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Did any of your children have a hard time completing the Prophecies about Christ chart? I am finding that my dd is having a hard time making the connections for some of them (we are in Unit 6 and had the 9th one today).....and I do think they take some explaining and thinking/knowledge outside of the actual verses given.....so since this is supposed to be an independent box in the plans, I'd just like to hear from others as to how their children did this or how you handled it when helping them make connections if needed. This is becoming frustrating to my daughter, and I don't want it to be that way. I realize the "Key Idea" gives the basic information for this, however just copying this or paraphrasing this does not mean that she is understanding (and she really wants to understand...I think this is why she is getting so frustrated...and of course, I want her to understand too).....but is this what any of you had your children do when they couldn't quite make the connection between the OT and the NT passages? They have the years ahead, Lord willing, to continue to grow and learn and understand......

She will be ten in a few months and has completed in depth Bible study through Community Bible Study for the past two years. The book of Acts and the Servants of God study (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel)----and can complete 95% or more of the study on her own (meaning understanding and interpreting the questions/answering on her own at an appropriate level of understanding). She has worked from the 4th-6th grade study for both of those years. I share this to say that she is used to Bible study and analysis, but still the prophecy chart seems unusually challenging at times......

I appreciate any thoughts anyone might have to share.

Thank you,
Kim

When my son did CTC, there was the occasional prophesy that he didn't "get" either. He would look up and say, "Uh, Ma?" and then we would talk about it. I don't think it being an independent box means that we can't/shouldn't offer guidance or assistance when they need it. They are still learning.

I would have her attempt it on her own, and if she didn't understand, we would talk about it. Maybe it will ease her frustration if she knows that it's OK to ask if she has tried and does not understand.

Thanks. We have been talking about them as needed, and will continue to. Just wanting to hear from others since the expectation is independent (and I know we can flex and make the boxes our own, so to speak. ) and it is being more challenging than I would have anticipated. Maybe I need help on how to help her. LOL

Thank you for sharing! I always appreciate hearing from others who have gone before.

-Kim

Kim,
We are on unit 6 of CTC this week as well and I have had to do quite a bit of helping with the Prophecies Chart. My daughter is 10 and I think this is the age where their little minds are beginning to make the jump from Concrete understanding to the more fuzzy Logical and Abstract. Prophecies certainly aren't concrete!!! I think a child who is 11 or 12 might even find this fairly easy so the Independence Level really is related to how able the individual child is to make the LEAP out of concrete thinking. Some of the verses (but not most) my dd has been able to understand. We have talked about why we should pray before delving into the verses for clarity and understanding and I think we may have had better discussions about that than the prophecies themselves. We are loving the Notebooking Pages, though, WOW!

***
I just reread your question, Kim. I, too, believe that there is a lot of discussion needed to relate the Old Testament Prophecy to the New Testament fulfillment. I was just thinking about how difficult this would be for a parent jumping into CTC without prior HOD experience (these have been the biggest understanding jumps we've had yet although Preparing did prepare us somewhat). Also, the parent who lacks the time or desire to delve into the verses with their child might want to wait on CTC until their child can make these leaps on their own. In many ways, this element has added credibility in my mind related to the depth HOD is desiring of the student (and parent ). It is not surface knowledge we are getting! Even if my dd doesn't completely understand each prophecy, she is understanding a pattern. When God lays down a promise, it is fulfilled...in the prophecies, through the Messiah!

Amy

Thank you, Amy. It helps to hear that there might be similar experiences out there. I think this is such an amazing/rich part of the guide and study for this year, and I want to make as understandable as possible if/when needed and not have her being frustrated. I think your last couple of sentences are key----and that's what I'll help her to focus on.....that and praying for clarity and understanding (even if it is not immediately apparent....seeds are planted for future growth....). Thank you very much!

-Kim

Just wanted to add also, that in our case age made a BIG difference! Last year we started my son in CTC. It was our first year with HOD and it was really tough for him. He really struggled with making the connections in the prophecy chart. He did seem to be struggling in a few other areas (mostly because it was our first experience with a Charlotte Mason style learning-previously we had been textbook/workbook). After emailing back and forth with Carrie and relaying to her our situation, we decided to put him in Preparing. We did the extensions and it was a PERFECT fit for him. He really did well with it last year. So this year we started with CTC, and he's just loving it! He is completely ready for it, and now he's getting so much from the prophecy chart. He's really been blessed by seeing the connections in scripture between when it was prophecied and when it came to be fulfilled. What a difference that year made!

All that to say, you have to make your own decisions on if your daughter is ready for CTC or not, although it sounds like she's really doing well with everything else. In that case, maybe it's just the age, and in time, it'll get easier. I think around the age of ten or so, kids really develop so much in their thinking and comprehension skills.

I pray for blessings for you and your daughter as you enjoy HOD!

Thank you, Lisa!

-Kim