mom2samlibby wrote:If it were me, I would still finish out Preparing. It sounds as if you life circumstances are still pretty crazy and aren't planning on settling down anytime soon. By keeping her in Preparing, she is somewhat familiar with the guide. I would think this would give her a greater chance of getting her schoolwork done everyday. It sounds as if it's been hit and miss for awhile. I know you are worried about her outgrowing Preparing and really think she should be in CTC, but if you aren't getting Preparing done, is changing to another guide the best idea? I would think that would be a bigger work load when things are already very stressful.
My kids and I are working through Bigger right now. We started it in Aug. 2010 and didn't get done for that school year. We picked it up again in Aug. 2011 and are very close to finishing. I can tell my kids have almost outgrown it, but we are finishing for several reasons. I want them (and me) to say we finished it. This would be a huge accomplishment for all of us, as we have never finished a whole year's curriculum. We are still learning from it. We are enjoying the science book -- Pioneer Sampler. If we would have called it quits, we wouldn't have gotten to read through it and it's been my kid's favorite. We would also have missed out on some of the other great book selections. I want them to see it through.
So, I guess I'm saying that you have Preparing, she's been working in Preparing, I would keep working through Preparing. I'm planning on starting Preparing in March and moving it through it to finish by November. (My kids are 9, 4th grade (almost 10) and 13, 7th grade (dyslexic)). This is only Jan., so she could have Preparing completed by June or Sept, if you take a big break in summer. She could still start CTC in the fall.
We will do as much of Preparing as we can before fall.
After trying to get it done for 2 years and having worked on the skills, I know she will be ready for CTC once we are moved and unpacked. We will continue Preparing while moving and while staying with my mom as we search for a home to buy. She can do ALL of PHFHG independently...and other than math and grammar, she did it all in about 2 hours yesterday. If not for having to go and do extra timeline cards from ones she missed, it would have been shorter! As for things not settling down anytime soon...they will! I'll have more help after our move with all sorts of family around, the specialists I need, current meds are helping with fatigue, thyroid levels are under control, and we are moving closer to figuring out if it's lupus or MS. As we learn more, I'll be treated and things are really, really looking up. I'm still feeling down compared to normal, but I am feeling better than I have in a long time! I'm encouraged! So yes, actually...things will be settling down and it will be the perfect time to move to a new guide so long as that's where she places and she is ready in terms of maturity. And since I think after much debate internally, and with my knowledge of the guides, and reading about the skills in CTC from all of you and on the yahoo group and facebook groups...I really feel by fall, which is many months away, she will be totally and completely a perfect fit for CTC, started at half pace for the first short while. She has only not moved up in guides due to
my own laziness mostly (even though that's been laziness from health) and I feel now that I"m feeling better, it's time to move right on along. We are also starting to see positive effects from the medication she started some time ago. I'm confident with my decision to move to CTC when we start back up, whether we start in Aug, Sept, October...whatever. Who knows! I just know after these 3 weeks we are still here and the 1-3 months we'll be at my moms...we will do Preparing and whatever point we get to will be where we stop. She can finish the reading materials over the summer (she's a reader!) so she won't miss that and her skills will be in line for CTC.
Rambling! I know! Sorry
I didn't take my pills on time today. LOL
You'll get there soon anyway so you certainly wouldn't be wasting resources. It sounds like your daughter will be more than ready to move ahead.
He may perhaps be ready to very gently ease into PHFHG half speed come fall. I plan to access him as new to HOD come fall. I wish I could just do school with him but even half days with him have been too much for me when he's only in 2nd and my focus has been on the 5th grader...and of course the toddler! And my energy levels are so low. I'm open to go either direction with him and have months before I have to decide!