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My 12 year old daughter (my oldest) is presently in Preparing, with extensions and DITHOR 6/7/8.
In all honesty, I chose that because:
(1) this is our first year using Heart of Dakota
(2) I was pregnant with our 5th child, due in October
(3) I lovelovelove Charlotte Mason, but have struggled with narration, dictation, copywork, and how to balance it all
(4) I need MG to be able to work in a very independent fashion (see #2)

She's on Unit 10 and it's just.so.easy. The drawing, the science, the activities. She like HOD fine, but there is very little in the way of challenge. Like I said above, I intended that for our season, but now that she's in it, I feel really bad that she's doing...well, doing so little. Not that HOD is insufficient, but I placed her for the wrong reasons. (hangs head in shame)

So I have been thinking long about this, and have thought about moving to CTC....but think that maybe the next one up would be better. Has anyone had experience jumping from Preparing to ResToRef?

Sally,

Where does your sweetie land on Carrie's handy dandy placement chart? CTC takes you deeper in thinking skills, connections, discussion, etc. and you also begin the gorgeous notebook. I'd be loathe to miss a year of that if you intend to stay the course with HOD. Extensions provide more meat in the way of content and you can add some writing to that (refer to the appendix). You also add Write With the Best and so begin to stretch writing skills beyond copywork, narrations, and Rod & Staff's lessons. Your daughter may be past these skills though so I'll be listening in to what others have to say in this regard....

I vote for CTC+Extensions unless she places STRONGLY in RTR and you don't mind skipping the CTC time period. Mama knows best and while it's hard to make these decisions (oy! I am horrible with this....) you will find your way.

I currently have DD11 in the last 8 weeks of Preparing with extensions and have RtR for her when she is finished. When I placed her, I was trying to combine her with her younger sister and it just didn't work. I couldn't afford to get two new guides at the same time so chose to take DD9 down to BHFHG and she is succeeding there. DD11 has really enjoyed her year but I am noticing now that she is starting to drag the chain a little because it isn't quite challenging her enough, and she is advanced in many of her skills. I decided I would rather have her working where she doesn't need to do extensions, because I feel all the work will be at her level rather than just the extensions. I'm not convinced that she won't need the extensions but I'm hoping she won't. DD11 places between RtR and RevtoRev in skills so I thought we would just go with RtR.

Molly wrote:I currently have DD11 in the last 8 weeks of Preparing with extensions and have RtR for her when she is finished. When I placed her, I was trying to combine her with her younger sister and it just didn't work. I couldn't afford to get two new guides at the same time so chose to take DD9 down to BHFHG and she is succeeding there. DD11 has really enjoyed her year but I am noticing now that she is starting to drag the chain a little because it isn't quite challenging her enough, and she is advanced in many of her skills. I decided I would rather have her working where she doesn't need to do extensions, because I feel all the work will be at her level rather than just the extensions. I'm not convinced that she won't need the extensions but I'm hoping she won't. DD11 places between RtR and RevtoRev in skills so I thought we would just go with RtR.

Molly,

I am listening in eagerly as this topic interests me. How close to 12 is your DD? When you say she is advanced in her skills would you explain how or in what skills? I am interested in your perspective on having her work where she doesn't need to do extensions. I think this must be because the work in the guide itself is more on level. I am leaning toward this with my oldest; CTC's guide work is a better fit and while I love the extension reading in Preparing I'm not sure it's allowing him to work in the skill areas he needs to. Maybe some of your thoughts will help Sally as she's trying to place her daughter in the right guide.

