Need help choosing package for struggling student

[MY3monkeys]

My 6th grader is struggling with reading, reading comprehension, composition skills, and needs a lot of work in narration as well. I'm looking to switch her most likely to HOD but i'm not entirely sure which package I should place her in? I'm leaning towards Creation to Christ but would like input from others who are more experienced with the programs. Also if I place her in Creation to Christ is this going to mess with things when she gets to the high school level? I'd rather go slower and let her catch up if I can instead of push her too fast and have her keep struggling.

[Nealewill]

If it were me, I would probably start her in Preparing. Sounds like she will be learning a lot of new skills with HOD. Since you said she is a struggling reader, I would probably not add in the extension pack at this point for this year. Your DD will learn a ton without it. Then, as she improves in these skills, you can then bump her up a level or two. Or (if it were me) you could just start adding in the extension packs once you think she is ready for it. Each level increases in difficulty. So bumping her up a level or two may be a bit more work load on her. And many moms have made Revival to Revolutions and Missions to Modern Marvels high school worthy. Realistically, once you add in the optional studies and the extension packs, it is definitely high school worthy. The only thing you would end up "missing" would be the last 2 guides. But that would be fine too. It is really up to you.

But if you haven't reviewed the placement chart (even though it sounds like you probably have) I would start there. Use that as your guide to determine where you think your daughter would fit best.

[psreit]

I haven't used Creation to Christ yet, so I can't answer your questions about that program. I have a struggling student as well, and we have used HOD. I just want to encourage you to place your daughter where she fits. If you have checked the placement chart and it is Creation to Christ, then go ahead and put her there. If she needs to be in Preparing as the pp mentioned, that's okay too. If she needs to work slowly, let her take the time she needs to build those skills. But, once you choose a starting point, I think it would be wise to just keep moving forward with each guide and not skip any. When it comes to high school, as far as I'm concerned, the student does not necessarily have to be in the guides that are written primarily for high school. My daughter would be considered a remedial student if in ps. But diplomas are issued even to those students who are not working on 'grade level'. The same holds true in homeschooling. If your daughter is showing progress each year, that is what is important. If she wants to go on to college, then certain courses may need to be completed, depending on the college. I don't know how far my daughter will be able to go in the guides. She will also be in 6th grade when she gets to Creation to Christ. I plan to go through the material so that I know she is really learning it, and not rush through it. After all the frustrations of the past year, I need to help instill in her some confidence and a love for learning. So, my goal is not going to be getting through all the guides, but giving my daughter a solid education and know that she is moving forward. I want her to learn to her potential, but that may not be working through all the guides. Each child has special, but different God-given abilities, so not all will be taught the same way or accomplish the same things. That's just my position. The Lord will give you peace about what your daughter needs.

[LynnH]

Creation to Christ is a very meaty guide and the reading level is pretty challenging. Of all the guides my ds struggled the most with doing written narrations for this guide. Given the struggles that your dd has I would really make sure she places solidly in CTC on the placement chart. You might go to the samples of The Story of the Ancient World and make sure she can read and understand those chapters with ease.

As others have mentioned there are many ways to beef up Rev to Rev and MTMM to be high school worthy.

[MY3monkeys]

Thanks. I hadn't looked at the placement guide for below CtoC. I guess I just assumed it was below her level but I will look again and see what fits better. I'm not interested in pushing her too fast and she's at a point where she just needs to get her skills improving and move on from here. The only thing that makes me nervous is next year is a required testing year and she will need to test high enough in math, reading, and language so I have to be able to keep these subjects moving along enough that she can pass the test. I think she probably can though from what I've seen so far.

[Nealewill]

I think I mentioned this in the other post but just wanted to post here for you too as part of this thread - you would just want keep on with the math that is already her level, get the books for DITHOR that go with her reading level, and use the grammar book that she is places in as well. I think you mentioned that you were planning to switch spelling so you would just continue on with that program as you already are. Or if you decided to switch, then you would just test her to see where she would line up with dictation and start there.

Sounds like you have a good starting point and some things to think about though.

[mom23]

I have a 6th grader, whom I consider to be at grade level for reading and comprehension, and she's very challenged with CTC. This guide is so largely based on the child's growing independence that I don't think I'd recommend it for a struggling 6th grader. They are expected to read their own history, Bible, and Science and complete required narrations and activities on their own. If your dd is struggling in these areas, I'd definitely take a look at Preparing. That's the guide that will train your daughter in narrations, as well as reading comprehension, and growing skills for independence. It may very well be that your dd could skip ahead down the road to be on track for the high school guides...after she's gotten the firm and solid foundation of the skills she's needing right now. If not, like others mentioned, there are other threads on here detailing how to beef up some of the younger guides for High School credits. I really think that you and your dd would both really enjoy Preparing-it's a great year! I loved the History spines, especially. And, as I mentioned already, it's terrific for truly training a child in growing reading, comprehension, narrating, and writing skills! There is plenty there to keep a 6th grader engaged and challenged-simply customize her own math, grammar, and reading levels and away you go!

[MY3monkeys]

Thanks so much. I will be mentioning much of this to DH when we sit down to decide what we're going to do with the kids. Very helpful info all around.

[my3sons]

When you meet with your dh, it might be helpful to print off each of the guide's first week of plans. The boxes of plans are labeled "T" teacher-directed, "S" semi-independent, and "I" independent to note which type of work each requires. It is important dc can do the "I" boxes independently for proper placement, as well as do the "S" boxes with some help but also with some independence. The placement chart (especially the first page regarding reading, writing, grammar, and math) would be really helpful for you and your dh to look at as well. Come back with more questions or info from your meeting if you get the chance - we love to help!

