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Hi, I am looking for some advice for this school year and the next year My daughter just turned 13 the end of the summer and I am looking at using Heart of Dakota. My question is regarding the Program Placement Chart. I feel she is not ready for the high school programs yet. It has to do with the language arts section. She is a very avid reader and reads difficult books but we have not done any formal literature studies at all with literary terms etc. She also loves to write books but she has never done any written narrations at this point. We do discuss books she is reading and books that I have assigned to her but again nothing in a formal written sense. And also with regards to grammar, this is the first year that we are doing formal grammar study using the Rod and Staff book 6 and so far so good. I guess my question is where should I place her with regards to the remainder of this school year and the next year's grade. She is in grade 8 right now but not every subject is that grade such as math and science, those subjects are more like grade 6-7. Thanks so much for any advice.

So, in the placement chart, where does she fall? Where does she fall if you don't factor in LA, and where does she fall in LA if that's easier for you to figure out. If she falls in a "lower" guide you can always add more challenge to make high school credits for her transcript. There is a whole thread about this in the top sticky ones on the board. But you would want to place her where she can grow and succeed and not where she will be very frustrated with the level of work.

Are you planning to switch soon? Or are you waiting until next "school" year?

As for grammar, Rod and Staff 7 is what Carrie has scheduled in the first two high school guides, with Level 8 in the last two (American History 1 and 2). So, if you are doing 6 this year, you are on track there.
If it is only written narrations and literature study that is lacking from placement in the World Geography guide, can you work on those this spring?

momm23 wrote:Hi, I am looking for some advice for this school year and the next year My daughter just turned 13 the end of the summer and I am looking at using Heart of Dakota. My question is regarding the Program Placement Chart. I feel she is not ready for the high school programs yet. It has to do with the language arts section. She is a very avid reader and reads difficult books but we have not done any formal literature studies at all with literary terms etc. She also loves to write books but she has never done any written narrations at this point. We do discuss books she is reading and books that I have assigned to her but again nothing in a formal written sense. And also with regards to grammar, this is the first year that we are doing formal grammar study using the Rod and Staff book 6 and so far so good. I guess my question is where should I place her with regards to the remainder of this school year and the next year's grade. She is in grade 8 right now but not every subject is that grade such as math and science, those subjects are more like grade 6-7. Thanks so much for any advice.

In our area the cut-off for sports and private school is August 1st so in our area she would be in 7th grade this year. That probably doesn't help, but I thought I would give that information to you since my first question was when does she turn 14 and then I saw my answer!

My second question is do you want to wait an extra year and have the math and science catch up before starting High school transcripts OR can she still meet the requirements for graduation in your state in those areas without waiting? In some states graduation only requires Algebra II completion so you may be OK moving forward since it looks like she would have that by the end. What are your state's science High school graduation requirements?

Honestly, if it was me with an end of summer Birthday and science and math in 6/7 I would make this her 7th grade year. This is only the opinion of one mom though, and you and the LORD know best what your daughter needs. I am sure though it would change how you think about HOD placement if you changed her grade in your mind. Also if you are planning on only going through Algebra II and Biology in High school there isn't any need to wait. You may want to look at your state's graduation requirements.

Your R&S is on track for grade 8 with HOD. Carrie's goal is to finish R&S 6 by the end of 8th grade.

Literature study in WG is BJU. The preparation for that literature study with HOD is DITHOR. The preparation for that literature study for BJU would be whatever they use for literature in 7th or 8th grade. I think it depends on your and her comfort level learning literary terms. I thought literary terms and literature study would be quite difficult for me with my science background, and I have been amazed that it is one of the easiest subjects for me to learn and teach at this point in life. My children have grasped it very well and they started HOD later at higher levels in DITHOR. So I wouldn't make this your sole placement requirement necessarily depending on what you think.

Charlotte Mason used oral narration, copy work, dictation, and written narrations as tools to teach the skills of oral communication, writing, and thinking. There are other tools that have helped others reach these same goals. With an older student coming into HOD I would look more at her ability to write, how much she can write, how much work she can manage in a day, and how much you think she can work independently rather then her inexperience with CM tools. If she can write well, and it sounds like she can, my guess is she can learn written narration since she already can put her thoughts onto paper. There will be a transition to a new writing style. Similarly if my oldest were to learn essays right now it would be a transition since all of his writing has been R&S English and IEW and CM methods. The goal of these tools though is to learn how to write. Your daughter sounds very strong in writing and my guess is as she learned the new requirements and styles she would be fine. There are essays in WG. Do you think she is ready for essay writing?

I hope something I wrote was helpful. Prayers for your decision, as these decisions tend to be difficult to make when we change styles of learning or curriculum.

Blessings,