To use extension or not?

[blessedmomof4]

I am eagerly awaiting a few more books to arrive so I can start Preparing with my 10 year old fifth grade daughter. I was hoping for insight on this matter. Right now she is way behind in math, testing at grade 3.3. However she tested at grade 12.9 in reading...She loves to read, and would do so all day long if allowed to. So my question is, should I get the Extension Package to challenge her reading, or not get it so she has more time to work on math? As it is, I have determined she needs to start back at the end of Singapore 2B for review. (She actually fell behind in math since starting ps-Singapore 2B is where we left off a year and a half ago...)

Edited for spelling

[Tansy]

I edit my posts all the time for spelling

I think your dd really needs to focus on math. But as long as her math is improving I would use the extension. But if your not getting anywhere on the math. You can always drop back on the extra books and focus on the math. I find Math is a use it or loose it with my dd1 I have her constantly reviewing addition subtraction and multiplication tables or they really get lost in her brain. Its drill drill drill at our house after her school day.

12 errors were fixed in the writing of this email..

[my3sons]

I am eagerly awaiting a few more books to arrive so I can start Preparing with my 10 year old fifth grade daughter. I was hoping for insight on this matter. Right now she is way behind in math, testing at grade 3.3. However she tested at grade 12.9 in reading...She loves to read, and would do so all day long if allowed to. So my question is, should I get the Extension Package to challenge her reading, or not get it so she has more time to work on math? As it is, I have determined she needs to start back at the end of Singapore 2B for review. (She actually fell behind in math since starting ps-Singapore 2B is where we left off a year and a half ago...)

Edited for spelling

Hmmmm, that's a tough call. At age 10, she's kind of on the bubble for the extensions. I guess I'd consider the length of time she can handle in her school day. PHFHG took us about 3 1/2 to 4 hours without extensions or additional math. One idea I was thinking is to get the extension books for her, but not require her to read them with the schedule nor require her to do the follow-up activities. She could have a tub of them under her bed, and you could just let her read through them at her leisure. You could let her pick any order to read them in, or you could give her a checkoff with the books listed in the order they are scheduled in the PHFHG Appendix, so they would roughly still coincide with what you are studying together for PHFHG's core. We have a tub of books such as this. I actually just put in any HOD books we aren't covering somehow. For example, in many HOD guides there are 3 Storytime package books and only 1 set is chosen to be used with Storytime, so I put the books from the packages we didn't use in a tub under our dc's bed so they can still enjoy these awesome books at their leisure. Maybe you could tell her that you got them for her as a gift because she's such a strong and avid reader? Just an idea, otherwise, I think I may just do the extra math and not the extensions to begin with, possibly adding the extensions once you get underway and get a feel for if she could handle that or not.

In Christ,
Julie

[blessedmomof4]

Thanks for the input! Right now I have all the "regular" independent study books, and I am trying not to spend a lot now that we've experienced a drop in income...I am thinking I will start off with what I have and see where it goes from there. If my daughter is utterly bored with her independent assignments, I can always add later after I've saved up for it Of course, there is always the library for extra reading, but I love the choices in the extension pack and I already found that five of the books are not in my library system

[3musketeers]

I second Julie's idea.

I bought the extensions for my son this year in Bigger and we have used them loosely as we wanted. It has been great when we wanted some extra and no harm done when we decide to leave a book for another time. The best part is you still have all those great books. This same son has also struggled with math and is doing so much better this year with a new curriculum. I find we have had plenty of time to work on both as the extensions are so flexible.

[blessedmomof4]

Thanks for reminding me about the length of the school day as a consideration! I don't want her to get bogged down and stressed about "having" to do more work-she had enough of that in ps...Maybe I will get the extension books, just to have around for her (and me, hee hee), but like I said, I have to save up for them

[3musketeers]

Blessedmomof4,

I was posting at the same exact time as you were. I now see you're wanting to watch the book budget. I totally understand. Maybe pick up an extra title or 2 at the used book store or the library when you can. Like I said the extensions are so flexible as your dc needs them. Preparing has so many wonderful titles in the basic/deluxe package I don't think you will feel deprived starting there.