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Hi Everyone,

As I look ahead to the next two years, I will have a sixth and eighth grader this coming September and a seventh and ninth grader (highschool - oh my!) the following. My plan currently is to use Rev to Rev for both next year (we are using RtR this year and loving it ). However, like others who have recently posted on the board, I vascillate between keeping the kids together or starting afresh with my older child for his first year of highschool as Carrie will have the geography guide ready at that point. It would be an "easier" fit as far as skills, credits and Julie mentioned even essay form assessments (CM style) possibly. I would feel that I needed to enhance the M2M guide (to be credit worthy) and that is what the extensions are for, I realize! My concern is that I don't use the extensions in a formal way now for my seventh grader, even though he is a great reader. I provide the extra titles for free reading for his enjoyment if he desires to read them. The RtR seems plenty rich for seventh grade as written for him!

I have never done Modern Times for world history with them and would feel bad about having my older son miss that era considering it would be by necessity covered in a much quicker fashion in the World History HOD guide that is to come. However, I know we are not supposed to be caught up on the history cycle but I am just wanting to provide a well-rounded education! What is a planner such as myself to do? You know we have to have this all figured out a couple of years in advance! But seriously, my decision for that first year of high school is important now because it will affect what I do with my older son for next year. BTW, he would be fine with a high school level guide skill wise. Is anyone else out there facing this dilemma? Thanks for thinking this through with me.

Blessings,
Rachael

Hi Rachael,

I think since your oldest will be in 9th, I think it would be a great time for him to begin to manage a guide independently, especially if skill-wise he places there. These are important skills to learn and develop, as he moves into young-adulthood. My hunch is this will also be a very affirming experience for him as a student and young man. Secondly, your oldest will have the opportunity to do all 4 high-school guides (correct?) and as a result he will experience a high-school version of MT his senior year.

In the meantime, I would continue on as you are for 8th grade - solidifying skills, enjoying the journey. If you feel the need to break him away before 9th - God will lead you!

Just my thoughts. (I'll have 2 sons coming along at the same stages.)

My initial response is the opposite of the pp. I am just going to keep going with my daughter. She is ready for REV to REV this year (her 9th). So we will use MTM for 10th, Geog. for 11th and World History for 12th. Especially if you are combining and all is going well, I would just keep going. You will only have to beef up one year anyway. There is no reason to juggle more guides than you need to. I was originally going to split some of mine up for the upcoming school year (I have even ordered some things.), but as my husband and I kept thinking about it, we came to the conclusion, "Why mess with what is working?" I know I am a better teacher and more patient with less guides. So we are sticking with what has been working.

Thank you, Florence and Melissa, for your replies. It was good to see it from two different perspectives and I carefully considered each one! I have thought about it some more and think I will stick with Rev to Rev for 8th for both and do a modern times year the following year. I have enjoyed keeping them together this year and "if it aint broke...." you know what they say. I think I will follow the assignment syllabus for a high school MT course that I have found (if it looks good) to help me beef up M2M for my 9th grader. I am actually in Canada and a modern history credit is required for my province for public school students and though we aren't required to follow their course sequence, colleges will relate to that on a transcript.

I appreciate this board so much and have learned so much from the postings on it. I check it daily and feel like I know you two ladies! Thanks again,

Rachael

Rachael,

A decision is a wonderful thing! God's abundant blessings to you this Easter Season.