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She is 10, in 5th grade, nearly ready for CTC except needs some maturing to be trusted to follow directions, and a little guidance in how to do written narrations. We have a really hard time getting to school these days with my recent health issues, "catching up" in grammar and math, keeping up basics for 2nd grader, and chasing a 5yo and 2yo, all while trying to pack a large home for a temp move, then a permanent move 1800 miles, DH losing job...it just never ends! Sooooo....she will NOT finish PHFHG w/extensions before 6th grade. She's going to outgrow it...we've been trying to do it all for 1.5 years now. We did great for 2months at half speed last year and got 4 units in. I took a time to try to combine my two oldest so put them both in bigger but we are back to PHFHG now and in unit 6...almost. (we did take some time to review previous chapters and re-do readings)

Should I plan on starting her in CTC this fall for 6th grade and 11yrs old? I hate to hold her back...she will be in R&S 5, about half way through Math Mammoth 5, but only a quarter or so through PHFHG. She can handle the workload and could direct her activities fairly well herself if it weren't so chaotic here and a mess from mom being sick, us sorting through everything we own to declutter before moving, and packing our stuff. Should that be my plan? Start CTC this fall with R&S 5 half speed with the guide and continue on in her math? Extensions a must since she will be 6th grade? She needs fine tuning in following directions NOT b/c she can't, but b/c she has her own ideas about stuff and reads very well, and very quickly. She is a great writer but hasn't done a lot of written narrations. She will get more practice but not a lot. I think her comprehension is quite good. She took a reading level test that didn't tackle comprehension but ability to decode and pronounce words and was about grade 8.3 (hasn't changed much in last year or two). Her spelling isn't fantastic (should be about dictation level 4, #20-30 something this fall) but handwriting has improved, draws well, and loves the notebooking. The PHFHG books are very engaging to her, and she really enjoys them, isn't the slightest challenged by them (but is learning a ton from them!)...I can tell the CTC books are a hefty step up and would challenge her attention and comprehension...she wouldn't be able to fly through them and it would force her to think.

What do you think? I don't really like the idea of waiting for CTC until 7th grade but not wanting to skip major skill sets either.

Hi Tamara,

Wow, you are going through a lot!

I hope this helps you to not stress too much, but if she can just continue along in Preparing, I would do that and not rush to CTC. You will NOT be behind at all. We did CTC with extensions last year for 8th grade, and it was a great fit. You are right, there is a "jump" in the level from Preparing to CTC, so I would just do what you can do for now and get to CTC when you are completely done with PHFHG.

I agree, just continue along with it. Sounds like you don't need a new level to start with all you've already been through! That to me would be even more headache. Add the extensions if needed.

As far as directions, several things I did. At the beginning I typed them as 1, 2, 3, etc. I did that for about a month. Then she could see the pattern. Then I said, read it over first, then go back and read it, one direction at a time. I even went as far as underlining each direction in a different color pen, so she could see the different sets of directions. Then I told her to cross them out as you go, so you don't get mixed up. So it took some doing.

Let me say dd couldn't follow directions to save herself. And she did horribly with directions in Preparing, but about a month into CTC, she did really well.

I know nobody will tell you to skip Preparing. But see where she's at in summer. Alot goes on between now and then and for now, continue along and reaccess in June. While Preparing is an overview it still has different information than CTC and RTR.

I'd just continue on with Preparing until your done, it'll be fine!

One thing is she CAN follow directions!! She doesn't like to. she placed in PHFHG last year for 4th grade and we have yet to get through it. I've added extensions already.

Another is if she has to swap guides around to get the assignments from different ones, that will be a problem. Like the fact she will be in R&S 5 and we will HAVE TO add a writing program. This year we have added Igniting Your Writing...I prefer simple for both of us..:and it's certainly simple to follow ONE guide for her compared to two guides plus an add on for writing and the extensions. We are familiar enough with the HOD format that new guides aren't such shockers anymore. Comfortingly familiar yet excitingly different.

I think I'm wanting permission to bypass finishing this guide to exchange for CTC so I won't be stressed about how to add in writing and I know she's at the right level. And not just do a level for the sake of finishing bc we started it you KWIM? We've done only beyond, bigger, an a few units of preparing from 2nd to 5th grade. it's been tough here these last couple years! (10 moves in 8 years and bed rest and health issues)

I agree you should see what you feel this summer. If you move her to CTC just make sure that it isn't such a stretch for her that she will need you more. With all the health challenges you are facing you want her to be more independent not less. CTC is a huge jump, especially the history books and the writing program. They type of thinking it requires is a different level also. You do not need to do the extensions with her. It is plenty meaty without those. I would say if you really think she is ready you should go ahead and move her to CTC in the fall, but if you want to do it because you feel she is behind then I would say that it really is ok for her to stay in Preparing. Hope that makes sense.

