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Hello everyone. After a one year hiatus from HOD (not by preference...we had a very busy co-op year and just couldn't do both!) we are back to using HOD for 4 of my 6 kiddos. Did you just hear that huge sigh of relief? I will be running 3 guides. My 9yo (4th gr) will be using Preparing, 13yo (repeating 7th gr) using CtC with Extensions (he is a a bit behind academically so CtC was a good "fit" for him) and 14yo (9th gr) using the WG Guide (I am soooo excited about that!). I have an 11yo boy who is also a bit of a struggler academically. He was a very late reader and still struggles tremendously (mostly due to confidence rather than ability) though he has made great strides in the past couple years. I would say he reads a grade level or 2 behind where he "should" be. His writing and spelling, b/c of our focus on his reading, is also behind although I would say that he is a better speller than reader! Besides copywork, some dictation and narrations and a tiny bit of original writing (mere paragraphs), he has not had much in the way of formal writing instruction. His math skills are mostly on grade level (he is in Singapore 4B at the moment, soon to be in 5A). I have gone back and forth about where to place him and could use some advice. At first, I thought Preparing was going to be the best fit, using some of the Extensions for extra reading practice, adding in Essentials in Writing 5 and a more complex science and doing math as usual. Then, for various reasons, I thought perhaps he would best be served in CtC with his older brother. Working with his older brother instead of his little sister would give him a much needed confidence boost. He would still use Essentials in Writing 5 (b/c I already have it!), math at his level and CtC pretty much as written. As far as the Independence required in CtC I "think" that he could do it if we start slow and move toward the level of Independence necessary over time. This particular child seem to excel when the bar is raised. He rises to the challenge. I'm looking for some feedback from other seasoned HOD Moms. I am also concerned about placement in the proper guides as he matures. I don't want to skip any!! I know I will already have to "beef" up 1 or 2 of the lower guides when he reaches 9th grade regardless of which guide I go with now. Going with CtC means I will only have to beef up MtMM for 9th and that shouldn't be difficult at all knowing how "meaty" HOD is already! So...what say you? Preparing or CtC?

Do you have the guide and books for CTC? Do you already own Preparing?

My dd has always been a slower reader but she also will rise to any challenge. And while she on the lowest age range, it is hard because we finished Preparing with flying colors but CTC is definitely more reading than Preparing. But not too much - the book have less pictures, the pages are much larger but you read less page. Volume wise it is similar but vocabulary wise is more difficult. There is also a lot more writing in CTC than there is in Preparing. WWTB is also a lot more difficult of a writing program than was Preparing.

Realistically, with his age, I would think he would be fine with the volume of work. I would only be concerned about his thoughts of the volume of reading. Just out of curiosity, how long does he read per day when he has to do reading? I would say if he can chapter books that don't have large print and aren't loaded with pictures for 1.5 hours per day on his own, then he would probably be fine with CTC. For my dd, because she isn't a fast reader, then it takes her about 1.5-2 hours to get through the reading. But she does get her day done in about 4.5 hours per day 4 days a week.

My son also sounds similar to yours. He does great with a challenge. I was a little worried about him start Bigger this fall because he doesn't write much and usually complains about his hands always hurting (he does have some fine motor issues but is in therapy). Before we started our summer break, we did a few weeks of Bigger and he did okay with it. Then over the summer, we started reading all the time and took a break from writing. Well, I am happy to report, we are back in school and that he is doing fine with Bigger! I am surprised at how long he can write and how he can do the volume of reading required by DITHOR even. It is a huge blessing to see that we aren't even going to need to go 1/2 speed because of his abilities. (I am going 1/2 speed for now because it is summer but once the school year starts - it is full speed ahead LOL). So if your son thrives with a challenge, you could also do CTC 1/2 speed till he catches on and gets in a grove. If you later decide CTC is too much work for him and wanted to go with Preparing instead, I wouldn't add in the extensions. I personally think the extension books would make your day longer than CTC would without any changes because the extension books have some challenging vocabulary in them.

Yes, thank you! This was exactly my thinking...the Extension reading in Preparing vs. the normal reading in CtC. I was concerned that the normal reading + the extension reading in Preparing would be way too much for him vs. just the normal reading in CtC. As I was posting this last night, I thought again that CtC was the better "fit" and I could always just go 1/2 speed if necessary. But I think he will rise to the challenge. If the reading is too difficult, I can read aloud for him or do some "popcorn" reading. He hates to read, but it is only b/c it is such a challenge for him. I had already planned to read the Apologia Science to them both and we are not doing the Human Anatomy part as we already did an exhaustive year of Human Anatomy using Apologia with our co-op last year. We will be using a different science for the spring semester...possible another Apologia text or CKE Creation Science. I'm not certain yet. Thanks for your feedback!

Good thoughts here already! I also think CTC is a good choice because you'd mentioned your ds would view it as a confidence booster to work with older brother as opposed to with younger sister. That starts to become important as dc grow older as well. I think he would probably try to rise to the challenge more due to this pairing.

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, Julie, for chiming in with your thoughts. I have decided to put the boys in CtC and have peace that this is the right decision. How I am going to run 3 Guides plus 2 other "programs" is something I do NOT have peace about HOWEVER, I know that if I just let God direct our days it will be ok.

I will be honestly, before finding HOD, I don't know that I had "peace" about running more than one guide ever. But I have found it to be very easy to do. I am running 3 guides this year and it has been very easy. My oldest is going 1/2 speed right now just so she can get into the groove and know what to do. My younger 2 are plugging away full speed with no problems. I think it works so much easier than you could think possible! Praying for you though, that God fills you with peace and that all goes well. I would just start off half speed for a few weeks if you can so that you can get everyone used to the schedule. Also - some recommend stagger starting - start the oldest first for a week and then go on down the line from there till everyone is finally started. It takes a few weeks to get everyone going but you can at least focus on each child as they start.

Thanks, Daneale. I must admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have 6 so staggering each one individually would put me at the end of September before each has begun, lol. So....I will be starting my 2 high school boys first. The 9th grader using HOD has had 3 years of HOD so the Guide should not be "new" for him. I don't expect any problems except for the grumbling about the amount of work. The 11th grader has also used the curriculum he will be using so again, not a problem. Just more grumbling. The following week I will start my 3 middles...4th grader using Preparing and 6th & 8th grader using CtC. I think it will be doable though they are relatively new to HOD (each has only had 1-2 years with HOD and it was over a year ago). That leaves the 1st grader who will start last. He will be doing some math and reading up until then but won't start his program fully until all the others have gotten into a good flow. I'm so relieved to be back with HOD again this year and I know the year will go smoother b/c of it.

I think that sounds like a great plan

I always just invest in ear plugs for the grumbling LOL!