heartofdakota.com

My name is Brenda and I have 4 blessings ds8, dd6, ds3, and dd 10 months old. My first 3 children are all fall birthdays, just for info on placement. My first born I call a third grader, but our school system sees him as a second grader and my dd is a kindergartner this year. My 8 year old ds has completed MFWK, 1st, Adv, and ECC as well as read most of Core K, 1, and 2 from another company for enjoyment. He is completing CLPs reading, science, language arts, and math. He will have completed their 4th grade reading and language arts by the end of this summer. He can write well, and spell almost anything, but I haven't worked on narration much. I think he will do find that easy to do since he can tell me detailed summaries of the books he reads. My 6 year old dd has completed MFWK and is completing CLPs learning to read program. She has also completed the earlybird mathematics books as well as Horizons K first book; she began completing CLPs math this semester and is doing well. She has a more difficult time telling me about books I read to her; we have completed P4/5 with her for readalouds. So I am thinking of doing Preparing next fall with ds and completing LHFHG this spring and summer with DD and Beyond next fall with her. I may even begin LHTH with my 3 year old. Please let me know what you think of my plan. Thank you for your time and advice.

That sounds like a reasonable plan. It sounds like your oldest ds is pretty advanced academically for his age so Preparing sounds like it might be a great starting point. You probably wouldn't have to rush to get through LHFHG with your dd. She probably would still enjoy it next fall and you can always increase the language arts and math to her level. Have you taken a look at the placement chart http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php to see where they both fall? That is a great place to start to see which program to use.

Thank you for your advice. I have looked at the placement chart and feel she would fit great next fall into Beyond, but didn't want to miss out on the previous guide either. We have decided to school year around, but take time off with new babies as we have them. I thought both of my oldest ones would enjoy listening to LHFHG. My oldest is very intelligent, but is still sweet and loves to listen into the youngers readalouds. So I was thinking of allowing him to join in this semester and summer since we finished ECC. He is also doing CLPs science so I thought it would be light for both of them. I thought I would even try to get my toddler to listen in and do activities. All of my children love to be read to and I didn't want to spend this whole semester and summer without a guide. During the summer we will not be doing math or language arts, just reading and LHFHG. I am so excited about starting this fall, but didn't want to wait! Thank you again.

Brenda,

Welcome to the HOD Board! We're happy to have you here. You've already received great advice, and it sounds like you have a good plan forming. I would encourage you to also consider adding DITHR to your line-up for your son.

If you get a chance to share the titles of a few chapter books he's reading on his own right now that would help us advise you better on DITHR placement and also on making sure he can handle the 'I' (independent) boxes in Preparing.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,

We are currently completing CLPs reading program, but have considered DITHOR for the next program. He has read the entire Bible for enjoyment twice and really understands most of what he reads. He has also completed CHOW and recently read Pasteurs fight against microbes. I know Preparing uses those books, but it will use them differently. He has read all of Core 1 and 2 readalouds and readers from another company, but other than CLP I have just let him read all he wants. He began reading when he turned two and was reading anything he can get his hands on since. He tested out of the eighth grade level reading at 5, but I still desire to teach him certain skills that help dig deeper into a book. His retention really is amazing. So far my plan is for him to finish the CLP program all the way through, then spend a year using DITHOR to practice all genres. Does this sound doable? Thank you!

Praise the Lord,
Brenda

Brenda,

It does sound like from what you've shared that Preparing will be a good fit reading-wise for your oldest child. As far as DITHR goes, if you began it now you could lean toward DITHR Level 2/3 Student Book (for the written work and independence level to be right) and the Level 4/5 or 5/6 Boy Pack for the reading level to be appropriate. If you waited to begin DITHR later, then the 4/5 Student Book would be better at that point in time.

Since your son will be 9, I'd still lean toward the Deluxe Package books with Preparing, even though it sounds like he could read the Extension books. The reason I lean toward the Deluxe Package is that these books go with the Independent History Box and the skill of the student reading and following written directions is taught in that box.

Also, depending on what he has had in the past for formal grammar instruction, I would typically lean toward having your son do English 3 (as we recommend Rod and Staff one level behind to allow for the rigor in content when combined with the writing across the curriculum we do in the HOD guides). If you have followed a rigorous grammar path previously, you could do English 4 instead. Both English 3 and English 4 are scheduled in Preparing.

Blessings,
Carrie