Okay to be the youngest age in guides? When to separate?

[Heart_Mom]

Hi!

My older two are currently combined in Beyond this year. (We're in Unit 19 right now.) This is working out great, and I'm planning on combining them in Bigger next year, probably with extensions for my 9 year old son. I could continue to combine them year after year, but I'm not sure that's the best thing.

Here's why:

1. My daughter would always be the youngest age as we went through each guide. Maybe my daughter wouldn't be ready for the content of Preparing or CTC at the youngest age range? She would also finish the HOD guides sooner! : (
2. Since my son is a bit behind, so I wouldn't have the option to do 1/2 speed if I keep them together because I think he really needs to continue at full speed at this point.
3. They would always be doing the same work, which could lead to comparisons and also to having less one-on-one teaching time with me.

On the other hand...
1. My daughter is very bright, and I think she could keep up with full pace.
2. Keeping them together lightens the teaching load, since much of the reading aloud, etc. can be done together. I think that doing Bigger full speed for my son and half-speed for my daughter might be more teaching than I can handle in the Fall.
3. It might foster a stronger bond between them if they are learning together.

So, I guess my main questions are these:
1. Would it be good to separate them at some point?
2. If so, when and how? By going half-speed with my daughter at some point? By doing Bigger with my son (who will then be 10) doing some things independently?

I can certainly start Bigger with both of them in August or September, and see how my daughter does...

Looking forward to your suggestions!

[basesloaded]

I think my older boys are spaced like your 2 oldest and we are currently doing CTC together (4th & 6th). Last year we did Preparing (3rd & 5th). My youngest is in the youngest range and my oldest is doing extensions. I, too, was a little concerned with comparison between the two and possibly one being discouraged but that has not occurred. We have thoroughly enjoyed reading and working together ... I am hoping to hold on to that "togetherness" as long as I can .

[8arrows]

Reread you reasons for keeping them together. Those sound like wonderful reasons to me! I would keep them together as long as possible. It sounds like things are going great! Personally, I would not worry about separating them unless at some point in the future you saw a specific problem.

[Heart_Mom]

I think my older boys are spaced like your 2 oldest and we are currently doing CTC together (4th & 6th). Last year we did Preparing (3rd & 5th). My youngest is in the youngest range and my oldest is doing extensions. I, too, was a little concerned with comparison between the two and possibly one being discouraged but that has not occurred. We have thoroughly enjoyed reading and working together ... I am hoping to hold on to that "togetherness" as long as I can .

Hi, Suzy!

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm so glad this is working for your boys. It encourages me that it might work here too!

[Heart_Mom]

Reread you reasons for keeping them together. Those sound like wonderful reasons to me! I would keep them together as long as possible. It sounds like things are going great! Personally, I would not worry about separating them unless at some point in the future you saw a specific problem.

Hi, 8arrows!

I did go back and read my reasons for keeping them together, and they do seem convincing!

Your suggestion seems like a good idea to me (and the most simple thing to do!) : to keep them together unless a specific problem developed.

Thanks!

[FiveLittlePeaches]

Hi Heart Mom,

1. My daughter would always be the youngest age as we went through each guide.
1. My daughter is very bright, and I think she could keep up with full pace.

I am combining my children, ages 7, 8 and 9 in Bigger. We're starting unit 7 today. The only problem my 7 year old has had so far is in science when we do the procedures. I type out the lab sheet so it's nice and neat but she has to do the work. She struggles with the questions, like:

What happens to seawater when the sun shines on it?
What causes a seashore to change over time?
Which helps objects float better -- fresh water or salt water? Why?
Why do some things sink and others float?

She gets really frustrated sometimes, even to the point of tears. Sometimes she can't even come up with a guess, even after I read the text and talk it over with her. I'm really trying to help her work through this. Other than that, she is thriving.

If your daughter does well in Beyond, I don't think she'll have a problem with Bigger.

[HollyS]

We are in the same boat. My DS is also very bright, but I worry about down the road. He struggles a bit with narrating back what he's heard...I think he has difficulty paying attention to the readings. However, he is way ahead with math and reading. He also loves anything hands-on. I go back and forth with where to put him. I'm really hoping his listening skills will pick up quite a bit before we begin Bigger and that will be a solution to my concerns.

[my3sons]

I would keep them together as long as it's working! If it comes to a point where the younger child cannot do the work in a guide, then I would go to half-speed with that child for that guide, and possibly for the next, while still moving your other child on. I honestly don't think this would add much time to the day, as the time that a stressed out student that is struggling doing the work adds to the day could be less than the time a half-speed accurately paced child would add to the day. I hope that made sense! Also, dc begin taking over more of their reading as they mature, so as your older child moved forward, your reading with that child and your instruction time with that child would become less, thus freeing up more time for your younger child. All that to say that I still think keeping them combined as long as it's working well is the best answer for now!

Fivelittlepeaches - I just wanted to encourage you that you can accept any answer your dd gives for her "Guess", even if it's very off. The idea is for them to just attempt to make a guess about what may happen based on what they know. If your dd makes a guess that is totally wrong, that's okay, that's just an indication that she's about to learn a lot from the experiment she's going to do. Then, after drawing the procedure on her lab sheet, she can look at the Key Idea in the science box to write her conclusion, and at this point, she needs to have it correct. I just wanted to clarify HOD's intent with the "guess" part of the lab and alleviate some stress there for your sweetie. My ds has been pretty off in his answers when he guesses sometimes. Sometimes I'll encourage him to "think like a scientist" and make another stab at it, but 99% of the time, I just accept his "guess" and move on to the experiment so he then really gets it! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

Heart_Mom,

There is such wisdom and terrific advice in this thread! Ladies, you are truly wonderful at helping one another! I completely agree that as long as your kiddos are thriving, then keeping them together is a great idea. It is what we're thinking of when we write the guides with the target age ranges in mind. I've also found that often you can't truly plan when to slow down or separate kiddos. It is just something that will show itself over time if needed.

Another thing to consider is that children will not be equally strong in all areas, and over time each child's God-given areas of strength and weakness also show themselves over time. So, sometimes it isn't so much that the guide is no longer fitting the child as well, it is that the child is having to work harder in some areas that do not come as naturally to him or her. This is something that is true and becomes more apparent as a child ages, no matter which curriculum or guide you use, so that is another thing to consider as you journey. Certain things are just more challenging for some children than others and need a bit more easing into doing (and on top of that these areas are different for every child)!

So, as you journey keep in perspective that if most of the guide seems to be a good fit and most of the day, with the exception of a tough subject or two, is going well... then your child is likely placed well. If, on the other hand, many areas are a struggle each day, then it's good to assess again.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Heart_Mom]

Julie and Carrie,

Thank you both so much for your help with my question!

I'm planning on keeping them together unless it becomes apparent that it's not working.

I am really looking forward to starting Bigger in August!!!