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HI, my kids are 11 and almost 9, and of course the toddler.... I went through the placement chart this summer and my 11yo placed in CTC. He is my dawdler and he is dragging out every day until 5 give or take an hour. We start between 8 and 9 every morning and the only thing we add in is Community Bible Study which maybe takes 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. I try not to take long for lunch either. We are all frustrated. It has been difficult to get him to read the directions for an I box and follow them. He either misses steps or drags his feet. He's a good kid and I love him, but this is wearing us both down. I think he is unhappy about reading his history and science books himself.

I have the almost nine year old in Bigger. She is doing well, but has commented that it is a bit too easy for her sometimes. So maybe she could do Preparing but then she'd miss out on the great books in Bigger Hearts as she was only in 1st grade when her brother did it and didn't really listen in much.

I have been considering moving them both to Preparing, that would challenge my daughter more and give my son another year to mature and hopefully develop some independence before coming back to CTC. I have the Economy, Science, and Basic packages for Preparing but would not be able to buy the Independent History or Extension Packages. Some of the books are available through the library and interlibrary loan but some are not. I am not in a position to buy anything for this year at all as even groceries are limited right now.

I have even considered the possibility of throwing my 11yo (sixth grader) into Bigger with the 9yo for this year and then doing Preparing together next year. But I don't think that would work.

I want my son to be learning and to be challenged but not to be frustrated. I don't know right now if the long days are because he can't do the work any faster or just doesn't want to and is hoping I won't make him. He does tend to drag out chores too. I'm sorry I'm rambling. I am just tired and unsure whether to keep down the path we are on or switch course. I'd like for him to have some free time during the day but he doesn't get any right now because we're at it from morning till dinner sometimes. Any thoughts?

Edited to add:
We have completed 6 units of Bigger and almost 4 units of CTC at this point so it would be easy to change if we wanted to.

Lee Ann - I'll try to think through this with you - but I'm tired too as dh is traveling, so we'll see how 2 tired moms can do here together ...

netpea wrote:...It has been difficult to get him to read the directions for an I box and follow them. He either misses steps or drags his feet...I think he is unhappy about reading his history and science books himself.

CTC is a pretty meaty program, and my oldest definitely needed the transition PHFHG gives with having dc read a portion of their history and parent reading a portion of their history, as well as the easier science readings and independent work in that box, to be able to take over all of the core history reading and the harder science work in CTC. So, I think the above statements are very telling, and he would be best placed in PHFHG.

netpea wrote:...She has commented that it (Bigger Hearts) is a bit too easy for her sometimes. So maybe she could do Preparing but then she'd miss out on the great books in Bigger Hearts as she was only in 1st grade when her brother did it and didn't really listen in much...

Lots of dc like to comment that things are "easy" as a way of saying, "I am doing so great, did you notice, Mom?" What do you think? Bigger Hearts is pretty challenging. Do you think something is too easy, and if so, what? The writing and reading and level of independence picks up considerably in PHFHG. You must have had reasons for placing her in Bigger Hearts to begin with - have things changed a lot since then?

You are so right - CTC shouldn't be taking that long. Dc doing CTC should be at a stage where they can do their own history and science readings quite comfortably, as well as work well independently. I think I'd switch him to PHFHG TODAY and start enjoying your shorter days together! For dd, I'd be inclined to keep in her in Bigger Hearts, just 4 days a week, unless there has been major growth. Otherwise, I worry that putting her in PHFHG will just keep the days being too long, as then she may be the one who is not quite ready for the level of independence and work PHFHG is asking her to do. I know that will mean back to back guides, but honestly, once you're talking about doing back to back guides starting with PHFHG - I think it's pretty much a non-issue. Our teaching becomes more streamlined, and the discussions we had with one child will not be a carbon copy of the ones we had with the previous one, as they are based on much higher level questions that have different answers. These are just a few of my thoughts - what are your thoughts though?

In Christ,
Julie

Just a thought, but perhaps it would be possible to return some of the HOD CTC materials that you have not used so you would be able to buy the Independent History package for Preparing for your son? Doing this portion will be a great preparation for doing the more independent CTC in the future. Also, I agree Bigger is probably just right for your dd.

blessedmomof4 wrote:Just a thought, but perhaps it would be possible to return some of the HOD CTC materials that you have not used so you would be able to buy the Independent History package for Preparing for your son?

Thanks for the idea, I will consider it.

my3sons wrote:So, I think the above statements are very telling, and he would be best placed in PHFHG.