LynnH wrote:I agree you should see what you feel this summer. If you move her to CTC just make sure that it isn't such a stretch for her that she will need you more. With all the health challenges you are facing you want her to be more independent not less. CTC is a huge jump, especially the history books and the writing program. They type of thinking it requires is a different level also. You do not need to do the extensions with her. It is plenty meaty without those. I would say if you really think she is ready you should go ahead and move her to CTC in the fall, but if you want to do it because you feel she is behind then I would say that it really is ok for her to stay in Preparing. Hope that makes sense.

I don't want to move her just b/c I feel like should she be farther ahead in skills...but b/c she IS farther ahead in skills since I placed her into PHFHG LAST school year Is that what you meant?

Also, great to hear I wouldn't need extensions!! Thanks for that insight. Can you elaborate about the part above that I italicized and underlined in the quote?


Perhaps an option is to keep her reading along and up on schedule with the grammar and such...then once we settle pick up the "full load" of PHFHG. She is ready for more...this would allow us to still work on those skills, allow her to move along to some new topics instead of sitting on these so long as we have been, take some pressure off of me since we are so so so so so so far behind , and let her finish the guide in a more timely manner without actually totally skipping a huge portion of it. Then perhaps in Sept, October-ish we could move into CTC. She will be 11 in June. I'm totally open to other ideas!! Please share some!

I'm really unsure...I really am upset that I haven't been able to fully put the guides to use in a consistent way, but am thrilled that there is success with what we have been able to use as well as with employing the methods I have learned as the teacher from using HOD! It's allowed forward progress, albeit slow and little, in our rough times.

Tamara,

First of all, I think Preparing is perfect for a 5th grader and the Extensions are meant for a 6th grader so give yourself some slack!!!! Have you considered moving her forward with Preparing a little more independently? There is no reason she couldn't move forward a little faster on her own by just changing up the T's for I's. This will get her more ready for the challenge of the more independent CtC work and keep a forward momentum in your homeschool. I'd just stay the course with Preparing, let her enjoy and learn from this guide!

I have to remind myself OFTEN of my academic goals for my children (most important is that they are enjoying the process of learning so they don't shy away from it later in life or in the coming years). Obviously, I want them to love the Lord and that is going to happen by seeing your love for Him at home (not any guide in particular will satisfy that goal necessarily). Ask yourself: If I move/push dd ahead in CtC what will she gain for 6th grade? Of course, she'll learn different historical time frames...but will she learn something necessary for the 6th grade?

We've slowed our CtC year down at times because of rough emotional patches or tough times (military schedules, moves, etc.). I can look back at the year and say that the only thing I regret is pushing forward when I should have slowed down, served others, cared for the needs of my family instead of checking boxes. Maybe I'm just beginning to understand that the homeschool process is so much bigger than some perfect academic schedule.

Praying that you heal from your medical ailments and that the enemy is bound and overcome by the power of our Lord Jesus.
Blessings to you!

mamanlait wrote:Tamara,
First of all, I think Preparing is perfect for a 5th grader and the Extensions are meant for a 6th grader so give yourself some slack!!!! Have you considered moving her forward with Preparing a little more independently? There is no reason she couldn't move forward a little faster on her own by just changing up the T's for I's. This will get her more ready for the challenge of the more independent CtC work. I'd just stay the course with Preparing, let her enjoy and learn from this guide!

PHFHG is actually for 3rd and 4th and extensions for 5th and 6th BUT, I get what you're saying. She isn't challenged at all by the writings or readings and is capable of doing it Independently for the most part-- well, she is challenged by having to redo things when she does things differently than instructed, not that she didn't get the directions though . I just feel she was placed well, exactly right, for 4th grade in PHFHG and come fall we'll just be doing PHFHG for 6th. Plus I have no idea what writing program to add in for 6th if that's when we do PHFHG and how to keep her on track with other little things that won't be planned for her level for the guide she is in. She needs it all in one spot...she needs to be able to move box to box and not guide to guide each day (writing, R&S, etc.) I'm just really baffled and struggling with what to do, b/c deep down, I feel moving her into CTC at least no later than a mid first semester or so of 6th...maybe 2nd semester is what we need to do. There are also more laws in FL where we are moving compared to OK/AR where we live now. WE keep getting so behind...and it just makes me more stressed! We still haven't really started back from break...and barely did anything between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If it matters, she is a "gifted" child and avid reader.

OH! Idea...we could do 5 days a week to get more done this year...um...wait...HA! Scratch that..we barely get 2. LOL I seriously thought that for a second.

Yes I just meant not to move her up just because you see the ages on the Preparing guide and think she is behind. As far as the writing program being more, we did Igniting Your Writing and I thought it was very gentle. Write with the Best still goes step by step but since the dc are modeling great works of literature it is more challenging. The deeper thinking comes in with things like the prophecy chart. Also follow up activities for storytime include finding Proverbs that apply to your reading and doing different types of oral narrations. For written narrations the questions are taken away so that can make it tougher. Since it sounds like following directions is where she struggles because she wants to do her own thing then I would really work on that the rest of the year. There are more I boxes in CTC so that will be an important skill for her to have mastered.

