Success with guide at the younger end?

[Mumkins]

I always here people saying to use the guides at the older end of the reccomendations. Is anyone using them on the younger ends and having success? We're starting CTC with my just turned 9yo on Monday. I'm a little nervous, but hoping it goes well.

[lissiejo]

I have had great success with my girls who are at the young end of the guides, but we are only up to Bigger. The best advice I was given concerning this was to go half speed for a few weeks to get my daughter in the groove. We did 4 units of half speed and then she was ready to try full speed. It was a very smooth transition! The great thing about being at the young end, in my opinion, is that I feel I have more wiggle room. I'm sure it will be great!

[my3sons]

All our dc are on the younger end of the guides, and it has been a smashing success! It has been helpful to have done HOD each year successively though. I like the wiggle room too, and as it turned out my father has some health concerns this year, and my dh is traveling more than ever, that wiggle room at present is greatly appreciated. My 9 yo Riley just began CTC half-speed, and we are now full-speed next week. I'd just start and see how it goes! With a 9 yo doing CTC, half-speed is always a viable option.

In Christ,
Julie

[John'smom]

We have. My dd is 8 and doing Preparing. She's previously done Beyond and Bigger. She too will be 9 when we start CTC. I've never had any issues with her. HTH!!!

[8arrows]

I have three doing one guide--one in the extension age, one right in the middle, and one just slightly below the age recommendation. It is working successfully with all three! I think that is the beauty of these guides. That is why they have an age range. They were not written for just one age; they were written with great books that provide interest and flex. With my two in a younger guide, it is working well also, for both the one toward the upper end and the one slightly below. Of course, they have their own math. Two are combined in English and spellling due to similar abilities; the rest have their own level English and spelling. However, to be completely honest, I do have to say that IF I did not have as many children, I would put them in a lower guide. But, that is not an option. School simply would not get done. The ideal and the practical must be weighed when you have a larger family. Everyone is learning. Everyone is successful. That has to be enough. If you have a larger family, you do not have to have the "perfect" placement, because the "ideal and perfect" placement becomes the one that you can do. And in reality, at least for my family situation, the "perfect" placement for each child just would not get done; and therefore, it is really not the perfect placement at all.

[my3sons]

...The ideal and the practical must be weighed when you have a larger family. Everyone is learning. Everyone is successful. That has to be enough. If you have a larger family, you do not have to have the "perfect" placement, because the "ideal and perfect" placement becomes the one that you can do. And in reality, at least for my family situation, the "perfect" placement for each child just would not get done; and therefore, it is really not the perfect placement at all...

I just had to quote this because I think it is some very wise advice to weigh for those of you considering placement. I find it difficult to advise exact placement as many times factors such as family size or other outside matters that impact family life in general are not or can not (due to their very private nature) be shared here on this board. Or, if they are shared, it's hard to tell how the mama would best like her homeschooling to go in the day to day, weighing all of her family's needs. As 8arrow's mentioned, the "perfect placement" is not the perfect placement if it cannot be done. Then, instead, Plan B becomes the more "ideal" placement and becomes the better choice. Such good thoughts here! Thanks so much for sharing this, 8arrows! Great food for thought!

In Christ,
Julie

[abrightmom]

I have three doing one guide--one in the extension age, one right in the middle, and one just slightly below the age recommendation. It is working successfully with all three! I think that is the beauty of these guides. That is why they have an age range. They were not written for just one age; they were written with great books that provide interest and flex. With my two in a younger guide, it is working well also, for both the one toward the upper end and the one slightly below. Of course, they have their own math. Two are combined in English and spellling due to similar abilities; the rest have their own level English and spelling. However, to be completely honest, I do have to say that IF I did not have as many children, I would put them in a lower guide. But, that is not an option. School simply would not get done. The ideal and the practical must be weighed when you have a larger family. Everyone is learning. Everyone is successful. That has to be enough. If you have a larger family, you do not have to have the "perfect" placement, because the "ideal and perfect" placement becomes the one that you can do. And in reality, at least for my family situation, the "perfect" placement for each child just would not get done; and therefore, it is really not the perfect placement at all.

Such wise words, especially the bolded....

[luv2homeschool]

I am starting to get nervous about this as we get further into the guides. My son is doing really well in Preparing for 3rd grade but I'm worried that he won't be able to handle CTC. My daughter will be in Bigger next year and she'll be a year younger than my son was when he did it.

[amysue277]

Wow, I just want to reiterate what has been said so eloquently by the others regarding placement. I pondered and prayed about what to do for so long. After reading many testimonies about placement being SO important, and having kids at the upper ends of the guides being key, I felt like I had to separate my 2 oldest, who are 18 months apart. But my heart just kept telling me that separating them was not the best for our family.

I kind of went "against the grain" and advice of many, and decided to combine them. I found out I was pregnant with #5 a month later! If you look at the ages of my kids, you will see that my kids are very close together, and combining is the ONLY way for me that I could possibly do this. My philosophy is that no matter how great the plans, if it doesn't get done, then it's not so great! Also, although my kids might not be *perfectly* placed, compared to a 25 student classroom, they are still getting instruction specific to their needs. HOD is wonderful for allowing larger families to DO this! YAY HOD!

[Mumkins]

Thanks ladies!

We tried uncombing and I just couldn't keep up with it. After 4 weeks, I recombined. We're now on week 3 with DS in CTC and my oldest doing extra math and stuff, waiting to jump back in at week 5.