heartofdakota.com

the some of the independent activities in Preparing with all my children. For example today reading aloud The Young Christian's Introduction to the Bible. I have combined my 9 and 7 year old in Preparing. They use language arts and math to correspond with their abilities. This year has been so much better since I combined but I want to oldest to learn some responsibility and independence. My littles also enjoy listening in to Preparing so they are gleaning as well.

As a side note we have use Little Hands, Beyond and Bigger, we love Hod!

Thank you for your thoughts and insights,

Kariann

www.theamusingredhead.com

stellar wrote:the some of the independent activities in Preparing with all my children. For example today reading aloud The Young Christian's Introduction to the Bible. I have combined my 9 and 7 year old in Preparing. They use language arts and math to correspond with their abilities. This year has been so much better since I combined but I want to oldest to learn some responsibility and independence. My littles also enjoy listening in to Preparing so they are gleaning as well.

As a side note we have use Little Hands, Beyond and Bigger, we love Hod!

Thank you for your thoughts and insights,

Kariann

http://www.theamusingredhead.com

Hi Kariann! I'm so glad you're enjoying moving through HOD's programs, and we are as well. If it is one of your greatest desires to combine, than that will change my advice somewhat because I think it is important to do that if that is your vision of homeschooling your dc. And, I do think you can combine with HOD. That being said - being able to do the work that is assigned to be done independently is part of what makes a program difficult enough for dc, though it is certainly not the only thing that does. If it is a primary goal of yours to combine, then once your 7 yo can read and write well enough, I'd work toward having the 2 of them doing the parts they are to do independently, independently - as this will be more and more important as they grow older. If you have anyone younger than 7 doing PHFHG, I would definitely put them in their own HOD program since CTC is coming and not appropriate content-wise (nor skill-wise) for the littles. If your 7 yo excels for his/her age, seems to be doing well with growing into the necessary skills taught in PHFHG (especially reading/writing demands), and is mature enough for the content covered in the ancients time period that is coming, then I think you could continue to combine in CTC next year - though I do think CTC is usually best done with the target age ranges suggested on up.

If combining is not one of your primary goals for homeschooling, then I will say CTC is quite an independent program - appropriately so for that age level - and it is quite easy to do along with another HOD program. We are doing CTC and Beyond (with LHTH half-speed) this year and find it an easy combination. However, one of the things that makes it such a doable combination is that my ds was ready and able to be independent for the parts labeled with "I" in CTC. You can look at the link of CTC's first week of plans and check out the boxes labeled "I" to see if your ds would do well with these on his own:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/CTC-First-Week.pdf

I'm wondering what HOD programs your 7 yo has done so far? They could be separated next year, with the oldest doing CTC and the 7 yo doing another younger HOD program. Possibly combining the 7 yo with someone younger? If you were to look at the placement chart with just your 7 yo in mind, where would that child place?

If you could share your thoughts about combining vs. not combining, placement for the 7 yo, and about any younger dc in the mix, I'd feel so much better giving advice. Thanks so much for sharing what you have so far, and with a little chatting back and forth I'm sure we can all pitch in and work together to get you a placement that fits your goals well!

In Christ,
Julie

Hi Julie,

I generally look at our day and combine which subs I can and assign the rest independently. We have been combining a lot and I see everyone learning quite a bit. I do fill in with a ton of reading aloud. I do the skill areas individually but try to combine the content areas. I probably should assign the "I" activites for my oldest to do himself. My 7 year old has gone through Beyond and Bigger but we could review Bigger next year as last year was not a fabulous year due to my husband's heath problems.

I am sorry if this isn't coherent, I am very distracted with after dinner mayhem.

Kariann

It sounds like you are pleased with the way things are going and would enjoy continuing to combine. I agree it's a good idea to move your oldest to doing the "I" things on his own eventually. You are 100% in the driver's seat for placing your dc and know best for your goals how to accomplish that. With CTC being a rigorous program for ages 9-11 yo with extensions for 12-13 yo's, I wouldn't do it with anyone younger than your 8 yo - but that is just my opinion. You could easily have your 7 turning 8 yo do BHFHG next year, and have your oldest do CTC - but do what you think is best. Back to your original question - I wouldn't say you are short-changing your oldest, especially if you move him to doing the "I" things more independently. I would worry more about short-changing the youngest, but that's just a concern of mine I'm always monitoring in my own homeschooling and is maybe not something you've seen in yours.

In Christ,
Julie

I worry about everyone being shortchanged!!

I could always decide on my then 8 year old after I get the CTG manual . I have Bigger if I want to use that.

Thanks Julie!

stellar,

My3sons has done a great job of talking through your options with you. This board is so encouraging and helpful!

I was thinking that if you enjoy what you're doing right now and are having a good year, perhaps you could have your 9 year old begin doing the 'I' boxes on his own, but continue reading and helping your younger one do those boxes. In that way, your older one will begin to gain some independence (to prepare him for the next more independent guide) but your younger will still get what she needs (without adding much time to your day). Anyway, just a thought.

Blessings,
Carrie