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Placement Questions

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:35 am
by jkhamell
Hi,

I am homeschooling my 5 girls ages 13.5(8th grade fall), 11.5(6th grade fall), 9.5(4th grade fall - dyslexic - just below grade level language arts and math skills, but rising steadily), 7(just turned- 1st grade in fall), and finally 3.5(pre-schooler - ready for a few activities in the fall) This completed our 3rd year homeschooling. While I have a M. Ed. and teaching experience in 1st and 2nd grade I have not been able to develop a balanced homeschool plan for our family. I'm a great implementer and have a good sense of what kids need to learn a topic! But after looking over great resources I struggle to put it all together in a balanced way. HOD looks like it does just that, in fact if I was a talented writer it is how I would write it. I was determined to have my students studying the same history and science track (to make my life simpler) It really hasn't. Too much work and not enough learning retention in my opinion. Also, what is great for olders is terrible for youngers. A few things work together like a great read aloud and great poetry even an art project. Anyway, I have become my worst nightmare: curriculum hopping and looking for the next best thing (history especially - mostly because I thought all should study same).

Don't get me wrong we have stuck with a few things that have really worked for us. I think this is important for you to know so you can advise us: SIngapore math, Write Shop Writing, All About Spelling, Elemental Science Biology (2 levels and 2 different assignments worked great), monthly read aloud for library book club, poetry study. My oldest has used Center for Lit. middle school on line discussion class (super).


Brings me back to Heart of Dakota. Here is what I really like: Short lessons in each subject - completely planned - there is flexibility- but all in all planned. No assignment seems overkill and it is broken down into bite sized chunks. The older kids even read their own guide and it is coded Independent, semi independent, with mom. It provides a balance of all subjects. It is completely Christ centered. Am I reading too much into this or is this really how it is day to day? I love that I may be able to give up my 2 hour every Sunday dig through books and curriculum manuals to write lesson plans for each student.

Placement Chart:
7yr. old would be at Beyond Little Hearts: She is easily reading emergent readers for first half of year (some we have already read- reads Magic Treehouse easily) She could easily do this curriculum - but the first week writing assignments seem exactly right for her, she still doesn't love independent writing would rather copy still. This independent writing is just emerging. I think we are ahead in spelling - but she has had no intro to grammar at all - periods, capital letters still need a lot of support. We are 1/2 way through Singapore 1A. (She seems like she might be able to do Bigger Hearts, but when I look ahead to Preparing it seems like it would be a long wayfrom now to that first week. But maybe.)

9.5 year old seems like she falls into Bigger Hearts but maybe Preparing. She reads easily the level 3 DITHOR. Writes full stories - but struggles with grammar - has had little formal instruction. She is able to easily write 3-5 sentence narrations for Science and Social Studies. We are starting Singapore 3 A. But she struggles with some basics that I think the earlier level would address. She does work independently now following an assignment sheet and completes it well.

11.5 and 13.5 would do the same level Revival to Revolutions. I would add extensions for 13.5 They each did one 10 week cycle of Analytical Grammar two years ago. Junior and 1st cycle of regular. It wasn't for us. But they did learn a lot and retained quite a bit. Not sure where that would place them in Rod and Staff. Both are good writers with exposure narrative, exository, persuassive, summaries etc. We have used Write Shop this year. Great readers with experience talking about elements of literature and reflecting in a reading log.

Am I crazy to use 3 guides? Technically 4 because I will have lessons for 3.5 year old doing 30 minutes per day. Or in all will this be easier??? Teach everyone's school at their level - no worry about boring the olders or the youngers for that matter. Is it possible to combine 7 year old and 9.5 year old or will I do so holding back 9.5 year old and pushing 7 year old too much. This was the feeling I had with their science this year. 9.5 year old got bored waiting for 7 year old to finish her step to go on to the next step together. However, I can adjust for 7 year old if you think she is ready and extend for the 9.5 year old. And this would keep them in 1 guide. Having not seen how the whole year plays out I just can't decide what the right decision is.

