preparing in grade 2

[Mumkins]

Could my son handle preparing next year? He's a bright boy that I've skipped a grade in math. I'm willing to sit with him on independent reading. We do a different LA, spelling and math. What parts would be too difficult?

[juliekay]

Hello Mumkins!

I think you could! The History, Poetry, Storytime, Geography, Bible, Science etc. would not be too much for him. However, I wouldn't do it with my 2nd grade simply because like all of HOD guides it is specifically written for the 8-10 age and incorporates a lot of the Charlotte Mason approach for geared for that age and I love the fact that I have finally found a full curriculum that works for my individual child's needs down to the specific details that I wouldn't have thought of! For example, if you follow the guide exactly there's a lot of writing that my 8 y.o. cannot keep up with.... BUT you can tweak this and do 1/2 of the writing for him or skip some of the writing and do oral narration, etc. We are just loving Preparing this year. If you choose to try it your children will love it and really, can I say this out loud - YOU will love and be blessed by it too!

[Marsha]

I have my first grader in this, but she is doing it with a 4th, 5th, and 8th grader. I would not do it with a second grader alone unless you are prepared to tweak it.
She does some of the copywork, but I use a worksheet generator online to make her copywork. Also, instead of drawing from draw write now I find a coloring page on whatever the others are drawing for the day.

[threegreatkids]

I'm planning on using Preparing left side with 2nd grade boy next year, too (along with his 4th and 5th grade sisters). They will all be in separate levels for the right side. I'm expecting to need to tweak a bit for him, but his listening skills are excellent so I know he'll love the History and Storytime read-alouds. No comment about the writing If it doesn't go well we will reevaluate. Gotta love the many options that HOD offers!

[Mumkins]

DD will be in grade 4. I really want to do preparing, really really really want to. I have Bigger, but I was going to sell it and ger preparing for next year. I guess I could keep it and see what he needs to do on the other side. But if we are doing a different LA and math, what else is on that side? (Mine's packed away or i'd go look myself)

[LynnH]

On the right side of preparing in addition to Language Arts and Math is Science, Bible and Poetry. I know Poetry falls into Language Arts, but the writing assignments for the Poetry are my sons favorite part of the week. I think whether your ds can do it depends a lot on his listening skills. Can he listen to a book that doesn't have any pictures for 15- 20 minutes and not get fidgety or distracted. The history read alouds from CHOW and the story time read alouds (that tie into the history) are pretty challenging as far as the vocabulary they use. The are expected to do an oral narration once a week and a written narration based on these readings. The independent history section starts out with books that I am sure your ds could read and understand, but we are on week 16 and the book my ds started reading today is definitely a more challenging book. I know there is no way my ds could have done Preparing as a 2nd grader. My dd who is labeled as gifted might have been able to do some of it, but I don't know how much she would have enjoyed it.

[mamanlait]

My 2 cents....
Doing Preparing with a 2nd grader is totally doable if she's not your oldest. I have slowed Preparing waaay down for my 3rd grader and I'm really enriching other aspects of her education (like foreign language) to let her mature and be able to enjoy Preparing as written more next year. It is wonderfully put together and I would say the target range might be 4th grade or higher as written. You'll have to be able to let a lot of the curriculum go for your younger but if you are trying to combine, she will love CHOW -- maybe Grandpa's Box -- definitely the science because of the picture books. I do the Independent Study with my dd and that works out well. The drawing can be tedious for that age.

I would do Bigger's Poetry (much more understandable for a 2nd grader) and the Math for sure. The Bible is fantasic but I'm not sure if that's on the right or left side of Bigger. The Bible has been a real stretch for my 3rd grader in Preparing. It's a Psalm study vs. Proverb study...enough said probably. We do Bigger Bible but I find that it gets all confused when I'm picking and choosing this box from that book and another box from Preparing. The beauty of a curriculum like this that is so specific to each age range is the ease of not doing this. However, I think if you have an older child, why not combine history and science and do the 3 R's out of Bigger!


dd 8.5 Preparing (slowed way down)
dd 5 just finished LHTH today!

[threegreatkids]

Another thought from a family considering a similar combination next year...
This may not apply if your son can handle the Independent History section, but since my future 2nd grader won't be ready yet I plan on refering to the list at the back of LHFHG for some extra books I can read to him (while his sisters read independently). We already have Usborne Time Traveler, so I know that's one we'll use.
As for the following year, I wonder how it will be to add a 3rd grader into CtC? (Thinking aloud here ) Well, I guess that decision will be clearer down the road.

[my3sons]

PHFHG is a very full program. I wouldn't do it with a 2nd. grader unless you think it's the best decision overall for combining with siblings. There is a significant amount of writing, level of independence required, and reading maturity compared to Beyond. If Beyond is what you did last year - it will feel like a BIG step up from Beyond. The following year, CTC, is the ancients time period, which has more mature content in history. I wouldn't want to get to that too soon with someone very young for that reason. I'm also not sure about always tweaking skills for a child because they are too young for programs. Once you start this, you may be doing it for every guide hereafter. However, if you feel PHFHG is the best fit for your family overall weighing your personal goals, then it is an outstanding program which we enjoyed thoroughly. We still have the timeline up in the closet - in fact, we just referred to it today when the kids asked me when something happened in history. It is a joy to teach - but so are all of the other HOD programs, Bigger Hearts included. So, there really isn't a wrong choice here, just lots of choices for families to choose from considering their individual overall goals and needs. Hope something here helps!

In Christ,
Julie

[juliekay]

Could my son handle preparing next year? He's a bright boy that I've skipped a grade in math. I'm willing to sit with him on independent reading. We do a different LA, spelling and math. What parts would be too difficult?

Mumkins,
I see that you are in Canada. I also know that there are several other HOD fans from UK, Australia and Mexico. I just assumed that part of your reason for jumping into Preparing was that it focuses on world history vs. United States. Is this true because that really would influence my personal decision concerning this HOD program verses starting at the recommended program for his age.

[my3sons]

Could my son handle preparing next year? He's a bright boy that I've skipped a grade in math. I'm willing to sit with him on independent reading. We do a different LA, spelling and math. What parts would be too difficult?

Mumkins,
I see that you are in Canada. I also know that there are several other HOD fans from UK, Australia and Mexico. I just assumed that part of your reason for jumping into Preparing was that it focuses on world history vs. United States. Is this true because that really would influence my personal decision concerning this HOD program verses starting at the recommended program for his age.

Very good point! I'd forgotten that. This is a special consideration you'll have to weigh and take into account, Mumkins. Praying for you to have clarity about this decision!

In Christ,
Julie

[Mumkins]

I think preparing looks so awesome. I can't wait! We got 10 weeks into beyond, but went with WP and now I regret it. I don't really feel like doing bigger, though I own it. Maybe we'll do it anyway. IDK

I'm not sure what to do next year with a grade 4, 2 and K student, a 2 year old and God willing hopefully a baby sometime next fall.

Would beyond, preparing and SL's 4/5 be too much next year you think?

[my3sons]

Hi Mumkins! I know Beyond and PHFHG wouldn't be too much because I did those programs last year, but I'm not sure about SL 4/5 as I haven't done that. We really had a good year with the Beyond/PHFHG programs. Have a blessed Christmas!

In Christ,
Julie