For all of you "Born Organizers"...

[3sweeties]

...of whom I am not!

I need your help! I am trying to figure out how to have DS (now 7.5) do CTC for 5th grade, rather than 4th. We are doing Bigger this year for 2nd grade, 4 days a week (and it is going well). This will give him 9 more weeks of Bigger at the beginning of his 3rd grade year, but I'm wondering if there is any way to slow down Preparing for the rest of his 3rd grade year and all of his 4th? Is this even possible? I'm a little concerned that Preparing will be too much for him as a 8.5-9.5 year old. I know I can't predict where he/we will be in a few years, but I don't want to set things in motion now that mess it up for years to come, KWIM?

I need your input b/c every time I try to figure it out, my head starts to hurt! I appreciate any and all suggestions!

[Daisy]

I'm in the same boat. I'm not really worrying about it overly. I had thought about doing Bigger half speed but my son is doing so well with it that I've gone ahead and gone to a 4 day week (full speed). We'll slow down with Preparing as much as we need to. I think if we wind up with a few months gap between Preparing and CTC (for 5th), we'll stop and do a unit study on our state's history. Because CTC allows you to schedule R&S English and Singapore based on whatever book you are in, there won't be an interruption in those subjects.

[my3sons]

We'll be doing Bigger 4 days a week as well. We're taking the same attitude as Daisy, being flexible so we can slow down or speed up as necessary. I am planning on slowing down a guide to half-speed if it's too difficult, but keeping the LA and math daily. If I finish HOD prior to 8th. grade, I'll do the Geography year Carrie's more than likely planning. I wouldn't worry too much about it, but instead continue moving through the guides at a pace that fits your dc's needs over the years. We have the blessing of having dc younger than Carrie's - so her writing will always be ahead of them.

In Christ,
Julie

[allforjesus]

I have a comment on this post and the missing year post...

I just go with the guide that works for where the kids are at. This would have me end after 7th grade also. But, things keep getting harder academically each year for my ds. So, I really appreciate the extra year's room to slow down and not shove him through a guide. Last year in Bigger, I should have slowed at the beginning of the year because it was a hard adjustment for him. But, I shoved him through too hard. He was fine by the end of 2nd grade, but the beginning was ugly. This year, God gave me a do-over. I prayerfully decided over the summer that even if Preparing took 2 years, I'd rather have him enjoy school. Now we do as many of the boxes as we can in a day, but quit at 1:00. That's 4 hours of school and he's exhausted learning the more challenging skills. So, everyday we do math and cursive and work on the verses to memorize (he needs longer) no matter what. Then, we do what we can and feel at peace with it. God has really blessed our decision and given us great relationship and discussions. Julie had given me the encouragement to start out slower with it being a tougher year for him and I appreciate her wisdom in that. I think I just needed someone to tell me that was OK. And, if I finish in the middle of a school year, I'm just going to be flexible enough for that too. God seems to be growing me through homeschooling too!

So, after my wordy rambling, I would advise you to just keep moving because I bet you'll hit a harder time in your children's schooling where you'll want the room to slow down. God bless your planning and desire to look down the road.

[Carrie]

3sweeties,

There's so much wisdom in this thread! We are planning to take Beyond at 4 days a week this year for my just turned 7 year old. We'll finish the last 9 weeks or so of Beyond at the beginning of next year and likely do Bigger at 4 days a week too. It's so important to follow your child's lead and do what suits them at the time as far as pacing goes. I love having wiggle-room built into the HOD guides pacing-wise to do just that! So, we keep an eye on moving forward steadily in the overall big picture, but adjust the pacing yearly to best suit each kiddo as needed.

Blessings,
Carrie

[3sweeties]

Thanks so much, everyone!

That does make me feel better and gives me some ideas of how to handle Preparing when we get to it next year. I'm glad to know that others are slowing it down when they need to, etc. We are LOVING Heart of Dakota!