I have been too history focused - and accomplishing very little. I read a post about not letting the history topics drive our curriculum choices but let the basics. I think this is really true.

I just want to get off this hours of planning every sunday track I'm on. I want the kids to remember what we learn and I want to feel organized on a clear path. I also just want to use a few books well.

Thanks for your insights. Let me know what else you may need to know to help me place our kids.

Kim

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:40 pm
by mom23
Welcome to HOD :) Yes, it really is like that each and every day! :D You will soon have 2 extra hours every Sunday afternoon 8) .

I'll do my best to jump in with my take on some of this, but I don't know the older guides at all so someone else will have to jump in with help on your older two. I think that you're really develping a good plan. Beyond sounds like a really good fit for your 7 yo. I do think that trying to push her into Bigger with her older sister would be too much. It actually is much easier to place the children at their own level than it is to try too hard to combine them if they're not at the same place. Like you said, your older one is frustrated/bored from waiting for the younger to catch up and the younger is frustrated because it's too challenging and just not fun! If you've looked at the first week of Beyond and it looks just right I'd say that it probably is a perfect place to start. Bigger would be really, really advanced for 1st grade, imo.

The 9.5 yo is where I'm not sure. I think you can adjust her level of R&S grammar to fit without compromising the rest of the program. Same with DITHOR and math. The things that might lean me toward Preparing are that she is writing full stories, easily writing short narrations, and used to working independently and completing things successfully. I know the general advice is when you're not sure to go with the younger guide-that would indicate Bigger...What were the specific basics you were hoping to solidify with Bigger?

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:55 pm
by jkhamell
Thanks for your help with Beyond.

I know what you mean about Preparing. She is dyslexic and when she writes she still struggles with leaving words out and some grammatical sentence structure that is typical with dyslexic kids. When I read it back to her she hears it - but her creative side is flying and her editor is usually half asleep when she is working. So, I'm wondering if a slower pace in language arts would help her. And less challenge. But I really don't know what skills are covered in the guide that I'm trying to solidfy.

Skills I think she should have or be developing:
Paragraphing
All words in her sentences (Dictation probably helps with this)
Order within her sentences all the time and then her groups of sentences in a good order. Often leaves out important details. (Dictation probably helps again)
Use of commas (series)
Abbreviations (Mr. Mrs.)
She doesn not write cursive fluently. (I don't know if this would help her or not - with the dyslexia it seems like a whole new code to learn - I'll have to ask someone)

I'm worried that Bigger might not be enough for her. I also think I've held her up a little as we have worked through some dyslexia things and keeping her with her sister too much. She may be capable of more with me using a curriculum that organizes the progression for me - so we don't get off course.

I'll be interested to see what you and others have to say about her being in Bigger or Preparing. I just feel like she is in the middle. I will look at the chart again too.

Thanks,
Kim

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:50 pm
by raceNzanesmom
If you don't mind doing Bigger again next year with your 2nd grader, I think I'd do it with your 9 y/o now. She's gaining ground and there's no reason to make it a struggle now. Let her be successful. I'll be using Bigger in the fall, have read through it, and it looks so good. Preparing looks great, and I am excited to get to it, but I don't want to rush it. I think students get so much more out of it when they totally "get" what they're doing.

And, yes, HOD really does take away that 2 hours of planning on Sundays. My planning during the school year consist of things like- make sure I still have wax paper in the cupboard, or green paper in the paper bin. After doing all my own planning for 5.5 years I am ever so thankful to have found HOD for our youngest. :D

Welcome!

