Can't choose between programs, please help!

[Triadpeas]

Hi everybody! My name is Sandra, I have 3 dd (hs), 1 ds (ps).

I'm new to HOD,and I am so excited to be here! I have homeschooled now for almost 5 years and I am so thankful for being led to HOD. (Thanks, Angela!)

I had decided to use Preparing with my 8.5 dd and 11 yr old dd and LHTH with my 4 yr old dd. I have the guide, and a few of the books already, so that is a big plus since our budget is minimal.

So, my dilemma is this: my 8.5 yr old dd will be a young 4th grader, she is on level with math, (we use Singapore) and is a very good reader. However, she has not done a lot of writing besides regular copywork and narration. My other dd will be in 6th grade and is an avid reader (she'll read anything and everything), I've decided to use the CTC guide for her independent science and her LA studies.

My concern is whether Preparing is a good place for my younger dd? Will she do okay, with the writing especially? Also, I wonder if the following year in CTC would be too much for her? Actually, the biggest concern is CTC.
What would you all recommend? Should I use Bigger with Extensions and save Preparing to do the following year? It would definitely mean more in terms of funds, but I'm afraid of making the mistake of starting too high for my 4th grader. Also, would Bigger w/extensions be good for my avid reader?

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions!

[Jen in Va]

Can't answer your question as I am a few years behind you, but I wanted to welcome you to the board and bump up your message so that someone who may be able to offer some advice might see it!

In the meantime, have you checked the placement chart on the HOD homepage? Start there and see where your children fit. Hopefully, someone will be along soon who can help.

[Triadpeas]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Jen, that was very kind of you! I hope someone will come along soon!
I have checked the guide, and by age they could use either one, that's part of the dilemma.
I'm leaning towards Bigger because I'm concerned about CTC the following year, but we'll see...

Thanks again,
Sandra

[mskogen]

Sandra,
We are getting ready to start Bigger in June. My son (8.5) could place in Prepareing but the same concerns you are expressing about CTC is one reason I did not go with Preparing this year for him. I feel Bigger will "prepare" him for Preparing We are like you, we have done some notebooking and copywork but just not sure it was enough. Bigger is going to be tons of fun. I have been looking through the manual and want to start NOW!!!
When looking at the placement charts don't just look at the age for placement, look at where they place in the different levels. I am very confident the way Carrie has planned the activities my ds will be more than enough challenged with Bigger. The activities are open so children can rise to their ability and interest. I have two ds's doing the same program and get different results from them on the same activity. That is the beauty of this program.....
I know what ever you decide you will love the program. As one son (7) said, "this is fun" the other son (8.5) replied "no, this is AWESOME".
THANKS Carrie

[Carrie]

Triadpeas,

Welcome to the boards! We're glad to have you here!

The ladies are doing a great job of talking through things with you. I'd love to help you out too, so what I really need you to do is to take a good look at the placement chart and tell me where your younger daughter places (all combining thoughts aside) on the first page of the chart. Here's the link: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

I am especially interested in how your younger daughter feels about written work in general, and whether she can easily copy 4 or more sentences at a time with little to no trouble. A couple of other things I'm wondering is whether she has had any cursive handwriting yet, and whether she mainly does oral narrations or has done some written ones too.

If you're thinking of using Rod and Staff for her grammar instruction, we can help with that placement if needed. Last, if you get a chance to mention the names of a couple of books your daughter's recently read on her own and how well she listens to chapter book style readings that would be so helpful.

I know it can take a bit of time to sort through what will fit your kiddos best, but it is so worthwhile to take some time getting the best fit for you! Each family situation is so unique.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Triadpeas]

Carrie,
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! Your program is a blessing, I'm so thankful for your hard work!
According to the chart on the first page, she would fit into Preparing.

This is some of what she can do/has done:

She had read titles like The Doll People, Runaway Dolls, The Meanest Doll in the World (Ann Martin), Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

Copywork (A sentence or two in cursive each day, and one in print)

Writing With Ease Level 1- I've doubled it up so we do the copywork listed above and written narration daily from this book. She really enjoys listening to the passages and often asks to get the book because she says it leaves her hanging just to hear a portion.

