more focused and time well spent. The stress of leaving the home, planning your day around the class, and planning time for extra homework may just not be worth it. For math, maybe that would be more cut and dry and not so intrusive. I can see that being easer to participate in as it doesn't effect DITHOR, R & S English, and IEW writing in the RTR guide. However, I'd truly weigh the stress of planning your life around these few classes, even if it was just math. It seems that one of the beautiful things about homeschooling is the ability to be home and not to have to worry about someone else informing you about what you can and cannot do. I just don't want that to change for you, as I can tell you have loved your past years with HOD.

In Christ,
Julie

[Mibellesmom]

Hi Julie,

Just coming across your post at perfect timing. Thank you! Yes, I have been mulling over just doing IEW as scheduled in RtR because the class is very early in the morning. My son's struggle is reading and writing. He'll be 13 in October and he could be at different guide, but he was a late bloomer. We took an IEW class at our co-op, ( used with CTC) and both of my kids did so well in (separate) classes. We managed to get through all the lessons and do all writing assignments.
My reasons:
English is not my first language. ( major insecurity, there)
He's very irresponsible, constantly forgets to turn in his work, even forgets to take his backpack with him, from class to class, which it's only once a week. The co-op class this past year have helped him a little....( I was there, so I often had to retrieve his bag in the car, etc)

My kids fight. Constantly nit picking, bickering, etc. They both get so much out of classes, without the sibling conflict! I know that most of our problems are not academics but their behavior.

I could try the medieval book for a few weeks over the summer and see how I feel. I still have time to drop the class. Praying!

[Mibellesmom]

We've decided to do IEW Medieval over the summer and he will take the class. Now to decide placement for my son. I was going to continuing combining and do RtR with both kids, 10 and almost 13.

My son really wants to do the EE Physical science from Rev to Rev.

I had planned in skipping Rev to Rev, with my son and go from RtR to MTMM, so he could be on track for High School.

Any extra tips in deciding placement? I have read the placement chart over and over. He is not reading difficult books at ease.
I don't want him to be overwhelmed. My father in law is also teaching him Engineering in the fall.

[8arrows]

The EE science would not be hard to figure out how to schedule on your own. I would say it is one of the easiest things in any of the guides to schedule on your own. If he really wants to do that science it would not be a problem to do it with the other guide.

[Mibellesmom]

Yes, I was thinking about that! It will be an awesome 7th and 5th great year. I'll just switch the science, Language Arts and Math for my oldest.