heartofdakota.com

I've been pouring over the boards and reading and re-reading the catalog.
I'll share my story...
My dd, just turning 10 and a 4th grader, has taken her time in becoming independent in her reading. Last year she got through about unit 24 in Bigger. She actually did really well. She did not continue into Preparing because she was not reading independently yet. This year, we used another curriculum that used the same history spine and spent lots of time with intense phonics review and lots of reading. She also is about to complete Singapore 3B, Dictation level 2, Rod and Staff 3, Writing with ease 3, and Aneka 3rd grade readers. She has grown leaps and bounds in her reading. She can read and narrate orally and written about 3-5 sentences or more, very simply. On the placement chart she fits mostly in CTC except I'm not quite sure if she can do DITHOR 4/5. I have CTC and the DITHOR 4/5 because I have an older dd that has gone through them. I do not own PHFHG though. One minute I'm convinced she should be in PHFHG then I switch to CTC. I'm very unsure. She is self motivated in getting her work done, yet she can be a big complainer if she thinks she cannot do something. My only worry is the reading. I thought about starting CTC soon and working through it slowly with her so that next year she can be ready to go more on her own. Any thoughts or similar experiences?
Thanks for listening!
Nicole

Why are you concerned about her doing DITHOR 4/5? The reading level of the books or the sheets themselves in DITHOR? If it is the reading level of the books, then just go with the genres that have the lower reading levels in the girl packs like the mystery choice at 4.1 (The Doll People), then move to the next one with the next highest reading level. Remember, you don't complete all 9 genres in Preparing on up because you just do DITHOR 3x/week. Seems to me that if you dd finished up Abeka 3rd grade readers, she should definitely be able to jump right into a book with a 4.1 reading level.

The only thing I would not be sure on for CTC is that I've heard that The Story of the Ancient World contains difficult vocabulary and style of writing. I haven't been through the book nor do I have it yet, so I can only go by what I've heard. Otherwise with what you've shared it sounds like your dd is ready for CTC.

Nicole,

Thanks so much for sharing about your daughter! Edwena asked some great questions that are well worth pondering.

With what you've shared so far, I'd be inclined to suggest Preparing Hearts for her placement based mostly upon her reading and writing level. CTC is also quite a step up in independence and in reading and following lengthy written directions. I would be hesitant to put a child who has been a bit of a late bloomer in reading into CTC without first having that child go through the stepping stones that are built into Preparing Hearts.

I think that a year in Preparing Hearts would also keep her from being too overwhelmed with the addition of DITHR to her days. With this in mind, I'd lean toward having her do Preparing with DITHR Level 2/3 (if she hasn't already done it) or 4/5 (if she has already been through DITHR 2/3). I'd also lean toward the level 3 Book Pack (which actually has a reading level in the range of 3.5-5.1): http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional3.php

If you think that is too young, you could move into the 4/5 Book Pack, but I would do that with some hesitation as you want to encourage her to feel good about her reading without overwhelming her.

I would have her move on into Rod and Staff English 4 at half speed, spreading each lesson out over 2 days. Then, I'd move onto dictation Level 3 (which is in the Appendix of Preparing). I would move away from Writing with Ease, as you'll have too much duplication between that program and the writing across the curriculum we do in Preparing Hearts (through guided written narration, oral narration, and dictation). I would make sure to do the writing lessons from the poetry as scheduled in Preparing Hearts to build those writing skills that are not covered elsewhere in our guide or in Rod and Staff. She will also be getting quite a bit of writing instruction through Rod and Staff.

She can also move easily into Singapore 4A as that is scheduled in the Preparing Appendix.

I would have her do the Deluxe Package with Preparing and also the science too. These will be her independent areas and will do a great job of building independence incrementally.

In looking down the road at the level of reading, written work, and independence required in CTC and RTR on up, I would definitely encourage you to spend a year heading through Preparing first with your daughter. The leap from completing 2/3 of Bigger and then jumping to CTC would be very huge (without having Preparing in between first).

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Edwena and Carrie. Carrie, I really agree with what you say. I feel that Preparing would help boost her confidence and not overwhelm her like CTC would do. I just needed to hear it from you . There is a part of me that wants her to go through the whole history cycle before high school, but I know and have read it here so many times that skills are more important. Just part of me can't get over that.
I just have another quick question. In addition to this dd10, I have a dd12 turning 13 that will be in MMTM next year, then a dd7 who will turn 8 in Sept. and a sweet ds3 who turns 4 this summer. Will it be too hard for me to run Bigger at the same time as PHFHG? Dd7 fits very well in Bigger, I am just nervous because I have read that Bigger and PHFHG are the most teacher intensive. What are your thoughts? I've thought about combining her with dd10, but to me she is pretty young for that. Her reading is about the same as her sister. Writing is not too far behind, if at all. She will be starting Rod & Staff 2 and Singapore 2. She has recently begun Dictation 2. I am thinking of having her read the level 2 readers, so she is not reading the same books her sister is, and not do DITHOR.
Thanks so much for your time.
Nicole

Nicole,

I'm so glad to help! I'm wondering if your 7 year old has already been through Beyond? The reason I ask is that it would be pretty time intensive to do Bigger and Preparing at the same time. If your daughter hasn't been through Beyond, then that is a possible consideration.

Blessings,
Carrie

She has only done about 6 units of Beyond last year. Her and her sister were combined this year for history, science, and Bible this year with another curriculum. I could see finishing Beyond with her. I can see how that would help me with time. I guess I could still start Rod and Staff and just continue with Dictation, and she could read Level 2 readers holding off on DITHOR. How does that sound?

Nicole,

I probably would lean toward having your 7 year old pick Beyond back up where she left off last year and go forward from there. In that way it won't be a repeat, but you won't be doing Bigger and Preparing at the same time (except perhaps for a little while toward the end of the year if your almost 8 year old finishes Beyond and begins Bigger then).

You could easily do Rod and Staff English 2 along with Beyond if desired and could also do Dictation Level 2 from the Appendix of Bigger and continue on with math. If desired, I do think you could do Level 2/3 of DITHR with Level 2 readers for your almost 8 year old. If your older daughter was doing Level 2/3 of DITHR with the Level 3 or Level 4/5 readers, I think there would be less comparing and more enjoyment of just doing DITHR together. You would know better, but I wouldn't want to hold your younger one back in this area if she is ready to go forward. Just be sure they are reading different books to minimize comparison. Then, the following year your older daughter would move into the 4/5 DITHR Student Book.

I would be inclined to consider this scenario for your kiddos thinking your time will be better balanced and you'd still be meeting their individual needs very well. Are you thinking of starting now? This will make a difference too.

Blessings,
Carrie

I will probably start dd7 on Beyond in the next week or two. I do not have Preparing yet, so I will have to wait a bit on that. Thanks again Carrie. I appreciate you taking the time to help me think this through.
Nicole