heartofdakota.com

Hi everyone!

I just posted a thread about my little ones, and didn't want to inundate the thread, so I'm posting a separate thread about my oldest! Thank you for being so willing to answer questions! This is wonderful.

My oldest, who will be in 7th grade next year, is using Bright Ideas' Illuminations Program this year. While I like many aspects of it, it is just NOT enough character training and Bible focus for me, plus the workload is INSANE! I would NEVER be able to do everything. I finally had to resign myself to the fact that that was ok (this is my 1st year homeschooling).

SO, after much thought and consideration, I am going to be using the RTR cycle with my oldest next year. He will be finishing up MOH I this year, and I think the history will flow nicely into your program.

My question is about the Science. We used Apologia's Exploring Creation with Botany this year, and I was under the impression that next year I would need to start with Apologia's General Science. I notice in your science that you use a collection of books. Can you tell me if you think your science would be ok for my 7th grader or will he need something else (I didn't know if RTR was geared more to 6th graders)? Of course, being new to homeschooling, I'm still in that, "What if I don't do the EXACT right thing" mode of thinking! If he doesn't do General Science in 7th grade, when will he be doing that, or does he really even need that? I guess I'm just looking for any insight. I do find it amazing that he JUST got a telescope for Christmas (before we had decided to use HOD), and it would fit in nicely with the astronomy!

Any insight would be so much appreciated!!!!
Thank you!!!

And by RTR, I mean Resurrection to Reformation! Didn't realize there were 2 that could mean the same!

I wish I could find it, but Carrie has a thread somewhenre on here about why HOD does science the way it does. If you are doing RtR (Resurrection to Reformation) with your child for grade 7, know that the target range is ages 10-12, with extensons (in history) for ages 13-14. First, I would check the placement chart http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php and make sure your child fits neatly into RtR-if he falls between two guides, it is usually best to go with the lower level and "beef it up" with Extensions as necessary. For science, you have two options (Option 1 and Option 2). Option 2 includes the book God-s Design-Our Weather and Water from Answers in Genesis which is appropriate for students up through grade 8.
Also wanted to express that the science in HOD is so much more than a collection of books Carrie weaves together the schedule of reading so well, and the lessons in RtR include wonderful hands-on experiments (with really easy-to-find supplies), writing up a lab sheet, making notebooking pages, and doing oral and written narrations, truly providing a acomprehensive, iinteresting, Charlotte Mason-inspired approach to science through interacting with living books
The guide which follows RtR, Rev to Rev, has an amazing physical science program complete with a kit, and an extension option appropriate for grades 8 to 9. If you look for the "sneak peek" threads about the newest guide currently being written to follow Rev to Rev, you can see the wonderful things Carrie has in store for the next level of science, which includes Chemistry and creation vs. evolution, and her ideas for extending learning for older students. I have found that HOD has got everything covered that I could ever hope for
Lastly, if your goals for science are different, you can still use HOD's RtR and simply substitute a different science. I do encourage you, though, to give RtR's science a chance

Thank you so much! I was already leaning toward trying to Science in HOD, but perhaps I needed a little more encouragement! Honestly, when I think back to my science in 7th/8th grade, I can't even remember ANYTHING! Hopefully it will be different with my children! My son will be 13 in October, so I think he will fit nicely with Res. to Ref. I'm going to give the placement chart another look, though!

Thanks!

Blessmomof4,

Thank you for letting me know about the experiments in the science! That was one of my main concerns b/c my ds12 is all about experiments in science!!!

You are welcome! My oldest dd loves experiments too Carrie does a great job of including experiments that are easy enough for the children to actually do, but challenging enough to be interesting and teach valuable skills