In Christ,
Julie

[MY3monkeys]

I have them printed off. We tried talking things over some last night and his biggest concern right now is for high school. He wants them to be mostly independent for high school. Will the yet to come out high school materials be more independent? We both want something we can hopefully settle with and use from now on till they graduate. Is there any idea of when the high school materials might be out? I won't need them for a couple years yet but part of our curriculum hoping has been due to publisher's not getting the next level out in time for us to use it forcing us to try something else.

He also pointed out how overwhelmed I am right now trying to do each kid separately. He's concerned that I will still be overwhelmed if I keep them separate no matter which program we settle on. He thinks I should try to combine the kids if at all possible for as much as possible which ever way we end up going. Both kids currently require a lot of my attention for various reasons with their schoolwork. The baby is also needing a lot of my attention and we hope to add another baby in the near future. Can you really pull off two separate levels and still keep your sanity with little tykes in the mix? Oh, and we're starting a farm on top of everything else. My school days are shorter because of farm duties.

[Nealewill]

I think the high school material is coming out every year one year at time. So they will be adding 10th grade this year and then 11th and 12th will be published in the next 2 years there after. One thing to mention though - as you look at the higher up levels, Rev to Rev and MTMM can be made to be high school worthy very easily. So you would necessarily need to complete the last 2 levels of HOD to graduate your children.

Also - you mentioned you are busy. I am also the poster child for busy! As an encouragement, I am teaching 2 levels VERY successfully with little problem. I would recommend splitting your children if you can. I can't remember what ages your children are but doing more than one level is probably preferred. You will be amazed at the freedom you have with your oldest being independent. I am already amazed. This is my first year with HOD and at the beginning of this year I really had to buckle down and stay on my oldest DD to finish her work. She is 9 and she is doing Preparing. But she is a huge time waster. Well, I can see now that we do get done with our day in about 4.5 - 5 hours. For me - that is perfect. She still wastes a little bit of time but she loves being independent and she works hard to get her stuff done. So for us - I love having the kids apart. And when I said I was busy - I work from home and work about 30 hours in a week. I can still get everything I need to done and my kids loving be separated too.

[LynnH]

Each guide has more and more Independent boxes and less Teacher led boxes. I didn't know if you were aware that the first high school guide is out. It is the World Geography guide and if you look at the sample week you can see that there are very few teacher led boxes(marked with a T). You still would meet with them on a daily basis to check work and go over anything they needed help with, but for the most part they will be doing most things on their own. That is one reason that initial placement is so important. You want to place them in a guide that isn't too hard for them initially so they can gain the independence necessary for that guide in order to be ready for the next one.

[MY3monkeys]

I think based on the sample I read she could totally handle what is in CtoC that requires her to work independently. I'm going to look over the next guide and see how it looks. I wish they gave more than just 1 week so you could see what it's like at other points in the year.

[my3sons]

I agree CTC sounds like a good fit for dd! Have you looked at the placement chart for each of your dc or just your oldest dd? My dc do not fall in the same guides according to the placement chart. If they did, I really would consider combining. However, since my dc are not close in age or abilities, I have found it easier to teach multiple guides. One main reason is because that means I am not reading everything aloud. When parents combine a younger child with an older student, many parents choose the guide based on the older student because they don't want them to be behind. The problem with this is the younger child can't read the books nor can he do half of the activities. This leaves you reading, reading, reading aloud forever - which takes... well, forever, and it's not really teaching. It's reading aloud, and your older student should be doing it anyway. NOT a good use of your time or theirs. Can you imagine having everything read aloud to you in middle school or high school?!? I would have revolted. Sooooo - separating dc out and having the olders (beginning with PHFHG on up) be responsible for independently reading and independently following directions for all of the "I" boxes is key to having a shorter, manageable day. It also prepares dc nicely for high school. Not to mention, the younger guides take less time to do - less time to teach, less time for the dc to complete. This makes the day go so smoothly because you can focus on just the teaching areas you need to rather than being with everyone every minute.

I think based on the sample I read she could totally handle what is in CtoC that requires her to work independently. I'm going to look over the next guide and see how it looks. I wish they gave more than just 1 week so you could see what it's like at other points in the year.

I would not do RTR with a sixth grade student who has not done HOD before, who has not done Charlotte Mason learning before (which is far more difficult than first appears) , and who is struggling somewhat with school. You will be trading in successful independence for her to do the next guide up - you'll be stepping in to help which doesn't help you with time constraints and which doesn't teach her needed independence. I have a 10 turning 11 yo ds in fifth grade doing CTC, and it was a challenge enough for him. He has done all of the previous HOD guides, is very familiar with CM assessments of dictation/copywork/oral narrations/written narrations, and is a strong reader/writer. Doing all of CTC well with all of its intended follow-ups will be a good challenge for dd as she is new to HOD and CM styles of learning. I'd love to hear about your other dc if you get the chance to share about them in light of the first page of the placement chart. I really think that is the missing piece of information here, and with all of us putting our heads together, we can come up with a super plan for your entire family that lets you get your teaching done in a streamlined fashion so you can still do what is required of you in the rest of your day (we too live in the country, and I too work part time each day) . I'd be glad to help you with more details then!!! And I DO think HOD would be an awesome fit for you and of your family - and I think your dh would grow to love it too! As my dh says, "I got my wife back" (when I started using HOD. With HOD, EVERYONE is happier in our home.

In Christ,
Julie