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:34 am
by my3sons
Welcome to the board, Kim! :D I think you have had a light bulb moment with the history cycle, and I want to thank you for sharing your experience with that here. I am not sure how the history cycle has hopped in the driver's seat for so many that are homeschooling, as it truly is just one subject area to consider, and the tweaking trying to combine so many different abilities and ages together in one guide can really amount to can result in a lot of undue stress for both the mom and the dc. Come on over to HOD - I think you are going to LOVE it!!! :D

Thanks for sharing about each of your dc here! HOD is not a one size fits all kind of program - it is written so it can be customized for each family. I would agree that your 7 yo fits nicely in Beyond, and I think you are really going to enjoy it! Thanks for sharing the writing skills you are wanting your 9.5 yo to improve upon. That list, along with your description of her easily writing written narrations of 3-5 sentences in science and history, her ability to follow directions well and work independently, her placing in DITHOR Level 3 and Math 3A/3B, all leads me to think she would thrive with PHFHG. :D She'll do fine with R & S English 3 - just do 2/3 of it orally with her, and reserve only one small section for her to write in a notebook. For your older 2 dc, they sound well placed together in RevtoRev. For R & S English, your 13.5 yo can do R & S English 6 as planned in RevtoRev. Your 11.5 yo can do R & English 4, or 5 if you really want to challenge her. HOD has a goal for students to complete R & S English 6 by the end of Grade 8, as R & S English 7 and 8 are high school credit worthy. HTH - but what do you think? :D

I loved what Angie said so well here...
And, yes, HOD really does take away that 2 hours of planning on Sundays. My planning during the school year consist of things like- make sure I still have wax paper in the cupboard, or green paper in the paper bin. After doing all my own planning for 5.5 years I am ever so thankful to have found HOD for our youngest.

I could not agree more - I think you will find like Angie and I have - that HOD (even 3-4 guides of HOD) is so much easier and enjoyable to do! :D :D :D

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:48 pm
by mom23
I'm glad that Julie chimed in with that. I was really thinking Preparing, but she would know for sure! It's going to give you a great chance to work on all these things that you'd like to improve and solidify-with more writing opportunities than Bigger. R&S 3 does address lots of these things, and as you do lots of it orally with her you'll be able to know how well she's grasping it.

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:57 am
by jkhamell
Thank you for your help.

I think I have placement figured out, now I will just need help figuring out what to buy so I have enough copies of everything for the two combined. I think to save money I will try using the library for story time and DITHOR books. However, I know from expereience and library fines ordering the core books will make teaching smoother and make it keep moving!!! Any helpful hints here would be great.

13.5 & 11.5 Rev. to Rev
9.5: Preparing
7: Beyond
3.5: Little hands (can I use this two years???)

I posted some writing scope and sequence questions on the main board and a math placement question there too.

In our state our students must write a persuassive and narrative for the 7th grade writing assessement (homeschoolers are not required to take this - but I like to see my kiddos with some of the same skills as their peers) How does the scope and sequence of the language arts support devlopment towards this? I want my kids to be able support their opinions orally and in writing. I am not hugely familiar with narration, dicatation, and Charlotte Mason methods in this area and how they work together to develop writers who are firstly good written communicators with organized thoughts, well developed and supported opinions, and creative expression. Any links or thoughts to help me clarify my understanding would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Kim

Re: Placement Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:59 am
by my3sons
jkhamell wrote:...In our state our students must write a persuassive and narrative for the 7th grade writing assessement (homeschoolers are not required to take this - but I like to see my kiddos with some of the same skills as their peers) How does the scope and sequence of the language arts support devlopment towards this? I want my kids to be able support their opinions orally and in writing. I am not hugely familiar with narration, dicatation, and Charlotte Mason methods in this area and how they work together to develop writers who are firstly good written communicators with organized thoughts, well developed and supported opinions, and creative expression. Any links or thoughts to help me clarify my understanding would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Kim
HI Kim! :D Here are some great links that should hopefully help you out with your good questions!

Progression of Writing Through the Guides:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8731&p=64455

Carrie explains CM Dictation:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5661
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5186
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=925

Philosophy Behind Narration Skills:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8918

Narration Discussion and Examples:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8118&p=60893#p60893

HTH - happy reading! :D
In Christ,
Julie