Back Again... Preparing versus CTC ?

[LovingJesus]

Hi!

I was so excited when I found HOD a few months ago! Since then it has been a bit of a roller coaster since I placed both of my sons into the wrong programs (too low). I looked at the placement chart again, and I am still not sure exactly where my oldest would go. Not having done HOD from the beginning puts their skills into different places. MFW has a very different scope and sequence, so it has been difficult to bring over.

Fortunately my ds6 has been easy, since I just moved him up to the Beyond program that I bought for my ds8.

After buying the wrong program I did start two things that I own with my oldest. He is really enjoying the Astronomy. He is 8, 2nd grade. For writing he is currently using R&S English 2, Writing with Ease textbook, and All About Spelling. He can write notebook pages, without having to dictate them to me first, for both the MOH and the Apologia notebooks. For math he is doing Singapore 2A.

So if I had him come back to HOD next fall, where would I place him? Preparing or CTC?

Thank you ladies!

We are starting school back up tomorrow, and I am really looking forward to it ~ more than I ever have after a break. Happy New Year!

[8arrows]

I would go with Preparing. Are you reading the MOH and Apologia to him? If so, remember that HOD leads the child to independence. You could read the history to him in Preparing, but the science he would be reading to himself. Does that help any with placement? I think Preparing is a great year. We enjoyed it.

[LovingJesus]

I would go with Preparing. Are you reading the MOH and Apologia to him? If so, remember that HOD leads the child to independence. You could read the history to him in Preparing, but the science he would be reading to himself. Does that help any with placement? I think Preparing is a great year. We enjoyed it.

I am reading MOH and Apologia to him, but he also reads them to himself for fun reading and out of interest. Would you still suggest Preparing? He reads around an 8th grade level. Writing is about 2nd/3rd grade. Math is Singapore, so I don't know how that places him as far as grades go since it is non-traditional in its scope and sequence.

Thank you!

[3sweeties]

Hi Carin!

Has your DS completed Bigger in the past? If not, I would definitely place him in Preparing if his writing is 2nd/3rd grade level. Since his reading level is higher, he should do great with the independent reading in Preparing, but I would be ready to slow it down to half-speed if you sense he is struggling with the amount of writing each day. My oldest DS and I have LOVED Preparing...it was a perfect fit for him at 8-9 yo/3rd-4th grade, but he did complete Bigger and was used to the format and had slowly moved towards the independence needed in writing, narration, etc. in Preparing.

As far as Singapore, I would have him take one of the placement tests to be sure where he best fits. http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm. My DS is just now mid-way through 3B, but it really is 4th grade level math concepts. ETA: I just saw that he is already in Singapore 2A...just keep him there, if he is doing well with it!

HTH and welcome back to HOD!!!

[LynnH]

I would do Preparing. CTC is a huge jump. Lots of writing and the content of the reading is very challenging. You want him to be able to do all the history reading himself and to be able to do the follow up activities which includes longer written narrations and other things. The upper level programs are as much about all the skills learned as they are the reading level. To get the most out of the program and to be ready to go to the next level they really need to be able to do all the I boxes independently. Sounds like he could do that for Preparing, but not CTC. One other thing to think about is if he is sensitive at all some of the reading in CTC may upset him. It is definitely geared for an older child.

[LovingJesus]

Hi Carin!

Has your DS completed Bigger in the past?
HTH and welcome back to HOD!!!

Thank you! Bigger is the program I should have bought for him this fall. He is really enjoying Astronomy, but when I placed him in HOD I should have gone with Bigger. Or at least known not to write in the TMs the first two weeks so I could exchange if necessary (a habit of mine of writing in TMs). So we have found things to do that we have, and that he likes. Yes, Bigger would have been best for this year to build skills for Preparing.

I still think about possibly ordering Bigger. I spent a lot of time trying to place him correctly on the board, and it is frustrating. This program has so much of what I have been looking for; I didn't want to start with frustration. Oh well, God is much bigger than these little concerns in life.

Blessings,