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Res to Ref, big step up./ Shakespeare

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 3:59 pm
by LivinNandByHim
Hoping to return to HS and HOD in the fall. My son turns 12 this month and went from Bigger last year to 6th grade ps this year. Looking back I wish I had put him in Preparing, although we did enjoy Bigger a lot. He transitioned well, though. I am thinking of moving him up to Res to Ref based on the placement chart. We have R&S 5 on the shelf not used, and would have to place him for math. I think it will be a little challenging at first, but I think he will rise to it fairly quickly. It looks so full and perfect for "coming of age". I know that's not a lot of info on him, but I think I just needed a sounding board.
He reads well, retains well, had some literature, does not write.cursive, can write a paragraph, and could do the 8-12 sentence narration with some encouragement , because he doesn't like the physical part of writing.
There are couple of requests from the ladies who have done Res to Ref, anything particular about the guide that stands out to keep in mind skill wise- challenges your dc met.
Another reason I want to place him in this guide is to not place too far down with high school just ahead.
And what are some reasons for including the Shakespeare portion. I thought we studied Shkpr. in high school., not middle school. And opinion re: the "magic" element in the Tempest. ( I understand that could be different for different families.)
There is a lot here, I appreciate your kind responses.

Re: Res to Ref, big step up./ Shakespeare

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:21 pm
by LivinNandByHim
Found a detailed post explaining Shakespeare, written by Carrie, and I appreciate her insight and reasonings regarding the Shakespeare option. Just letting others know. I found it by searching and browsing "resurrection", although, I assume it could be found with a "Shakespeare" search. I don't know.how to create a link to other posts. :mrgreen:

Re: Res to Ref, big step up./ Shakespeare

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:23 pm
by LivinNandByHim
Found a detailed post explaining Shakespeare, written by Carrie, and I appreciate her insight and reasonings regarding the Shakespeare option. Just letting others know. I found it by searching and browsing "resurrection", although, I assume it could be found with a "Shakespeare" search. I don't know.how to create a link to other posts. :roll:

Re: Res to Ref, big step up./ Shakespeare

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 4:53 pm
by my3sons
So sorry you have not had responses here! I think this is a crazy time for many moms - tying up loose ends, transitioning to spring/summer (hopefully - hasn't arrived in SD yet :( ), standardized testing, book fairs, end of the year stuff, etc.! :D It sounds like you have looked at the placement chart. You can tell by looking at it that the jump from Bigger Hearts to Resurrection to Reformation is BIG - HUGE. I do realize ds has had a year of ps in between, that you are saying that he could have probably handled more than Bigger Hearts a few years' back, and the transition to ps 6th grade went well, and those are definite considerations. Looking at the placement chart, I think it is important not to place dc in a 'challenge' guide, as everything will probably be hard, and that is not a great way to enjoy your homeschooling together. However, on the flip side, I realize it is important a guide is not easy.

Mike, Carrie, and I were just talking about placement in light of high school guides being written. We realized we are doing the same thing you are doing sometimes - trying to look at high school and backtrack for a plan. After some long talks with Mike and Carrie, and after some real thought and prayer - I have come to the conclusion that this is probably not the biggest consideration. Earlier HOD guides are meaty - as in the "Hearts for Him Through Time" series. The extensions are meatier. It is not hard to beef up LA/math, and considering you have the fifth day each week as well, beefing up science and writing as needed is not so difficult either. The history with extensions is enough. Take the 'high school looming ahead' thought out of the picture, and where would you place him without that weighing in? I am thinking it's between CTC and RTR, but what do you think? I am thinking CTC may be a better fit, but not knowing ds personally, am on the fence.

The Shakespeare study uses an abridged version of Shakespeare (Tales of Shakespeare) and has an intentional low key follow-up of dc copying famous Shakespeare quotes and coloring Shakespeare die-cut pages that are beautiful. The intention is to introduce dc to Shakespeare without them being overwhelmed by it, in the hopes that understanding it will help them out later with the unabridged version. This was a favorite of our son! :D

Check out the RTR first week of plans and the CTC first week of plans, and see if ds can handle the "I" independent boxes. Look at the reading, especially the harder resources, and see if ds fully can enjoy and comprehend them independently. In the following link, I have an excerpt from RTR's Mystery of History, one of its harder resources, so you can see that with ds in mind...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13306&p=95602&hilit=excerpt#p95602

The boy study in RTR is wonderful, but it could wait a year. The "Medieval History based Writing Lessons is a challenge, and I'd say it is sure nice to have had Write with the Best 1 first. The Genesis Study in CTC is deep, and Write with the Best 1 is very appropriate for dc at higher levels. The notebooking in both is beautiful. Science is upped in RTR, but still solid in CTC. Okay - thoughts? I'll check back, we'll keep chatting until you are set! :D

In Christ,
Julie

Re: Res to Ref, big step up./ Shakespeare

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 10:53 pm
by LivinNandByHim
Julie, always a pleasure to read your responses. Thank u for your thoughts and support. I agree that my ds may not do well with the "I" boxes, as I think he would still desire some hand holding. I also agree that he would likely benefit from the Writing elements in CTC. Math and English would stay the same as mentioned. So I think skill wise and the.ability.to do independent work would place him at CTC. I do wonder if he would be backtracking the history time period as he is.currently studying this for his.6th grade history, but again, I would much rather him experience it with a Christ centered view and more importantly gather his writing, narration, and independence skills more solid. He would love the Zoology as we have been talking about him majoring in Zoology in college. I think I got really anxious feeling we.had.placed.him too low the.first year once he had to go back to PS, and having extreme anxiety over my ability to competently navigate HS years, to prepare.for.college. in actuality I think Bigger was right for him skill wise at the time. We loved what we were.able to complete.of.it . So, I think CTC may be the better match after all. What do u think?

Re: Res to Ref, big step up./ Shakespeare

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:39 am
by my3sons
I agree with your wise analysis here 100%!!! I think CTC is an excellent placement, and it is a meaty guide not only academically but in the faith-building sense. Experiencing the Ancients with Christ at its center is a totally different experience than doing so without Him front and center. I think CTC is a vital year academically and spiritually, and I am so glad your ds is going to get to learn these important life lessons and skills with you by his side. Mike, Carrie, and I have been having so many conversations about high school and decided it is ever important not to get caught up in placing dc by looking at the end rather than at what they need now. The truth is - we can figure out the counting credits and the beefing up, the transcripts and the course descriptions together for HOD guides - what we cannot do is force fit something that isn't the right fit. This is where proper placement comes in and makes the difference between years ahead of solid learning and delight in that learning, and too much challenge and stress in that learning. I'm excited for you and your ds to do CTC! I think you will thoroughly enjoy it. :)

In Christ,
Julie