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Wow, sometimes we have to go the long route to find out what we should be doing! I won't go through it all here. Suffice it to say that with one in CTC with extensions and one in LHFHG we've decided to bring the 9 and 10 yos down to Preparing (instead of joining big brother in CTC). Just a few questions:

So far I have in my order: 1 Economy Package, 2 Science Add On (with the Wooly Mammoth book from Extensions instead of Columbus, since we already own it), 6 Lead Me to the Rock CD, 7 Basic Package, 8 Deluxe Package (with the Usborne Ancient World instead of Leif the Lucky, since we own that, too). We also already have 3 DITHOR, 4 Math (continuing old program) and 5 English 3.

A) First of all, do I understand this correctly: assuming that money was not a consideration, the Basic Package and the Deluxe Package are part of the main curriculum; the Extension Package is optional, but generally suggested for those wanting to make this be enough to count as Grade 5 or 6?

B) I doubt my 10yo DD (who is struggling with reading still) will do the Extension, but my 9yo DS is reading at a grade 7/8 level. Should I be getting him the extension pack or should I wait and see how the first month or two goes, whether he could handle the extra challenge? (As you can see above, I have the first two of them substituted in to other packages for books I already own, and I also own two others on the list so I won't be buying them as a package anyway.) He's only Grade 4 (so doesn't need the extension to qualify for grade level equivalency) but can read well so I wonder if I should provide those extras for him, deciding as we go whether to use them as free reads or as extension (ie, whether he just can read them as scheduled or also do the extension workload given in the guide).

C) Is there anything done at this age for print/cursive instruction, even at the beginning of the year as review? In the past I have given my kids a "back to school copy work" package to go over letter formation at the beginning of the year but don't want to add extra to their work load, especially if it is included somewhere.

D) Is there a "Preparing for Preparing" post anywhere with a list of what needs to be done (copied, cut, gathered, bought, etc.) before starting the Preparing guide? (like this one for CTC: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12245)

Thanks in advance for your help!
Blessings,

A) Yes the basic and self study books are scheduled in the guide on the two page spread. The basic package is in the storytime/read aloud box, and the self study in the independent history box.

B) Personally I would wait. Using them as free reads might be a good option, but I am learning less is more most of the time.

C) Students do copy work daily as part of the guide. Here is what is in the introduction to Preparing:
Handwriting/Copywork
Daily practice of cursive handwriting is scheduled from a variety of copywork sources. By copying from a correctly written model, students gain practice in handwriting, spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and vocabulary. Copywork also prepares students to eventually write their own compositions. Work should be required to be done neatly and correctly. It is more important for students to produce careful, quality work, rather than a large quantity that is carelessly done. If your student has had no formal instruction in cursive handwriting, you may want to use one of the recommended cursive handwriting options from Bigger Hearts for His Glory.

D0 Here is one: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10426
I found it by going to the Preparing forum and then scrolling to the posted link. I think there is something like that for many of the guides on their forums for easy identification.

StephanieU wrote: I found it by going to the Preparing forum and then scrolling to the posted link. I think there is something like that for many of the guides on their forums for easy identification.

Thank you for your quick reply. Especially this last one - I totally missed that folder yesterday. I think I looked in the archived one but missed the regular one.

Off to do more research. . .
Blessings,

Just to answer another question, I would not give a 9YO extensions in Preparing just because he likes to read and reads above grade level. The extension books are to provide advanced understanding of the history and science topics for an older child. I go back to several posts on here by Carrie saying just because a child is able to read something, doesn't mean they should do so. Also Preparing is a very rich and full curriculum and if he is well placed he should be very challenged by it without the extensions.

Yes the Basic Package and Deluxe Package are really planned in and pretty critical, if you can afford them then do buy them.

If you do find Julie's "Preparing for Preparing" thread she talked about a cursive review, just writing all of the letters out on a sheet, maybe having the child practice them a few times, and letting them have the sheet to use when they are doing their cursive work.

MelInKansas wrote:Just to answer another question, I would not give a 9YO extensions in Preparing just because he likes to read and reads above grade level. The extension books are to provide advanced understanding of the history and science topics for an older child. I go back to several posts on here by Carrie saying just because a child is able to read something, doesn't mean they should do so. Also Preparing is a very rich and full curriculum and if he is well placed he should be very challenged by it without the extensions.

Yes the Basic Package and Deluxe Package are really planned in and pretty critical, if you can afford them then do buy them.

If you do find Julie's "Preparing for Preparing" thread she talked about a cursive review, just writing all of the letters out on a sheet, maybe having the child practice them a few times, and letting them have the sheet to use when they are doing their cursive work.

Thank you, Melanie. That clarifies things for me. I'll try to find Julie's post about that review, but even if I don't, I know I can fit in a review in the first weeks while we're purposefully trying out AO at half-speed to learn how it all works.

Blessings,

Rice,
It is in the post I link with the set up. It is one of the comments I think on that post. If you just go through her posts on that topic, you will find it

Is this what you meant (from that post): "I wrote out a copy of the cursive alphabet he learned last year in "Cheerful Cursive", a lower case and upper case cursive letter for each letter of the alphabet. I also hung onto the "Cheerful Cursive" book, so he can use the book and the chart I made as a reference for his cursive writing he'll be doing in PHFHG..." ~Julie

I understood that to be a reference page for her son, not something that he did at the beginning of the year as review. . . ?

That's the one I was thinking of. I guess it's more like a reminder. But I think you could make it a brief review pretty easily if you wish.

MelInKansas wrote:... you could make it a brief review pretty easily if you wish.

I think you're right. Will do.
Thanks for helping me think it through.
Blessings,