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We're only halfway through Bigger, but I'm thinking ahead to next year with Preparing. I'll have 2 dc using Preparing. I was wondering about the timeline. Do you suggest that they both do their own separate timelines? I was thinking that it could be a joint effort, but I don't have it set in stone. We live in a small house and was just thinking that one timeline on a door would be better than 2 as most our doors have thinngs hanging on them, etc. If it seem best that they do their own timelines, I'll do that.

I guess the other thing that has me a little unsure of is the written narrations. I know (atleast think I remember) that CM suggested not starting written narrations until the age of 10. My dd will just turn 8 when we start Preparing. Do you think it will be too much for her? I keep telling myself that the previous guide, if done completely prepares them for the next guide, so I try not to worry too much about it. With that said, it's something that's still nagging me in my mind.

Thanks for any advice or opinions.

For the timeline I think it would work to just to 1. Many days they do more than one square so they could each do one to put up. You also could do the accordion style if you wanted them to each have their own. I know someone posted pictures of this type. As far as the written narrations if she is doing everything in Bigger as written without problem then I think she will be fine doing Preparing and the written narrations. They start out very gentle. I think 5 sentences maybe and it is pretty much answering given questions. Does she do ok with other writing? I think the more challenging thing is the writing assignments that go with the Poetry, but again lots of guidance is given for how to do these. You can always slow Preparing down for her if you need to and do it half speed although that might be tough since you have another in the same program. I know people have done it though.

My dd and ds are both doing Preparing together this year. They both do their own timelines and do it independently. I wanted them to both learn the skill of reading from the manual and completing a project independently for CTC, so that's why I chose to do it this way. My dd hangs her on the wall and my ds is doing the accordian style timeline. It works well and makes them responsible for their own work.

Now with the vocab they split it up.

Written narrations shouldn't be a problem either. It's a very gentle introduction and very step-by-step for both the student and the mom I have been so surprised with what my kiddos can do! We're on unit 20 and they have so much in this skill.

You have some good ideas here to ponder already. I think I would have each of my dc do the timeline, so they are each responsible for that work, but that's just my thought on it. Riley is 8 yo and doing very well with the gentle introduction to written narrations in PHFHG. I'd suggest having your 8 yo do the written narrations, as this is the very best introductory style instruction she will have for learning how to do written narrations. It's hard to recreate that down the road. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, ladies, for your opinions and advice.

Dd is doing everything in Bigger. I won't skimp on it because I know it will cause us to be behind for the next manual. I've read enough on these boards to be forwarned and thus forarmed.

She takes a little longer to do the writing assignments as I posted here. It sounded like everyone thought she was doing fine though.

They both would probably enjoy their own timelines, plus for a keepsake.

After seeing these photos of the accordian timelines, they look very doable. Thanks so much for posting the photos, Julie.