Sally,
Congratulations on your new little bundle. You are a blessed Momma. I have had older kiddos and a newborn and took some time off from school to adjust to a new bundle. I don't think that you need to feel bad for your decision that was for a season. It is wonderful that you took into consideration what you could handle. If you made the day too hard it wouldn't get done.
I had my dd learn homemaking, childcare, and study skills when they were that age and had a newborn in the house. School isn't only about academics but the skills needed to live too. Since this was a class I did grade their skills, attitude, and performance in childcare, homemaking, and study skills.
You stated that narration, dictation, and copywork need to be balanced. I would suggest that you not skip so many guides. I would suggest that you get CTC guide so that you have the appropriate level of dictation, and Rod & Staff (are you doing this?). It is recommended to complete Rod & Staff 6 by 8th grade. Is she on track to complete that level? Is dd doing the extensions and the assignments which include oral narration and written narration? She is in the age range of extensions. I would think you would want to add some composition such as Ignite Your Writing as this is suggested in DITHOR if you aren't doing another writing program.
I love science so we have always done extra science in our school. You could add Apologia books not used in other levels like (Botany, Swimming Creatures, or Flying Creatures) and add to science or just completely switch to that using the same format Day 1)Notebook entry Day 2) Oral Narration
Day 3)Questions Day 4)Lab. Another option would be to use the Option 2 from RTR Science (God's Design Our Weather and Water Teacher Supplement and Student book) to add to the remaining science.
I hope that something here is helpful. I just know that you are a very considerate teacher and your kiddos are thriving. I wouldn't want the workload to become so difficult that your dd requires more help when she is at the age when the desire is to have more independence. Praying for you as you seek HIM.
Tammy wife of 23 years
DD-20 DITHOR 2/3, 4/5, 6/7/8
DD-19 DITHOR 2/3, 4/5, 6/7/8
DS-10 (LHFHG, BLHFHG, BIGGER, Preparing, CTC)
DD-6 (LHTH, LHFHG)
Keeping it Real

abrightmom wrote: Molly,

I am listening in eagerly as this topic interests me. How close to 12 is your DD? When you say she is advanced in her skills would you explain how or in what skills? I am interested in your perspective on having her work where she doesn't need to do extensions. I think this must be because the work in the guide itself is more on level. I am leaning toward this with my oldest; CTC's guide work is a better fit and while I love the extension reading in Preparing I'm not sure it's allowing him to work in the skill areas he needs to. Maybe some of your thoughts will help Sally as she's trying to place her daughter in the right guide.

My daughter is 12 at the end of April, so will be almost there when we are finished. I hoping she will be done mid March providing we do not have any further interruptions. She will be halfway through R&S5 for grammar, has almost completed the entire IEW course though our homeschool group we attend and has a very advanced reading level. She thinks at quite a high level too. She is also a child that needs to be challenged or she won't work at her potential. I guess what you are saying about not working in the skill areas they need to work on, I think that is probably where I'm at. I am sad to think she won't have a complete notebook of the four guides, CtC to MtMM but I'm trusting God has placed it on my heart to move her to RtR because it is the right thing to do for her.

I would look closely at the placement chart and I would especially think about reading comprehension and ability to write narrations and to physically handle a larger amount of writing. CTC is a big jump up from Preparing, in fact in the guides we have done it is the biggest jump from one guide to another. The reading level of the history spines is significantly higher than any book in Preparing. There is quite a bit more writing required in CTC also. Then when you go from CTC to RTR I felt like there isn't much of a jump in reading comprehension, but the writing requirements took another jump. Also there is higher level thinking in RTR. If you do jump up to RTR be ready for a longer day just due to the amount of work, plus the fact that you skipped some of the training that occurs in CTC.

Ladies, you have given me much to consider! What a wonderful place this is, that there are mothers who can speak openly their questions and get truthful, thoughtful answers. I appreciate this board and its members so much!
Tammy, I read your reply this morning, and it hasn't left my mind all day. You address "the other part of homeschooling" as I think of it in my mind, the LIFE part. Your idea to turn the baby break into an opportunity is so great! I had been strongly considering making homeskills take more of a role in our day as the birth day of our new one (she's three months old! I can't believe it!)got closer, and am so thankful for what teeny tiny "training" I did. I had been considering making a homemaking binder (or something similar) for/with my 2 girls (8 and 12) but to formalize a bit is not something that crossed my mind. I would like to hear more!