Thank you. I value your opinion.

my3sons wrote:Lots of dc like to comment that things are "easy" as a way of saying, "I am doing so great, did you notice, Mom?" What do you think? Bigger Hearts is pretty challenging. Do you think something is too easy, and if so, what? The writing and reading and level of independence picks up considerably in PHFHG. You must have had reasons for placing her in Bigger Hearts to begin with - have things changed a lot since then?

It's not so much that I think it's too easy as it is that I think she is more capable of doing Preparing than I originally thought. She is surprising me in her willingness to do work independently as I struggle with getting ds to do his independent work but then she tells me she misses me reading her science to her. I think she is excelling in Bigger right now but that she might be capable of Preparing. She might balk at the writing requirements though. She is doing the extension readings on her own but does not like to narrate the books either orally or written. She will do it though and her oral narrations are quite detailed. She is just learning cursive but her cursive is much neater than her print.

my3sons wrote: You are so right - CTC shouldn't be taking that long. Dc doing CTC should be at a stage where they can do their own history and science readings quite comfortably, as well as work well independently. I think I'd switch him to PHFHG TODAY and start enjoying your shorter days together!

We actually did day 1 of Preparing today together as a trial run, before I had seen your post. I just wanted to see how it went compared to CTC. Ds enjoyed it much more and was more cooperative. He said "This program is more fun, can I save the other one for next year?"

my3sons wrote:For dd, I'd be inclined to keep in her in Bigger Hearts, just 4 days a week, unless there has been major growth. Otherwise, I worry that putting her in PHFHG will just keep the days being too long, as then she may be the one who is not quite ready for the level of independence and work PHFHG is asking her to do. I know that will mean back to back guides, but honestly, once you're talking about doing back to back guides starting with PHFHG - I think it's pretty much a non-issue. Our teaching becomes more streamlined, and the discussions we had with one child will not be a carbon copy of the ones we had with the previous one, as they are based on much higher level questions that have different answers. These are just a few of my thoughts - what are your thoughts though?

In Christ,
Julie

I guess I am worried that if I do both programs, that school will still take all day because ds would have to be working independently on something when I am working with dd. Even way back when ds was little doing Beyond and dd was doing LHTH, he always wanted to be in on whatever she did. He is however starting to do his math independently which is a huge surprise to me. (He used to resist math.) If I schedule our day right, I could have him doing math while I work with dd on some of her tasks.

We are on a 4 day week schedule as we have Community Bible Study on Thursdays. DD will sometimes ask to double up days and get a 5th days work in that week. Mostly we just follow the plan though.
Well it's almost 12:30 and I'm having trouble being coherent. If you have any other thoughts for me, please share them, as I am really looking for the best fit for both kiddos here. I want them to be happy and successful in their programs not frustrated.
Thank you!

Thank you Julie.
Today we did Bigger with the almost 9yo and Preparing with the 11yo and it went so much better!

netpea wrote:Thank you Julie.
Today we did Bigger with the almost 9yo and Preparing with the 11yo and it went so much better!

netpea - I was glad to read your note here today! I think this will be a better fit overall, and I pray it continues to go better and better each day as dc get into a groove.

In Christ,
Julie

netpea,

Such good thoughts have already been shared in this thread! I agree that it sounds like your son would fit great in Preparing Hearts. I do think that it will be necessary for him to have the books for the Independent History Study part of the plans or the Extension Package (whichever suits him best) to be sure he gets practice in reading his own material in preparation for CTC. You're welcome to return any unused books to HOD and get what you need for Preparing instead.

As far as combining your son and daughter goes, one thing to weigh is that if you switched your daughter to Preparing Hearts, do you think she'd be able to handle the rigor of CTC in a year's time? If not, then she's likely better placed in Bigger Hearts. Kiddos can change much in one year, so it can be hard to know for sure, but since your son has just been in CTC, now is a good time to weigh the difficulty of CTC and whether your daughter could handle it in a year. It will help you have more peace with your decision.

Another thought I had was that if your daughter is able to do the readings in history and science in Bigger, you can go ahead and let her do them (just making sure to join her for the follow-ups). CM said kiddos the age of 9 on up who can read their own materials... should. So, you could also weigh that option. It isn't something you'd have to do, but just something that is a possibility if your schedule is quite full and your daughter can do it. The same would be true for your son.

The things I shared in this past thread may be of help to you too as you ponder: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10394&p=75656

Blessings,
Carrie