First Language Lessons 1- basic parts of speech- nouns, (proper and common), verbs, pronouns, poem memorization. I omit most of the narrations because I already cover that in WWE

She has worked through italic cursive (Getty Dubay D) this year and practices at least 4 days per week (not very much, since she is doing written narration as well)
I think if she had to write 4 sentences in cursive she may or may not have trouble. Right now she can probably write that much in print with no problem but she tends to hold the pencil tightly when writing in cursive and complains her hand hurts after a couple of sentences. She does like to write creatively, writing letters to her cousin, making up stories, making up lyrics to a song, etc. Sometimes they can be pretty lengthy!

I took a look at a friend's R&S 3 and think it would be just right for her.

Finally, she really enjoys being read to, we've listened to audiobooks, I have read aloud various chapter books and she will frequently ask for more. She really enjoys the closeness and interaction.
My concern really is not Preparing, but CTC which will come after.

Thanks for your help and God bless you and your family.

Sandra

[my3sons]

Welcome to the Board, Sandra! I know Carrie will get back to you soon as well, but I thought I'd chime in after reading your second post. I think you 8.5 yo would do alright with PHFHG because of what you've said in this last post - she's been doing daily copywork, daily narrations, knows cursive, is ready for R & S 3, and can enjoyably listen to lengthy books read aloud. Considering you are combining with an avid reader and on grade level 11 yo - I think for your situation and wants/needs, PHFHG would be a good fit. I wanted to encourage you that my ds was 8.5 yo when he started PHFHG this year, and it has been the perfect fit for him. He did R & S 3, finished Singapore 2B and 3A (part of 3B too - we were a bit off from last year on math). He fit the description you've given of your ds now and did very well with PHFHG.

I also think that if you stick to doing the LA requirements as they are done in PHFHG, he will be ready for CTC with no problems. The LA skills in PHFHG are woven in and out of various subject areas - like 2 notebooking assignments in history, 2 notebooking assignments in science, lab form in science, vocabulary cards with history books, guided written narration 1 x a week with history, DITHOR assignments, oral narrations in history and science, copywork of quotes in common place book, etc. Also, the dictation in the Appendix of PHFHG, as well as the creative writing lessons 1 x a week attached to the Robert Louis Stevenson poem. All of that will prepare your dd in a very complete way for CTC. Now, if you are reading those requirements and thinking you'd rather go the other route and do BHFHG, that would be a wonderful program too. You just would need to add the extensions and higher levels of LA and Math for your older dd.

In Christ,
Julie

[Triadpeas]

Thanks to Julie and Michelle!

It has helped tremendously to read your advice, I am convinced that she may be able to do Preparing, I am leaning towards Bigger though because I don't want to push her too fast. I will wait for Carrie's response and in the meantime, I will be praying for peace about my decision.

Thanks again, it is a blessing to be part of this board!

Sandra

[Carrie]

Triadpeas,

Thanks so much for taking the time to get back to me with the language arts information that I requested. It really helps me to have a clearer picture of your sweet daughter! I agree with you and with my3sons that your 8.5 year old daughter sounds ready for Preparing Hearts. Her writing skills sound strong, and you have spent the teaching time needed to make sure that they are in place.

While you could drop back and do Bigger Hearts, I'm thinking that your older daughter would best fit in CTC, so I'd hate to pull her too far back by placing her in Bigger. With what you've shared, it actually would fit better then to place both girls in Preparing Hearts, keeping in mind that you may need to ease your daughter into the writing within Preparing Hearts.

I also would be careful not to overload the writing in Preparing Hearts by adding on WWE. You'll find the skills that you're covering in WWE will already be covered within Preparing.

Preparing Hearts will do a good job of preparing kiddos for the increased level of rigor that will be in CTC, so your daughters will be ready when they get there.

We pray that you enjoy Preparing Hearts as much as we did this past year. We have 2 days left in our Preparing Hearts guide, and I can honestly say I will miss it. We were looking through my sons science and history binders and couldn't believe how much he's grown and changed this year. The binders were full of wonderful pages, and he learned so many new things this year (and he really loved it)! I'm excited for what is ahead of your girls.

Blessings,
Carrie