Is anybody doing Preparing with a 7 yr. old? Next year I was half thinking of combining my 9 (almost 10) year old with my 7 year old. She's a fairly good reader and academically pretty bright although technically she'd only be in grade 2. Do you think it would be way over her head?
Thanks,
Shannon
Preparing with a 7 yr. old?
Preparing with a 7 yr. old?
dd, age 14
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dd, age 12
dd, age 10
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dd, age 5
dd, age 1
Re: Preparing with a 7 yr. old?
Hi, Shannon!
My 7 year old has been sitting in on Preparing. He uses Little Hearts (with adjustments for language arts and math) because I wanted him to have something of his own. He has listened to all of the books in Preparing that I read aloud... the history books and the storytime books. I have also read some (most) of the science books to him. From time to time, he participates in an activity and he has enjoyed the poetry with us. He isn't doing any of the writing assignments but he does orally narrate most everything that I read to him. He absolutely LOVES A Child's History of the World and Grandpa's Box. He forbids me to ever read from any of those two without him!! He has really enjoyed all of the read-alouds and the poetry, too. I don't think anything that we have read has been beyond his comprehension or "over his head" in any way. He is reading the Emerging Reader's set of his own. He also enjoys picture books and short, beginning level chapter books from the library. I haven't officially started him in DITHOR though we are trying it out right now with FolkTales. He picked out alot of books at the library about The Little Red Hen and The Gingerbread Boy. He is also reading a version of The Three Little Pigs and similiar tales. He isn't doing any of the writing in DITHOR but he does participate orally and is enjoying it so far.
I've enjoyed teaching Little Hearts alongside Preparing but had I chosen not to do so, he would have gotten plenty out of Preparing alone. Some of the activities have been too elaborate for him or just not interesting to him. And, of course, he is no where near where he would need to be to complete the writing assignments. For us, oral narration, some memorization (Scripture and Poetry), copywork and spelling are enough language arts for a 7 year old. He completed his phonics early in the school year and is now doing spelling.
That's how it's gone for us. My 7 year old has learned so much this year. He really enjoys participating in Preparing. Having his own guide going keeps me reminded that Preparing is just an extra for him. I don't require him to participate in it at all but he wants to because he loves the books.
My 7 year old has been sitting in on Preparing. He uses Little Hearts (with adjustments for language arts and math) because I wanted him to have something of his own. He has listened to all of the books in Preparing that I read aloud... the history books and the storytime books. I have also read some (most) of the science books to him. From time to time, he participates in an activity and he has enjoyed the poetry with us. He isn't doing any of the writing assignments but he does orally narrate most everything that I read to him. He absolutely LOVES A Child's History of the World and Grandpa's Box. He forbids me to ever read from any of those two without him!! He has really enjoyed all of the read-alouds and the poetry, too. I don't think anything that we have read has been beyond his comprehension or "over his head" in any way. He is reading the Emerging Reader's set of his own. He also enjoys picture books and short, beginning level chapter books from the library. I haven't officially started him in DITHOR though we are trying it out right now with FolkTales. He picked out alot of books at the library about The Little Red Hen and The Gingerbread Boy. He is also reading a version of The Three Little Pigs and similiar tales. He isn't doing any of the writing in DITHOR but he does participate orally and is enjoying it so far.
I've enjoyed teaching Little Hearts alongside Preparing but had I chosen not to do so, he would have gotten plenty out of Preparing alone. Some of the activities have been too elaborate for him or just not interesting to him. And, of course, he is no where near where he would need to be to complete the writing assignments. For us, oral narration, some memorization (Scripture and Poetry), copywork and spelling are enough language arts for a 7 year old. He completed his phonics early in the school year and is now doing spelling.
That's how it's gone for us. My 7 year old has learned so much this year. He really enjoys participating in Preparing. Having his own guide going keeps me reminded that Preparing is just an extra for him. I don't require him to participate in it at all but he wants to because he loves the books.
2011-2012: Creation to Christ & Bigger Hearts
"He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children." - Psalm 113:9
"He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children." - Psalm 113:9
Re: Preparing with a 7 yr. old?
Thank you Donna T. That was very helpful. I'm leaning towards doing Preparing this year even if I have to take it half-pace. I want to teach to my older child and whatever the 2nd grader gets for history /science is a bonus. I will focus on basic skills with her. Not having CHOW in hand, I couldn't tell if it would be over the 2nd grader's head. I can always scale back for her and add colouring sheets I have from various periods.
Shannon
Shannon
dd, age 14
dd, age 12
dd, age 10
ds, age 8
dd, age 5
dd, age 1
dd, age 12
dd, age 10
ds, age 8
dd, age 5
dd, age 1