Hi..its been a while

[rainbowacreshs]

Hello all, I wanted to give updates and possibly affrimation/advice.

First off.. Jan turned out to be a very difficult month. The week we moved my mother in my older half sister, my mother's 2nd oldest daughter was hospitalized. Sharon, had also been battling lung cancer, and sadly Sharon went on to be with the Lord on the 18th of January. Sharon was 53. This hit my mother very very hard...not only had she lost a child, but she is giving up independence by living with us (she's approaching 72), and is also battling lung cancer. We went through 3 weeks of watching her drown in despair, and up until last Friday night I was afraid we would have had to do an intervention...she wasn't eating, taking her meds right.. it seemed her dominate desire was to just die too...My heart never felt so broken... nor have I ever felt so helpless in my life..its been like watching a person drown even though you throw all the life perservers and ropes out to them, you still are helpless to save them....

God is working...He doesn't quit
God is listening... I believe to my core he has heard my cries
God is changing .....me...my family... how I am viewing life as a whole...how we view each other,
and seeing God pull us closer together at least between my daughters and husband and me...has once again rocked my sense of knowing who He is..to knowing and believing even more that He waits on me to just lay it down at His feet...and trust...


I am asking prayer for my mom. I am not entirely sure if she is sure of her salvation or of her relationship w/ Christ. I believe she is still angry, and has no desire to go to church. We are also working through an issue that I don't care to have in my home, but I'm praying God will eventually give her wisdom that its not good for her body...but thankfully she has quit smoking..so thats part of that prayer answered. We are looking at surgery within the next two weeks.

Now on to a matter at hand....my dd school work. Obviously with the upside down life we have been experiencing, Kasey's school work has been jilted, jaded..uhm.. slowed??... lol...
Anyways... we are just now finishing week 14 of CTC... (we started CTC back around mid Aug.) ...3 weeks behind in the reading of God King... and IYW.. slowed to a turtle's crawl. In effort to not feel overwhelmed, I cut out her spelling and grammar program (CLP and will hopefully add it back in next year) and am totaly relying on Learning Language Arts Through Literature- tan book 6th grade lvl. (which does have grammar and spelling worked in, just not as intense as the CLP books). I had also felt that the CLP applications of grammar and spelling book 7 (both of which are supposed to be 7th grade lvl) were too much and overwhelming for she would do these lessons in near tears. I had her using it in hopes to bolster and improve her skills, but it seems to be a bit difficult for her. I did pull Easy Grammar 5/6 back out and correlating it with grammar activities from her LLATL. This has made me look and reevaluate a little closer at my dd's skills, I think she may be more 5th/6th lvld. Am now using the science portion of CTC, back tracking so she is on week 3 day 4...this is the one thing she's absolutely happy about doing (my animal nut ).

I also took some time and looked back at our grade years... Age wise she should be classed as a 7th grader, but academically we did this...

2009-2010 current 7th
2008-2009 6th we jumped her so she could be age wise with her peers in church/and other functions--
2007-2008 4th
2006-2007 3rd grade--again, we had to deprogram and rebuild from a bad experience in our local school system
2005-2006 3rd grade -- public school system--- reasons, thought it would be best "socially", and we were having major domestic issues..turned out we discovered that homeschooling (and later knowing really it should have been God, but God used homeschooling as way to start getting us to listen again..long story another day lol) was a glue for our family.
2004-2005 2nd
2003-2004 1st
2002- 2003 K

My husband and I both feel that she may benefit from adding an extra "7th grade" year to her academic years, especially with the intensity of the home life we are in the middle of. I am beginning to think I made an error in judgement, that I should have left her on the track she was, and not fall "prey" to having her "advanced" based on age.

Advice... comments... ???


Thanks for listening.. and to those who pray.... thank you ...

Jasmine

[my3sons]

Jasmine - First, I have prayed for you and your mom. Your list about God holds true, and you are doing such a good job of keeping your eyes heavenward for answers. You are wise to recognize the need for re-evaluation of needs and goals here. I think that classifying Kasey as a 7th. grader another year would be a good idea and relieve some of that pressure you may be feeling. It is wonderful that you have been able to finish Week 14 of CTC! So, celebrate that please - you should feel very good about that. We are doing CTC and started the same time as you, are doing a 5 day week instead of a 4 day week, and have not had any life obstacles this year - and we are only on Week 21 - SO, I think you are doing awesome.

