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We did our first year of homeschooling last year- it went pretty well. My biggest lesson I learned is that I have to say no to others to be the best teacher for my kids! (and that is hard- especially when it's ministry related)


My question is about my dd who is 9 (birthday in April) and is going into 4th grade.She did fine with Bigger last year, definitely needed extension packs, also did 4th grade english (as a 3rd grader) and needed harder dictation ( I looked up harder levels online) , she is on grade level when it comes to math, she is a very independent worker but does enjoy me working with her at times (not always the case though!)

I just wondered if we should skip preparing and go on to creation based on this information?? I would love some advice and input!

Thanks in advanced!

Gearing up for year 2 with my 4 kiddos,
Carrie

The jump from Preparing to CTC is big, I can't imagine going from Bigger to CTC. Did your dd do written narrations with the extensions in Bigger? How are her writing skills? Preparing just seems like such a key guide to me. It is the base for all the upper level guides. It teaches the skills of written narration, they take over the science readings, and begin more formal writing instruction. It also is the guide that seems to lay the foundation for much of the history study that follows. My ds still draws on things he learned in Preparing as he moves up in the guides and studies things more in depth.

I would definitely say no. I have an academically advanced son who did Preparing last year as a 3rd grader. While he *can* do the work in CTC this year, I am half speeding him to give him another year. Even though that means uncombining my children. Although he can do the work, now that I've looked on CTC having received my order, I can definitely say he'll get more out of it next year. Preparing is really great too! You don't want to miss it.

Definitely don't skip Preparing. It is awesome! If your daughter is advanced, supplement.

I would encourage you to do Preparing also. It was a wonderful year and really helped my dc learn a lot of independence in their work as well as get a marvelous overview of history. I think they now have a wonderful framework to go back and fill in the details of history over the next 4 years. The step by step instruction in how to do written narrations was fantastic also. The step up in work load from Bigger to Preparing is really large. We haven't started CTC yet so I can't say what the step up is there yet, but I'm sure it is going to be much more challenging and more work than Preparing was. So I think the jump from BIgger to CTC would be really huge. It might be a bit overwhelming for your dd to go from Bigger to CTC. If you feel you do need to up the workload at all, I would highly recommend the extension readings. They are wonderful books! My dc enjoyed reading quite a few of those. They really complement the history. I personally really enjoyed Preparing and learned so much. I wouldn't have wanted to miss it!

Another vote for Preparing . It's a great 4th grade year. You could use extensions again, if you need to add those in as you go, but I think it's plenty for a 4th grader.

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your quick responses! Looking forward to Preparing!

Carrie

I am so sorry to just be seeing this TNT - I don't know how I missed it! But, the ladies gave sound advice here that I will second. I think PHFHG is such an amazing guide, I'd not want you and your dd to miss it. It is just key in training dc for success for the independence in CTC. I will say, you could always school 5 days a week and finish PHFHG early, then beginning CTC after that, if you are wanting to start CTC at some point this school year. But, there really is no need for that push, as dd fits in the age range for PHFHG, and the areas you mentioned she is advanced in can be easily accommodated. HTH - I think you will thoroughly enjoy PHFHG!

In Christ,
Julie