Questions about Preparing, choosing reader pkg.

[momofone]

I have wanted to do HOD for a long time and I finally think I can make it happen with DS (long story) DS is a little hyper, but we've got it under control without meds, but seriously needing something besides all texts.

I have studied the placement chart and DS,who recently turned 11, fits well in the preparing book. Creative writing is a big issue and rembering spelling rules. So, hope the preparing will help with that. However, I can't decide on the self study pkg. books or the extensions. DS does not enjoy reading toouch, but we are working hard to get him interested. He will be considered 5th grade, but is lagging behind in comprehension skills a little and is trying to catch up in math and we will use our own program for math. He is able to read 4th to 5th grade level books, but he doesn't always answer the comp. questions correctly. We have been using real books and some readers lately. So, I'm not really sure whether to order the shorter books or the extension books
I want to challenge, but not overwhelm. Need advice, as I'm excited to order soon!
Thanks in advance!
momofone

[Molly]

From what you have just said, I would just get the self study package and miss the extension books. I think it would really help him with the comprehension to be reading below his reading level. I have an 11yr old doing both, but in saying that, she is quite advanced in her reading and comprehension and it really has extended her enough to be in Preparing, I really should have put her in CtC or RtR but I tried combining her with my younger daughter who is now doing Bigger.

[momofone]

Thanks Molly, for your help. My "mom sense" tells me that would be a good idea. I think the self-study would work for a good attempt to make a change in our curriculum. I don't necessarily want easy work, but a fun intro into HOD. I had also thought about possibly adding in some of the extension books after we get about half way through the guide or etc. How does that plan sound?

momofone

[Molly]

It's funny that you said about the extension books from about halfway through as I had started typing that. I don't know that I would add them and get him to do the extension work, but adding as silent reading or even you reading aloud to him at night. The extension books I find really enhance and add to the knowledge already going in and for those who don't need them, I think they are still great at some stage and they just add more pegs to the pegboard so to speak. I love HOD even though we have only been using it since the beginning of this year, and I really believe that it gives them so many skills and so much knowledge without overwhelming them. It is wonderful. I really hope you and your son enjoy it as much as we are.

[momofone]

Thanks again Molly! We will be basically new to HOD and with all the other skills, I probably do need to simplify some. I will need to edit my signature, as we started out with Bigger,but retreated to all texts. It's been more my problem than my son.

I appreciate the help and I like the plan you shared.

momofone