Preparing Half-speed?

srp1997 · Post by **srp1997** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 3:30 pm

I am rethinking my original plan to combine my dc in Preparing with extensions for the older. The thought occured to me that I could possibly do CTC with my 10 yo ds and do Preparing half-speed (take two years) with my soon-to-be 8 yo ds. My oldest will be in fifth grade and my youngest will be in third. This year we have done Bigger combined in order to study American History. I know I was not encouraged to put the guys in side to side guides, but if we went half-speed with Preparing I wonder if that would work.

Any thoughts?
Sarah

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:51 pm

Hi Sarah! I do think that would work. You could do PHFHG half-speed, and have your oldest do CTC full-speed. Then, the next year that would make for a nice rotation.

Otherwise, PHFHG is a very full year, and there is a lot to be learned in it. You could combine the 2 of them in it with the extensions and have a very good year that way as well. You have 2 great options to weigh - you will know best what fits your goals.

In Christ,
Julie

srp1997 · Post by **srp1997** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:12 pm

Thank you, Julie. Let me fill you in on my motivation. I really would like to see my upcoming fifth grader in CTC. My husband and I have not decided what 6th grade on up will look like for him, because there are several great co-op options in our area. The focus in CTC is so rich. If, for some reason, I only have one more year of full control over the curriculum, I want him to have the in-depth study that is in CTC.

My younger child will not be up to that level of work. We just finished Bigger. It seems like my choices are stepping backward to do Beyond, or Preparing 1/2 speed, or Preparing full. We will be on a 4 day a week schedule because of a co-op. What do you think by best option would be? Do you think there would be adequate work in Preparing for a new 8 year old to spend two years on the whole thing or at least the left hand side of it? I would be adding Dithor and an early Latin program to whatever I choose.

Also, my children's subjects have never been completely separate. We have always combined Bible, Science, and History. Can anyone tell me how that switch worked in their homeschool?

Thank you,
Sarah

srp1997 · Post by **srp1997** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:20 am

Bumping up

mrsmommy429 · Post by **mrsmommy429** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:34 am

I just wanted to say hello. I am in a similar situation and trying to decide whether to combine my two boys. This will be our first year homeschooling and there are so many decisions to make!! The oldest is 11 and going into 6th grade and the other is 7 going into 2nd. I have been leaning toward combining them in PHFHG with the extension, but I'm reading replies to your question too. That is a great idea to do it slower with the younger and let the older go ahead with CTC. I really wanted my 6th grader to go ahead and do that as well, but couldn't figure out how to do that with the younger. Thanks for another option!
Michele

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:47 am

Thanks for sharing your motivation for this, and I think the best option is to do PHFHG half-speed.

If your younger ds did Bigger Hearts fairly well skillwise last year, Beyond will be a step back, and he is ready for PHFHG - so that is where I'd start. I think I'd start it half-speed and see how that goes. You can always bump him up to full-speed at any point in the year if you want, thought I don't think it's necessary. I would do DITHOR 3 times a week (it comes up in the plans 3 x a week, and if you stretch the plans out over 2 years it wouldn't come up often enough). I think this plan can work well as long as your older ds can work independently and is ready for CTC. CTC is written to be more independent, and it will be if he can be. Then, yes, for the goals you've laid out, I think this would work great!

I am feeling the need to ask you to be in prayer over the co-op decision. Co-ops can be a blessing for some families, but if they influence the decisions of curriculum choice for each family so much so that you feel a possible loss of control over that, or that you need to do whatever they're suggesting for curriculum, that is a loss of rights for you to personally choose what you want, and that makes me sad. Choosing what you want personally for your family is such a perk of homeschooling, I just want that control and blessing for you, and for you only. I'm just thinking it would be nice to keep your 2 together and move them into PHFHG and then the following year in CTC, since you've done that, and it's gone well!

Since the only thing standing in the way of this is the co-op, that is why I mentioned it here. You will know best about this!

You have 2 good options with HOD to choose from, and either will work just fine.

In Christ,
Julie

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:51 am

mrsmommy429 wrote:I just wanted to say hello. I am in a similar situation and trying to decide whether to combine my two boys. This will be our first year homeschooling and there are so many decisions to make!! The oldest is 11 and going into 6th grade and the other is 7 going into 2nd. I have been leaning toward combining them in PHFHG with the extension, but I'm reading replies to your question too. That is a great idea to do it slower with the younger and let the older go ahead with CTC. I really wanted my 6th grader to go ahead and do that as well, but couldn't figure out how to do that with the younger. Thanks for another option!
Michele

Hi Michele, and welcome to the HOD board!

How exciting that you are getting ready to start your homeschooling journey. I am glad the Lord led you to the HOD board!

You may want to start a new post asking about placement for your dc - I think more ladies will respond there then. If you get a chance to peek at the placement chart and share about each of your dc's ages, 3 R's, and where you think they'd place separately, then we will all chime in with ideas and be able to give the best advice we can. Here's a link to the placement chart:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

In Christ,
Julie

heartofdakota.com

Preparing Half-speed?

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