CtC or RtR ~ 1st yr w/HOD ~ 13-year-old

[aspenskies]

I feel it would be best for us (my 13-year-old son and me) to start with either CtC or RtR. What are your thoughts and suggestions? This will be our first year using HOD. We have been using mainly lit based curricula, WinterPromise and Sonlight.

[andreamichele13]

Jean,

I'm in the same boat! This will be our first year, and my son is 12.5 (13 in October)! I am pretty settled on RtR, but will be interested in what others might have to say!

Andrea

[LynnH]

Reading about your son in the other post I think you could go with either one. One thing to consider is has he done any written narration and how does he feel about writing. There is quite a bit of writing in RTR and the writing program used in RTR is more challenging than the one used in CTC. They are both great programs. My ds is doing RTR this year as a 12 year old after doing Preparing and CTC. The skills in the guides build on each other, but older kids successfully jump into the older guides all the time. The readings are longer in RTR, but my ds thought the books used in CTC were a little harder to comprehend.

[aspenskies]

I have never done so much thinking and debating. lol

Thank you Lynn! I was pretty set on RtR until I read your post. He has only started written narration and has an off and on love for writing. It sounds like CtC would be the best fit for him. I would add the extension pack on this program and all future programs. How are the extension packs used? Are the books written into the schedule?

[Molly]

Jean, the extension packages have a reading list in the back of the guide so the children know what to read each day. There is also the recommendation to have them orally narrate one day, write a 2 or 3 paragraph narration on two days and a one paragraph narration with a drawn picture for the other day. This may be slightly different for CtC but this is how it is formatted in Preparing.

[aspenskies]

Wonderful! Thank you, Michelle!

[Molly]

No worries at all. I am certain you and your son will love HOD. We have only started this year (we had made it through two whole weeks of Preparing and had just started LHFHG with my little guy when I fell ill and ended up in hospital having surgery and am still recovering) but my girls are already champing at the bit to get back and working again they love it so much. It is truely a blessing in our home. I pray it will be in yours too.

[aspenskies]

Thank you so much!

Sorry to hear you have been sick and had surgery. I will pray for a speedy and full recovery. Hugs!

[my3sons]

aspenskies - I am just agreeing with the great advice here already! I think you will enjoy CTC with extensions with your ds so much. It will give him time to blossom in his writing, and it will give you an awesome study of the Ancients!

Molly - I just prayed for ya hon'!

In Christ,
Julie

[aspenskies]

Thank you, Julie!

[Heather4Him]

Welcome to HOD!

We started HOD with CTC (plus extensions) last year when our dd was 13, too. It has been a great fit!! This year, we're on RTR (w/ ext.) and plan to continue throughout high school with HOD. I think you will love it!

[aspenskies]

Thank you, Heather! We are anxious to get started. We will have to come up with things to keep us busy until box day.