Concerned that Preparing will be too hard...

[lil'ladies]

I LOVE the look of the Preparing hearts program, and I'm thinking of doing this next school year with my then 11 and 8 year olds but I am concerned that it will be too difficult for them.

My 11 year old is dyslexic and had a horrible time at school and because of this I have tended not to push her too much with our homeschooling. She is currently reading on a mid - late 2nd grade level, and is still gaining fluency. On testing, her comprehension tests at 7th grade level, but spelling is also at low 2nd grade level (we've just started All About Spelling to address this).

My 8 year old is dysgraphic and ADD, but HIGHLY intelligent and loves reading and learning everything she can...... (just don't ask her to write anything down ). She is way ahead of dd11 in reading, and devours books amazingly fast.

Because of their learning problems, I've really just stuck to the basics (reading & spelling, math and me reading them lots & lots of good books). They have never done any written narration, we've always just discussed things. So what do you think, would they be up to Preparing?

Thanks

[eazbnsmom]

I know that there are other ladies that can advise you better, so I am just going to share my experience and thoughts.

I purchased Preparing to use this year with my 8yo & 10 yo. My 8yo was a late reader (she didn't start reading fluently until the end of 2007-2008 school year). I pretty much did as you did and had only worked with her before this with the basics - math, phonics/reading & handwriting. She really struggled with Preparing, so i combined her with my boys doing LHFHG and her doing her level of the basics. This has worked really well. My 10yo daughter is a veracious reader, done more writing, history, science et and is thriving with Preparing, I just need to push her a bit in the area of writing which she avoids like the plague. but I believe that is because I did not push her to do more in the earlier grades.

My thought would be to start them in Beyond, maybe using the extension packages next year for your stronger reader.(check the placement chart..link on the HOD homepage... that will help you best see where to place them), this will help get them ready for the writing in Preparing the following year. Praying for guidance. I know there are ladies with more experience that will be more helpful!

[lil'ladies]

Thanks for the advice Kay .

I'll have a closer look at both programs.

[my3sons]

Welcome to the HOD Board! I know more moms will respond here given time - we all help one another find a good placement. I am wondering how strongly you feel about combining? Every family has a different feeling about that, and sometimes it's easier to combine, and sometimes it's easier just to do 2 separate programs and combine down the road a bit.

If you want to combine, I am leaning toward Bigger Hearts for His Glory (BHFHG). It meets in the middle for your 2 dc better. We did BHFHG last year, and are now doing Preparing Hearts for His Glory (PHFHG). I cannot tell you how many times I have been thankful we did BHFHG first; it just did an excellent job of getting my ds ready to do PHFHG well. The Emerging Reader's Schedule is in the Appendix of BHFHG and so is spelling lists and also beginning dictation. BHFHG also teaches how to do the vocabulary cards, oral narration, timeline, geography, experiments, Bible discussions/memory work, notebooking, copywork - all on a much more introductory level. Then in PHFHG, these skills are meant to be much more independent, and other skills are added to them - like written narrations, cursive writing, research questions, independent science questions and lab experiments, more independent Bible study, longer Bible passages to memorize, 2 levels of dictation, etc.

I would love to get to know more about you and your dc though to feel comfortable giving you advice. So, I have a little favor to ask! Could you please look at the placement chart, paying the most attention to the first page of it? If you could look at your dc separately, and place them where you think they really should go on their own, and let us know - that would be great - even if you don't end up going with that, it will help with placement.
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Also, could you give a tiny bit of info for each child about where they are with writing, grammar, and math? Will you be using the math / grammar, or are you using something else for those? If you are considering using Singapore math (which we do really enjoy), you may want to take a minute and have them take the placement test on that site (it's free and doesn't take long). Then, share those results too if you could please. (Just click on "placement" at the top of the screen at this site:)
www.singaporemath.com

I want to really encourage you that HOD would work wonderfully well in your home! I think it is important to spend time on placement - so you are wise to ask for advice. I know many other curriculums out there give a fast answer (that is often the same from family to family, meaning they do not consider each family's needs). HOD believes in making sure you get the best fit possible from the start. So, let us help you out here by giving us a little bit more of this information - and we will make sure you get the best fit for your family - it is, after all, a whole YEAR of your life - it's important we get it right!

In Christ,
Julie

[eazbnsmom]

Thanks Julie, I meant to say Bigger instead of Beyond....I always get those two confused! :0)

[my3sons]

Thanks Julie, I meant to say Bigger instead of Beyond....I always get those two confused! :0)

I know - they sound alike! I did it the other day with Little Hands and Little Hearts - I am very thankful for your first post though!!! It is important we try to help one another through deciding what's best because there is rarely one 100% right response. I think it is best to have lots of ladies respond to posters, because somewhere in the midst of the responses is the winning combination for each poster's unique situation. So, thanks for doing that here!!!

In Christ,
Julie