Placement ? and Running Back to Back guides

[shera]

Just when I thought I had figured out placement, my ds threw a wrench into it. I thought he placed in Preparing but my concern was with writing (he doesn't like to do it) and the independent work. He will look like he is doing it but he doesn't put forth the required effort. So after making my ds redo some of his work from this previous week, I pointed out the placement chart to my dh. We are now thinking ds should do Bigger to help solidify his writing and to gain the maturity to work independently. Ds will be 10 in Nov. Now if I put ds in Bigger I would be doing both Bigger and Beyond. My dd solidly fits into Beyond. How long would running these 2 programs take, I also have a 2 yr old running around? How difficult is it to do back to back guides? I'm afraid I will get bored redoing a guide once I've finished it. I would probably get at least some of the extension package for Bigger. I'm just not sure yet as I had been thinking Preparing with R&S 4 and Singapore 4a/4b and DITHOR. Not sure what level of DITHOR either?

Thanks

[shera]

Anyone??

[shera]

From reading other posts about DITHOR it sounds like ds should do level 2/3 for this coming year and then bump up to level 4/5. I have some other questions though.

1. The book list does that include books for all the levels or is it unique to the individual levels?

2. In the upper level guides, the kids do more and more independent work (which my dh and I love by the way) but how do you know if the kids are actually doing the work? I've kind of gathered from looking online, that the type of thinking asked does not lend itself to one right answer and therefore there is no answer key. But how as the teacher do you analyze or know if your kid is on the right track? Do you have to pre-read or try to keep up with what your child is doing or is there enough guidance in the manual that you will know? The reason I ask is my ds has been known to look like he is doing the work but in reality he is not even trying. Because of this I am now thinking of placing him in Bigger instead of Preparing.

Thanks

[shera]

bump

[my3sons]

Hi Shera! I am trying to remember the details you shared earlier about your ds because I thought that was helpful to his placement as well. Okay, I found it, I think this is the one I was thinking of...
My ds will be 10 in Nov., 4th grade strong reader. We just started cursive using HWOT this spring. Age wise he fits in Preparing. Reading he is independent. Writing he is just now learning cursive. Can copy passages but HATES to write. We haven't done any dictation. The LA we have used is CLE lightunits. We have not done written narrations but have done some oral ones. He has had an intro to basic parts of speech as well as basic diagramming. We already use Singapore math and he is currently finishing up 3b. So it sounds to me accept for the writing he would fit in Preparing. He hates writing and we have not done alot of it or been consistent with it.

It sounds like he is an excellent reader, and PHFHG would have him reading a portion of his history, as well as his science. He sounds ready for this. As far as the writing, he can begin with Level 2 dictation and finish out his cursive. He can just write in print for his assignments in PHFHG this year, and that will be just fine. PHFHG is the first guide to teach written narrations, so he'll be fine there, and if he can copy passages, he'll do fine with what PHFHG asks him to do. He places in R & S English 4 and Singapore 4A/4B as well. I am thinking that he fits quite well in PHFHG, but I would begin it half-speed with him to let him ease into the writing in it. I understand your not being sure how you'd feel about teaching back to back guides, but I truly think he places in PHFHG. However, you will know what the best decision is here for him, as well as your husband.

As far as how you know if dc understood what they read, there are follow-ups to each assignment. The follow-ups do make it clear if dc understood what they read, as there is no way to "wing it". The Key Ideas are really a summary of the readings, which I find very helpful. You'll notice the length of the key ideas increasing as the material in the guides increases. I skim the selection, reading the first page, a middle page, and the final page of the day's reading right before my ds narrates, or we discuss it. It's not hard to have the gist of the story and skim the rest as my ds and I do the follow-ups. The readings are kept short, so this is not hard to do. Here is a link that may help show how the follow-up skills help students learn and retain better...

Higher Level Thinking in HOD from Carrie:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8178

I hope something here helps, but I have prayed for clarity for you in placement for your ds as well! If you feel he places best in BHFHG, then I would just do the back to back guides and know it wouldn't be hard down the road especially, as they become quite independent, and repeat teaching a guide is less of a concern for us moms.
In Christ,
Julie

[shera]

Thanks Julie so much for your help. I really appreciate it. I looked over the placement chart again and based off of what you said I do think he would place in Preparing. I like the idea of starting at half pace. My question is would that mean? For ex. Unit 1 day 1 he would do history, Bible, math and LA. Then the next day he would do the science from unit 1 day 1 and Bible, math and LA from day 2. Hope that makes sense. Also another quick question is you don't mind. When running multiple guides, do you start everyone at once or do you start one child then when you get into a routine start the next one? If you staggered them, they would end the school year at different times. Does this cause a problem? I'm trying to figure out how my day will look doing 2 different guides and how much teacher time I can expect.

Thanks so much.
Sarah

[my3sons]

I'm glad something of what I said may have been helpful! I do think your ds will do well with PHFHG and starting half-speed will give him to grow into it, and time for you to help him get used to doing each of the skills in the boxes' of plans. People do half-speed all different ways, but here are a few links that may be helpful...

Half-speed PHFHG, with daily 3 R’s schedule by Carrie:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5431

How does half-speed look in your home?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5600&p=41232#p41232

As far as teaching multiple guides, I really like to use teaching blocks. That helps me be sure I am with each of the dc in a balanced way. It also lets them know when they'll have me all to themselves, and when they should be working more independently. I had almost always started school with everyone all at once until this past school year. Then, this year I had the thought that if my oldest ds had the most to do, why not start with him first and let my other dc play, since they had far less to do? This change made a big difference in my year. I told about it mid-year in the post I linked below. You can structure your day however best you feel fits your family's needs, but for our family, I have really enjoyed doing it this way. I'll link my schedule here as well as that other post, but feel free to disregard if it's not helpful...


viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8140&p=59181

HTH, and I think you are on your way to a great year with HOD!
In Christ,
Julie