Help me decide what to do with my son

[anointedhsmom]

I need to decide what to do with my son. He will turn 10 at the end of May. He's had alot of trouble learning to read so we have not been able to do even the emerging reader set with him along with Bigger. He's coming along nicely right now though and I've thought of having him work on the emerging readers over summer. My problem is do I move him into Preparing next year? I know that he can handle the information he will get in Preparing but the actual act of reading some of the newly independent reader books might be a stretch in the beginning of the year. I know he will come along as the year progresses but I don't know if I should just stick with Bigger until he's truly an independent reader or not. We are doing BJU English 2 so I would just keep plugging along with that onto 3 when he's finished with 2. He can handle the writing I believe also in Preparing right now and that will only get better in the next 6 months.

What do you think my awesome HODies? I'm all ears

[lmercon]

My dc are younger so I've not used either program you mentioned. So take my advice with a grain of salt. Anyway, my thought would be to allow him to advance to the next program. Repeating Bigger will not assist him with his reading issue. If he is able to comprehend the information and complete the assignments, I would definitely not hold him back. He needs to be exposed to higher-level reading as that will help his comprehension, vocabulary skills, and sight word recognition. If you need to, you could just read the independent material to him until he can handle it on his own. Maybe you could find the books on tape or tape record yourself reading the books over the summer so that he could use them during independent time, which would free you up in the fall.
hth,
Laura

[Mommamo]

I haven't done eiter program myself, but I do know that each guide prepares the students to go on to the next guide. So I would think that your son should be ready for Preparing after completing Bigger. I understand that his reading level is not quite at the level to be able to do the independent reading, but I agree that you could definitely read to him until his own reading has caught up to that level. If he's ready to understand the material, it just seems such a shame to have him repeat something he's finished. Also, I understand that kids can often leap ahead on skills like math and reading, so you never know-he might surprise you and be ready for the reading sooner than you think. Another option you have is to start Preparing at half pace, giving him time to work on reading and catch up in that area.

[anointedhsmom]

Thanks ladies. I am leaning heavily on going to Preparing for next year. I will say that I wouldn't be repeating Bigger though. We are only to week 24 or something like that so I would just keep doing it over summer. But honestly I didn't want a full load over summer. I wanted to just focus on his reading/phonics, math and english (so that we can get into BJU English 3 by fall). Of course Bible is an every day thing here no matter what so that would be done too.

I do hope others will give their opinions still yet. Carrie, Julie, anyone else that feels led - what are your thoughts?

Thanks!

[netpea]

Thanks ladies. I am leaning heavily on going to Preparing for next year. I will say that I wouldn't be repeating Bigger though. We are only to week 24 or something like that so I would just keep doing it over summer. But honestly I didn't want a full load over summer. I wanted to just focus on his reading/phonics, math and english (so that we can get into BJU English 3 by fall). Of course Bible is an every day thing here no matter what so that would be done too.

I do hope others will give their opinions still yet. Carrie, Julie, anyone else that feels led - what are your thoughts?

Thanks!

In that case, I would say you should finish Bigger before you move on. You could take the summer off, or go to half-speed, or just focus on the reading over the summer, then start up where you left off in the fall. It may mean that you start Preparing at Christmas time but that's ok. We probably won't finish Bigger either. We are slowing it up a bit and we'll start up in Preparing whenever we finish.

[Carrie]

Paige,

The ladies on this thread are doing an amazing job of steering you in the right direction. Their wisdom is priceless. Now that I understand that you're still finishing Bigger, I agree that it would be good to do it all of the way to the end before moving on up to Preparing Hearts. I would still take your summer break as planned, as mommas need a break too!

Then, when you head back to school, I'd pick Bigger up where you left off and finish. Then, move on into Preparing Hearts when you're done!

If you're terribly worried about feeling behind, you could always do Preparing Hearts at 5 days a week once you get to it (instead of on the 4-day plan as its written). This would propel you through Preparing faster, if you felt that was needed when you got there.

Blessings,
Carrie

[deltagal]

Hi Paige,

I have a son, who just turned 10 in Bigger with the same issues as yours. I am resisting any urge to move him into Preparing by fall and instead focusing on mastering cursive, completing the emerging reader set and then beginning DITHOR. When he finishes Bigger (which will be in November) I am confident he will truly be ready for Preparing, because these other skills will be in place. I want him to succeed and each day in Bigger I see his confidence in his skills growing. This is what is needed for Preparing to be a true success. And yes, we are taking a 7 week break this summer! I'm looking forward to it already ; )