First day of CTC...questions

[Mom2Monkeys]

We just had an awesome first day! Daughter loves it and asked for more science dealing with the animal classification. She LOVED it. She said there's gotta be something that goes deeper b/c that was just too shallow for her! Land Animals isn't shallow, but it just whet her appetite and she wants MORE. LOL She found the Story of the Ancient World an easy read and loved it. First day back to school after long break and she completed every single box under the alloted time (per Carrie's times). Her schedule flows nicely. She had no issues with dawdling (she had issues not paying attention to the track What in the World? was playing b/c she went 5 tracks too far and was hooked...only box that went over time!)

So this is the catch....this is supposed to be the harder readings, the harder part of CTC...and this was our first day and I expected we'd have to ease into it. I've heard so many saying how much time CTC takes and how they can't complete a day in a day but I just did a half day with a kid in Bigger, ran errands, chased around a 2yo, did extra reading with the 8yo in Bigger (he loves CLP Nature Reader), and got my 5yo to and from play school, plus lunch out with 2 of my boys. I'm worried if I underestimated her again.... she's almost 11 and an avid reader and going to 6th gr. She placed in RTR except written narrations. I though the workload of CTC would be too much and she's asking for more. Already have extensions but don't' want her doing the written narrations with them b/c I wanted her to use the guided ones in CTC. And it's night time reading and I'm not sure it's more reading books she needs, but maybe deeper and more challenging? ??

If the first day is this easy and we aren't having to ease in at all whatsoever and we couldn't possibly shave anymore time off surely since it is already going by so easily, is it actually going to get harder in this level instead of the other levels that get easier and shorter? If we go shorter we'll be at about 3-3.5 hrs for 6th grade. I don't think that's enough! Plus 20m at night of extensions. I'm adding Latin back in most likely since she obviously has time for it. What would you do? I've gotten thoughts from one mom so far elsewhere, but would love to hear more. Especially Carrie or Julie. Have I placed her too low? She's always floundered with HOD stuff except grammar/math and gives up so quickly and I'm finding she needs to be given more challenge...and I've found that she is capable and I've been underestimating her but didn't want to miss CTC or go to high....was placing in RTR except written history narrations still a good indicator I should have started her there.

She's in Math Mammoth 5, almost ready for R&S 5, starting DITHOR 6/7/8 with 6/7 books but could do some of the 7/8 but want to save them for 7th, reads the extensions for fun and easily, and her oral narrations and great. Her GUIDED written narrations are awesome but she doesn't have them down without any guidance at all (can't just write one if told "write a narration"), she can write really well creatively but will still learn from WWTB obviously, and is half way through dictation 4 but could be higher. She gets them all right every time except capitals catch her more than they should I don't want to underestimate her...she's gifted...very intelligent. She suffered the few weeks she was in public school b/c she couldn't stay on track or behave b/c she was smart and bored....now she can't stay on task at homeschool or behave and guess what...same reason. She wasn't challenged today but it was much better than Preparing for her. She was much more drawn in at this level. She begged for RTR though I chickened out.

Now I'm rambling outloud....and I can type faster now that I'm on the PC instead of the phone. lol. I'll not bore you with anymore right now.

[LynnH]

Here are just a few thoughts. My ds didn't struggle at first with The Story of the Ancient World because it was familiar stories to him due to it being bible stories he knew. He struggled more with it towards the middle when it wasn't as familiar and he had to do a written narration on the readings. I feel he was perfectly placed and he had done Preparing and he never struggled to finish a day. He took about 4 hours, sometimes longer on days when he did Write with the Best. I didn't have to ease him into it either. He just took off with it. He was 11 when he did it. The Science also gets a little longer as you get past the beginning information. Also on days you do the watercolor paintings that can take up some time. I really don't think you can make an accurate assessment on if it is going to be too easy until she has done at least 2 weeks. If she isn't comfortable with unguided written narrations RTR might be a little frustrating. The history narrations are long and unguided. They also are over 15-20 pages of reading at times, which makes it more challenging. The Science narrations are shorter and are guided, but it still amounts to 2 written narrations a week.

[deltagal]

I agree with the pp. I would work "the plan" for a bit before you make any adjustments.

[3sweeties]

I agree with the others...we started Unit 15 today and the amount of writing definitely steps up by then! Some days definitely require more for my DS and I can tell it challenges him fully...he is an advanced learner and reader, great writer and speller.

He LOVED the Apologia Land Animals book...more than I thought he would! He was always coming to me and saying, "Mom, did you know...?" And, I usually didn't "know" whatever he was telling me about!! He has also enjoyed Story of the Ancient World and is almost done with it. I would get a good 2-4 weeks in and then assess how she is doing with it...hope that helps!

[Mom2Monkeys]

thanks to all three of you. I'm not ready to jump ship on the first day...but after placing.her with RTR first and.then.stepping back to CTC it did stir up a little panic.in me that id perhaps placed her too low. I.needed.to hear.the challenge increases in due time. We really enjoyed the Genesis study and her summary narration was better than I expected.

I don't.think she's so much incapable or uncomfortable with written narrations as she is just used to guidance. The science narrations.in RTR were perfect for her.the grammar level fit and the reading length and level wasn't concern. I actually went with CTC for two reasons...maybe three. I've been.looming.forward to it for four years now I think?! We started HOD in2nd with beyond and should be completing CTC right now...not starting it. life happens and I'm just thrilled.to be using it now! 2nd bc the written narrations. 3rd bc I thought her day would drag on and on. I'm really pleased with her buy tomorrow is painting.we shall see how my creative dawdler child does withthat. I intentionally scheduled poetry last and followed it with a block offers time that she can choose.to use.or choose to take her time on painting.

I feel better hearing your input about the level changing ajd these.familiar stories makimg it easier. makes sense. I had the "just in case" questions running.through my mind.in a few more units if we've fine.down to steadily 3hrs, I may have to add something. Latin or Spanish or logic books or something. more chores! perfect!


I'm sorry.....phone.typing. obviously.

[netpea]

I had a somewhat similar experience today. We started Preparing Hearts today with my 9yo and it seemed like not enough for her either but I looked ahead in the manual and realized that it is building up and will be more involved soon. For a moment there I thought perhaps we should go straight from Bigger to CTC but I am sure Preparing is where she should be.

I would agree with the pp's that it will take you a couple of weeks to determine if she is properly placed. Hope your week goes well.