LynnH wrote:Yes I just meant not to move her up just because you see the ages on the Preparing guide and think she is behind. As far as the writing program being more, we did Igniting Your Writing and I thought it was very gentle. Write with the Best still goes step by step but since the dc are modeling great works of literature it is more challenging. The deeper thinking comes in with things like the prophecy chart. Also follow up activities for storytime include finding Proverbs that apply to your reading and doing different types of oral narrations. For written narrations the questions are taken away so that can make it tougher. Since it sounds like following directions is where she struggles because she wants to do her own thing then I would really work on that the rest of the year. There are more I boxes in CTC so that will be an important skill for her to have mastered.

Thank you for explaining. That sounds PERFECT for her!! I think come fall she will be totally ready for that. We will continue working toward training to move past just understanding directions, but actually follow them. I think the skills you mentioned are exactly where my unsettled feeling comes in and feeling we are lacking. Seeing as how the following directions is an obedience issue and not an ability issue, I feel like we are on the right path to start CTC in the fall.

Tamara,
Yep, I've HS'ed in FL so I understand the different laws, ie. testing vs. cert. teacher looking at your "portfolio" (but it was actually one of my favorite places because there are so many wonderful HSers and the laws are actually pretty helpful rather than intrusive -- I loved the cert. teacher giving me positive feedback !). I still would finish Preparing. I guess I just loved that Guide so much, I'd hate to miss it. I agree with the previous poster RE: using Igniting you Writing, but you know your dd best and what would fit her. The Prophecy Charts in CtC required some help at my house so it was not as independent as it might be with an older child. We enjoyed CtC but I think it's definitely a BIG step up from Preparing. I wish I would have savored the Preparing guide a bit more!

mamanlait wrote:Tamara,
Yep, I've HS'ed in FL so I understand the different laws, ie. testing vs. cert. teacher looking at your "portfolio" (but it was actually one of my favorite places because there are so many wonderful HSers and the laws are actually pretty helpful rather than intrusive -- I loved the cert. teacher giving me positive feedback !). I still would finish Preparing. I guess I just loved that Guide so much, I'd hate to miss it. I agree with the previous poster RE: using Igniting you Writing, but you know your dd best and what would fit her. The Prophecy Charts in CtC required some help at my house so it was not as independent as it might be with an older child. We enjoyed CtC but I think it's definitely a BIG step up from Preparing. I wish I would have savored the Preparing guide a bit more!

So glad to hear your take about the hs laws in Florida!! That's encouraging.

Igniting Your Writing is what we use already. She's doing the intermediate level and a few she has particularly enjoyed she did the advanced too. Lol.
What age did you do CTC with? Mine will be in the extension range grade wise, so she's on the oldest end of the target range.

Tamara,
My dd did Preparing (I think we read aloud most Extensions) age 8.5-10 and now CtC (no extensions!) age 10-11 but we will most probably extend it out a bit (we did half-pace for the first few months just like in Preparing). I'm trying to train myself to slow down and enjoy the little moments. I think we'll finish CtC when dd is closer to 11.5. I am seeing now that she's almost 11 that she's entering into a different stage of being able to understand concepts more logically. For example, the Prophecy chart was really hard for her (if not impossible) at the beginning of the year. She just really could not deduct the implied meaning of the Prophecy. Now she is beginning to understand non-concrete concepts and it's so much easier for her.

mamanlait wrote:Tamara,
My dd did Preparing (I think we read aloud most Extensions) age 8.5-10 and now CtC (no extensions!) age 10-11 but we will most probably extend it out a bit (we did half-pace for the first few months just like in Preparing). I'm trying to train myself to slow down and enjoy the little moments. I think we'll finish CtC when dd is closer to 11.5. I am seeing now that she's almost 11 that she's entering into a different stage of being able to understand concepts more logically. For example, the Prophecy chart was really hard for her (if not impossible) at the beginning of the year. She just really could not deduct the implied meaning of the Prophecy. Now she is beginning to understand non-concrete concepts and it's so much easier for her.

Good info...my girl will be almost 11.5 when we start CTC if we start it this fall! She has always understood spiritual, deep, abstract concepts on a level that often times amazed us. She's overly logical and literal.
Not that that means the prophecy chart and all would be easy breezy for her, but it sounds like she'll be at a good age for all this come this fall seeing as how she will be nearly 11.5

Right now I just feel like we are mostly reviewing and reinforcing concepts..I feel like she'd be learning new ones with CTC. The more I ponder and dig about this, the more I understand my underlying apprehensions about staying put in PHFHG for another 1-1.5 years.

I know you all are saying stick it out with PHFHG but I feel more and more strongly about moving to CTC the more I read from here. If I were newly coming to HOD this fall, I would place her squarely in CTC. And if you consider how little we've actually gotten done...we are pretty much coming to HOD fresh and new.