What if they aren't ready for the next level?

[girlboygirlboy]

Starting to plan for next year and need some help..I have been using Bigger this year, combining 2 of my kiddos(boyjustturned10 and girl7.5). Boyjustturned10 had some vision processing issues that we were working on in the past year so he's behind on his writing/spelling. We have done much of Bigger orally or with writing prompts already written out(ex. for the science experiments, I type up the question, guess, procedure or Bible verse for them). As I look at Preparing for next year, I am nervous that they aren't ready for the level of independent work, reading instructions on their own, etc.

Any advice? Hoping I don't need to switch to another curriculum for a year and then come back to Preparing...cause I really love HOD!

Blessings!
Jennifer
mom to girl11(going to cs), boyjustturned10(Bigger), girl7.5(Bigger), boy5(will be doing LHFHG next year)
www.chroniclesofgrace.wordpress.com

[lmercon]

I am using Preparing this year with my 9 yo ds. Because he has severe dyslexia, I have to more involved then I might have had to be otherwise. I make the accommodations that I need to do for him. The program is wonderful. He can't read instructions or passages independently, so I have to do all the reading for him. While copywork doesn't really do anything for him other than handwriting practice, I still have him do most of it. For long passages, I write for him. He dictates his written narration to me. We make it work. I think that it is okay to go ahead with a program even if a child has certain learning needs. Classroom teachers have to modify things for students all the time.
hth,
Laura

[8arrows]

What about taking Preparing at 1/2 speed with the goal of reaching the independent level they need to progress through the rest of the guides by the end of Preparing?
You could continue math and English at their levels at the normal speed.

[my3sons]

Such good advice from Lynn and 8arrows already! I think that as you finish out "Bigger Hearts" this year, I would gradually try to move your dc along in the areas of writing and reading. For example, maybe you'd now have them copy the question for the science experiment each time. Then, eventually have them do the question and the guess, etc., with the hopes that they'd be able to do as much as possible by the end of BHFHG. Then, I'd begin PHFHG half-speed, as 8arrows wisely suggested. This will give further time to grow into the guide, and will still keep them moving along in their skills and their learning. Switching to another program for a year will not help, as dc will not be moving along in their skills, and as any good program for those ages will have dc doing much of their own reading and writing, and have them do much much less orally. I think modifications are sometimes necessary, especially if dc have special needs, and then you need to use your own judgment about how things are best modified, but I do think focusing on moving dc along in their reading and writing skills can only help them improve steadily each year and move toward more and more ownership of their learning.

So, with that thought in mind, whatever you can do to gradually have dc take over more of their BHFHG's learning, I would do. I had to do this with my dc in BHFHG as well. For example, we began with just 1 vocabulary card and have now worked up to 2 cards. I plan to have him doing 3 by the end of the year. We started with just a stanza or 2 of the poem for copywork each week, doing a line or 2 a day, and worked up to now copying the entire poem. We began with me writing in the DITHOR Student Book for my ds, as he dictated his answers; next I wrote half and he wrote half copying his half from a markerboard; next he copied it from the markerboard; last he did it all on his own, and I only helped with words he asked for help in spelling. Dc should be able to do more in the middle of the school year than they could do at the beginning, and more at the end than they could do in the middle. Moving them along this continuum is what helps adequately prepare them for the next guide. I try to make sure my dc are doing everything in a guide before moving on to the next guide. Again, if dc have special needs - this is an important consideration! But, dc with special needs can steadily move along in their learning and thrive as well, doing more and more as they progress through the year. If you are feeling like your dc will in no way be near to doing what BHFHG's is asking them to do by the end of this year, I'd go to half-speed in BHFHG right now, and focus on getting them both to the point where they can. If you are already in the final units of BHFHG, I'd still slow it down to half-speed, and then begin PHFHG half-speed next. I do think your dc will grow into PHFHG and do very well! Time will just make that transition very successful. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[girlboygirlboy]

Thx everyone for your responses! Looking at it a week later and I think there will be time to get them ready as we are only on week 17 of Bigger so we'll probably have to finish it during the first couple months of the new school year. I forget that I'm planning for something that is almost 8 mths away and they will change and will learn more in that period of time!

Blessings!
Jennifer

[my3sons]

... I forget that I'm planning for something that is almost 8 mths away and they will change and will learn more in that period of time!

Blessings!
Jennifer

This is so true, Jennifer! I forget this all the time. I tense up, and I think "there is no way they are going to be ready for ___ next year" . And then you know what? It's next year, and they are ready. God is good, and He moves our dc along mightily in ways we can't fathom. Just keep shooting for dc to be able to do all of the guide they're in by the end of it, and the next guide will be a good fit!

In Christ,
Julie