As far as the details of it, if I were you, I'd let dd catch up on God King on her own, by reading it independently or, though it is an excellent book - just set it aside and pick Storytime back up when the next book begins. I would keep moving ahead with CTC. I would even fast forward the science and just pick it up where you are in the plans, but if that is going to cause trauma to dd, then continuing to just have her move forward from Unit 3 would be fine too. I would really like to encourage you to do R & S English (mainly orally), as this is a big time saver and a solid program. For spelling, I would stop everything but the dictation in the back of CTC - it works! I promise! I'd put aside LLATL and do DITHOR with dd. This will be easy to do and put the love into learning reading, plus this is super easy to start up in the middle of the year. I think the main goal at this point is to use CTC as it is written and not add more to it nor backtrack to what was missed, but instead to simply move forward with Unit 15. I cannot say enough how much this would simplify things for you and dear Kasey - at a time in life when things truly have to be simplified. You deserve to just wake up and open the guide and teach, so you don't have to be stressed about putting other things together to homeschool, and can instead put your energies into your mom and your family at this trying time. These are all just ideas - and you may have such a love for CLP or LLATL that you are not open to this - but I wanted to throw these ideas out there, as I believe in my heart they are the best way to accomplish homeschooling in a timely, uncomplicated fashion. Please keep asking questions here until you are on track to what you want, and I know between these ideas and what other ladies have to say you'll find the best plan of action for your family! Praying for you!

In Christ,
Julie

[rainbowacreshs]

Thank you so much for the encouragement, prayers and advice..

Question if we should switch to R&S should we just start at lesson one of Following the Plan, or try to pick up at the start of the next unit in the CTC?
Switching to DITHOR, would the girl option book set work, or just look for books on the sample book list at the local library?
My hubby and I have been looking over the DITHOR and think we should go w/ the 6/7/8 level though she seems to exhibt skills that hover between 5th and 6th. We were thinking if we went over to DITHOR we could take it at the slowest pace possible until she "catches up" with herself.

At the moment I won't change the course of science as she is really enjoying it

One thing that has helped my lol sanity is I enrolled her in my association's co-op where she is doing the "fun" elective classes once a week. She is doing a lap book on herpetology, science lab (weekly fun facts w/ class experiment), pastry decorating, art history-- focus on experimenting w/ art and learning a piece of history about the artist, and chorus. I take advantage of that time and just go have coffee with a friend for a couple hours.

Thanks again for all the support and advice.

[Kathleen]

Jasmine,

I'm praying for you and your mom, too. (And your family...I know that difficult times affect them, too.) I lost my mom just over 3 years ago (when she was 51), and as hard as it was, I am thankful for every second that I was able to spend with her!!

I can't give you English advice, but maybe I can help with DITHOR a little. I have loved the book packs that I've bought from HOD as it made scheduling the books for a "beginner" super-easy! So, I'd pick whatever books match the level she's comfortable with. Then, your student book doesn't have to match the reading level. We're using the 2/3 book again this year with my 4th grader...and he's reading the 4/5 books. He's still growing into the writing, so this has been perfect for us!! The reading is challenging enough and the writing is doable. So, you could use the upper reading level and start out with the 4/5 student book if that helped ease into it without as intensive of writing assignments. Just an idea. Maybe writing isn't an issue for her at all. Just wanted you to know that DITHOR is SOOO easy to make fit you and your child. Flexible and wonderful!! You'll love it!

I guess I can say that we're loving R&S English. (We're only in book 3 though.) We love the simple lessons, and my son is really learning a lot. I love anything that gets the job done and streamlines my time! (And R&S does this for me. )

Kathleen

[my3sons]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts - that helps so much!

Question if we should switch to R&S should we just start at lesson one of Following the Plan, or try to pick up at the start of the next unit in the CTC?

I would just start with Lesson 1 of Following the Plan. Going through it from start to finish will lay a firm foundation and fill any gaps dd may have. It is scheduled every other day in the CTC guide. So, you could either do it daily until you catch up to the plans, or you could still just start with Lesson 1 and do a lesson the twice a week it comes up in the plans, just getting as far as you do this year and picking up wherever you left off next year. I can't stress how much doing a good portion of it orally helps it clip along and be manageable. Here's a link where I gave a description of how we do this, which is just way of doing it to consider:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4659&p=34269#p34269

Switching to DITHOR, would the girl option book set work, or just look for books on the sample book list at the local library? My hubby and I have been looking over the DITHOR and think we should go w/ the 6/7/8 level though she seems to exhibt skills that hover between 5th and 6th. We were thinking if we went over to DITHOR we could take it at the slowest pace possible until she "catches up" with herself.

