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I'm having trouble figuring out where to start my ds with HOD for 6th grade next year. He was in the public school through 3rd grade. We began homeschooling in 4th grade and used a traditional Christian school curriculum. For 5th grade we adopted an eclectic approach using several different curricula which is too disjointed for me and tends to take a lot of time. I've also noticed that I spend so much time fretting about how to put together a complete curriculum that it's hindering my relationship with the LORD (have you ever gotten up in the middle of a quiet time to get a homeschool catalog?! Pitiful, I know!) I certainly don't want homeschooling to become an idol! Reading through the placement chart for HOD it looks like he would fit the best, but not in every area, into the Resurrection to Reformation. In the public school he would qualify for the gifted program but he gets stressed when challenged to a great degree, so I don't mind moving him down a peg if he's more receptive that way. My main concern is that we have no experience with the CM approach and jumping into HOD at the middle school level, he may not be adequately prepared for things like narration, dictation. Recently I asked him to narrate back to me ("tell me five things you learned") from what we have read and he seems totally stumped. Also dictation has not been a part of the curricula we have used and we've spent 2 years trying to learn cursive since the public school didn't teach it. It's still a struggle for him. My other concern is that if we use RTR he will totally miss the ancient history portion which he (and I) know very little about! Do you think it would be better to drop back down to the Creation to Christ and maybe use the extensions for 6th graders? Or should we get him "on track" with the RTR? As far as grammar, he seems to grasp it easily and knows his parts of speech (has done Latin for 2 years which seems to have helped with that). I think I could start him with the Rod and Staff 5. Writing is a struggle but we've had good success with IEW this year. It's not that he can't write, he just needs lots of instruction on how to do it. Once he gets going, his work seems excellent! I can't give him a blank sheet of paper and a topic and expect him to take off writing. Write in a journal?- forget it!! The fact that RTR uses the IEW makes it appealing since he is doing well with that. I looked at the Singapore math placement tests and I fear it may be too late to start that in 6th grade! We'd probably have to backtrack too far to catch up so I guess I'll stick with the Saxon/DIVE we are using (tedious but I don't know of anything better). He has a strong science background so I think the CTC science might be a little slow for him - maybe another reason to start with the RTR instead (I assume it's more advanced). I'd appreciate any input on suggestions for him. He seems to fit a little into one and a little into the other. I'm excited about HOD for next year! Sorry this is so long!!

Generally if a child fits in between two guides it is recommended that the lower guide be used. Given you are brand new to CM and HOD, I would definitely suggest CTC for your son. You will have a busy year transitioning and learning skills (like narration) and I think you will find it will keep him challenged enough. You might get started and see how it is going and then add the extensions if you feel he can handle it. I would really use this year to concentrate on catching up some skills so he will be ready for RtR and Rev to Rev because the guides continue to build skills. I don't think I would worry about science. HOD has a neat approach to science and there is so much more to it than what appears at first glance. Welcome to HOD! I know you will enjoy it.

Thanks! That is so helpful. I really appreciate your input!

Our stories are almost identical and I have been instructed by Carrie and Julie both to start my 13 year old 7th grader in CTC doing Rod and staff 5. We too are sticking with our saxon which Carrie's husband says it difficult to make the transition to Singapore this late in the game sometimes and he does fine with saxon. Your day may be just a bit longer since saxon generally takes longer. As far as the science in CTC, Carrie or Julie recommended we do the science but also do the Biology DVDs on Friday. I cant remember what they are called. If you read the post a few pages back titled placing a 13 year old or something to that effect you can read the recommendations they gave me. This group is great and be patient and you will get more responses to this post. It might take a week or so but everyone is great. You can also call them and they can help you over the phone.
Hope this helps,
Raylene

That really encourages me to hear that your situation is so similar! I'll definitely check out the post about the Bio DVDs. I appreciate all your words of advice and encouragement!

I agree. Just from all my reading, I think CtC is a great place to start.

I think CTC is a great place to start as well. Also Carrie and Julie are amazingly helpful! Each year at the home-school conference I attend I seek them out for questions I have. They are so gracious and patient and very knowledgeable!! They also are great over the phone. I also have a soon to be 6th grader and we will be using CTC with extensions. Narration and written narrations just take time, it is a great skill to have, so don't be discouraged it at first it seems frustrating. It will get better!! HOD is so wonderful with academics and most importantly helping your child to build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!! We love it!

Glad to hear you all agree on CTC as a good place to start!