heartofdakota.com

My daughter is a very advanced reader for her age and I want to make sure the optional books she reads are not way too simple for her, but I also want them to not have too mature of content. So, I am having a hard time deciding between The Deluxe and the Extension packages. She turns 9 in September and will be using PHFHG for 3rd grade, but she tested at a 6.8 grade reading level. I'd love your feedback. I also noticed that the plan book references the Deluxe books for the Independent History Study, and didn't know if there would be activities in the appendix with the schedule for the Extension package or if I would do the same activities, and the reading would just be different.
Thanks,
Nava Mama

You don't pick one or the other. You need the Deluxe package for the Independent History box. The extensions are additional readings for older children and the only activities suggested for those are one day an oral narration, one day written narration etc. You really don't need the extensions for a 9 year old, even one that is advanced in her reading. If she is new to HOD and Charlotte Mason style learning she may need time to adjust to this type of learning. How is her writing? In Preparing dc are learning how to do a good written narration as well as oral narration. This is very different than answering comprehension questions. Even advanced readers can struggle with it. I would just let her do the program without the extensions and if after a month or two she isn't challenged enough then you could add on the extensions.

That is very helpful feedback. We have done HOD since Kindergarten, so this will be our 4th year with it. However, I don't know why I got confused this year and hadn't understood that the Deluxe package was necessary and that the extension was not to be used in place of it, if it were selected--We purchased both last year. Good grief .

The extension books from BHFHG were definitely on my daughters reading level last year and she enjoyed reading them. However, I might just hold off on purchasing them and go with your suggestion of beginning with out them. We could always get them from the library if she wants more to read

Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Because of Jesus,
Nava Mama

Actually after looking at the website again, this is what confused me:


SELF-STUDY EXTENSION PACKAGE FOR OLDER STUDENTS $91.82 $78.20 (Save $13.62) [Add to Cart]
Adding this optional package to the Economy Package extends the area of history to include more advanced, independent reading material. This allows your 5th and 6th grade students to learn along with your younger students.

SELF-STUDY DELUXE HISTORY PACKAGE: FOR THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT READER Adding this package to the Economy Package provides daily independent reading assignments for your 3rd and 4th grade students in the area of history. Books correspond with the time period to enhance your child's study of history. The reading material is meant to be easy and short enough for the students to complete on their own. If you have a very advanced reader, you may want to use the Extension Package instead.

She is reading more advanced independent reading material right now and is not a newly independent reader. So, I guess I'm back to my original question. This does make it sound like we need to choose one or the other. and that "if we have a very advanced reader" we should use the extension package instead. I want her to be challenged.

I need to figure this out soon b/c I am ordering curriculum now. I would love it if Carrie would be able to weigh in on this too for me
Thanks,
Nava Mama

Ok I was going by the introduction in my Preparing manual. Go to this link http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-intro.pdf and scroll down to the independent history section and the extensions reading section. You can see that it says the Independent reading is supposed to be easy. It is more about the assignments that go along with it. She will miss those if you don't do this box. The one I know my ds would have been very sad to not do was the Draw and Write Through History book, however he liked all the books. My 10 year old did Preparing and he wasn't a newly independent reader either and we didn't do any of the extensions.

Once again, that information was really helpful. I read through it and am at peace now with going w/ the easier books. I want her to be able to enjoy reading and learning the history, and we can always get the extension if we decide to later. I'm sure as always, the scheduled independent activities are really good, and I want to make sure she has the opportunity to do those too.
Blessings!
Nava Mama

Both! If not she will miss...

DRAWING! Who would want to miss that? (Even if it's not her thing, learning to follow step by step directions is a useful skill.)

VISUALS! I did Preparing with Extensions with my advanced 6th grader this year. Many of the short books in the Independent History portion coordinated with Extension books, giving her visuals. For instance, Leif the Lucky helped her to visualize Viking ships when she read Beorn the Proud. William Shakespeare and the Globe gave her a visual foundation for when she read Shakespeare Stealer. Other topics, such as The Trojan Horse, are primarily addressed through the Independent History books. Well worth the investment to truly solidify your child's learning.

One caveat: I never let her read anything ahead, EXCEPT THE INDEPENDENT STUDY BOOKS. They were so short, that I often let her finish them in one sitting.

The Extension Package is intended to be for older students doing the Preparing program - 11-12 years old, 5th and 6th graders. Since your dd is 9, she will not need these books.

The Deluxe package is mentioned as optional because it is not necessary to complete the program but is recommended. This package of books is what the students use to complete the Independent History Study written into the program. My kids have really enjoyed this portion of their day and has helped them to grow into doing more of their work independently.