English in CTC?

[John'smom]

I'm getting excited about CTC for next year, so I printed off the Introduction and 1st week of plans. R&S is only planned 2 days/week. Just wondering if anyone has had any issues with your dc forgetting things with English only being 2 days/week. My dd seems like she struggles with the English now and we are doing it 4 days/week. Would just love to hear some reassurance.

Edited to add:Also just wondering if anyone has had any problems when reporting for the school year saying you are only doing 1/2 of the book?

[Rachel]

My ds will be in CTC next year as well. I just have a thought about doing R&S only 2 days a week- if you have time during the school day and are concerned about retention, maybe you could spread each lesson out over 2 days. For instance, on day 1 read the lesson and do oral review. On day 2 do some of the written part orally and one part written out. That way you are covering grammar skills every day, but for shorter periods of time. If this makes the creative writing days too long, I wonder if those lessons could also be spread out over the 4 days and broken into shorter parts? I have never used WWTB yet, so just a thought.

[LynnH]

What you have to remember is that Write with the Best includes grammar, so you are doing grammar more than 2x's a week. Write with the Best just presents it more in an application form.

[John'smom]

What you have to remember is that Write with the Best includes grammar, so you are doing grammar more than 2x's a week. Write with the Best just presents it more in an application form.

I was not aware of this, Lynn. Thanks for info.

Lynn, you are in Ohio like me. Have you had any issues reporting only doing 1/2 of the textbook?

[my3sons]

I'm not from OH, but I would think you could just list from the Table of Contents all of the skills covered in the first half of R & S English 4. I think they'd be blown away! As far as retention, it hasn't been a concern with Riley as he is doing R & S English 4 two days a week in CTC, but I don't expect 100% as he's only 9 turning 10 yo. As LynnH mentioned, WWTB works on grammar as well, though in a different way. R & S English is so far ahead of the game, I don't think anyone using it has need for concern. I taught third/fourth grades in ps for 7 years, and we never came close to covering grammar like R & S does. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[LynnH]

Edwena, if you are talking about the list I send at the beginning of the year as far as what subjects I will be covering and what I am using to cover those I don't even list the level of Rod and Staff I am using. I just say Rod and Staff Grammar. Remember that list is for informational purposes only. They aren't supposed to even comment on it. Now if you are talking about the portfolio review at the end of the year instead of testing then I am not sure, but I still don't think it would matter. What they sign off on is saying that the dc is performing up to his potential. I know many people in Ohio who are more unschoolers or who don't use textbook and they have not had any problems.

[John'smom]

Julie and Lynn, both of your responses were a BIG help. Thanks so much.

[mom23]

Okay, I didn't realize that WWTB was sceduled on the other 2 days, covering grammar as well. My dd will be in CTC for 6th grade next year, but only ready to begin R&S level 4. My plan was to continue R&S every day through these next couple of years so that we could cover levels 4, 5, 6 by the end of 8th grade and be ready for the last two books spread out over 4 yrs of high school. However, if these guides are covering grammar in other areas on the "off" days, I don't want to double her up and pile too much on. Grammar is not something she would enjoy double the workload of, kwim? So, what should I plan to do? Is it okay to follow the CTC schedule and stay behind in our books? Or do I need to find some way to make it through the next 3 books in 3 years?

[my3sons]

Hi mom23 - is there any chance you could do just grammar on the fifth day (or whatever day of the week you are taking off, assuming you are doing 4 day weeks)? The reason I am asking is because I think that it would nice to do grammar just on the days scheduled and slowly move ahead a bit by doing it the extra day instead of doing it daily. The days that do not have grammar scheduled are heavier on writing usually, and it is nice to keep the balance if possible. That being said, R & S English is so difficult I would not be too worried about 100% hitting the mark of finishing level 6 by the close of grade 8. I know I have heard Carrie advise those she has spoken to at book fairs in this situation that it would be just fine to only complete R & S English 7 by the close of high school as well. Hope that helps somehow, but what are your thoughts?

In Christ,
Julie

[mom23]

Thanks for your input, Julie. Sorry I'm so late in getting back to you...life (and preparing taxes ) happened, and I've missed the HOD board! I'll have to give this more thought. I don't always do a 4 day week, because our other kids do 5 day weeks, and because I'd like to see if little by little we could squeeze in extra days so we don't miss the final HOD guide when she graduates high school. Have to say, though, that I'm not being overly successful at getting ahead in our 5th day. It often seems that the 5th day is used to catch up on things that didn't get done during the week. Also, dh works 4 day weeks, and we often end up doing family activities on Mondays, instead of school as usual.

It's good to know, though that I don't need to stress too much at possibly missing one of the R&S levels. I'll do some more thinking.