The Level 4/5 Girl Option would be wonderful. Those books make me wish I had a dd to use them with - but the Lord planned for me to have sons (whom I do love very much). I think you are wise to ease into DITHOR. With this thought in mind, and also taking into account that she hasn't done DITHOR before, I think I'd start her in DITHOR 4/5 for the plans for a year as well. That way you'll be able to give her a little more guidance as it is planned already for you to do so in the guide, but she will also be able to more independent in the areas she needs to be. If she did DITHOR 6/7/8, I think you'd be trying to help her as it's her first trip through DITHOR but the plans aren't written with as much help in them, so you'd be helping where it may not have been intended and she may be unable to be independent with the areas she's supposed to be. Plus, 6/7/8 has daily writing. 4/5 does not have writing every day, though it does have writing many days, it is not as much writing either. Many, many moms that are new to DITHOR when their dc are in 6th. or 7th. grade start with the Level 4/5 plans, and then the following year do the 6/7/8 plans. So, that is just an idea to consider as well.

It sounds like the science is a hit and the co-op as well, so that's a super idea to continue on with those. I hope somewhere in the kicking around of ideas here you can find the fine-tuning for your dd's placement that fits your family's goals the best. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

In Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

I just wanted to say that I am praying for your mom and her salvation. Also for your family in this difficult time. I do not have advice but wanted you to know that my prayers are with you.

[Samuel'sMommy]

I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to let you know that I have prayed for you and your family and will continue to lift you up in prayer!

[rainbowacreshs]

Thank you so much again and again for the continued prayers.

Another question...
Should I just go ahead and take the step back and start with R&S 4? Today during a writing assignment she struggled to form a topic sentence and had difficulties with using the correct tenses. I feel she may have gaps that have somehow I missed teaching.

I went to R&S's web site and was able to view the table of contents. Level 4 seems to contain lessons that I know we simply never covered.
I'm just not sure exactly where to start her.

I have to say I'm wishing I had just gone with the whole kit-and-kooboodale of HOD at the beginning of our school year.

Thanks again

[my3sons]

Should I just go ahead and take the step back and start with R&S 4? Today during a writing assignment she struggled to form a topic sentence and had difficulties with using the correct tenses. I feel she may have gaps that have somehow I missed teaching. I went to R&S's web site and was able to view the table of contents.

R & S English is quite advanced and extensive in its coverage of English. I'm so glad you looked at the table of contents, and I whole-heartedly agree that I would start her back in R & S 4 to fill any possible gaps and give her a firm foundation to build upon in years to come. You could easily do a lesson each day (mainly orally) to clip along and finish R & S 4 in a year. I think this would be a wise decision and one you'll be happier with in the long run. Good thoughts!

I have to say I'm wishing I had just gone with the whole kit-and-kooboodale of HOD at the beginning of our school year. Thanks again

I know what you mean here. Sometimes things are NOT too good to be true. HOD is one of those things for me. It fits our needs just right as it is, and that makes our days much happier and more stress-free than when I was adding this or that. I'm very excited for you just to be able to open your HOD guide and teach! I think you will find, as I have, that it is a relief and a joy to teach this way. I am continuing to pray for you, Jasmine. I never think so when I'm in the middle of tough times, but looking back at them (even the most painful tough times), I truly can see how God was working - always refining somehow... sometimes others, and many times me. I pray for you to find your strength in the Lord as He will carry you through this.

In Christ,
Julie

[rainbowacreshs]

WHOO HOO! Ordered DITHOR, R&S, Girl Interest Pk 4/5, and Write with the Best.... Completely on board the HOD train.... WHOO HOOO chugga chugga chugga CHOO CHOO!!!!

[my3sons]

I like that train - I'm on it too! Let's hope the mailman gets there fast as it's hard to wait when you're ready to board the train! I'm so glad your HOD things are on their way, and be sure to share your box day with us.

In Christ,
Julie

[Samuel'sMommy]

I hope you are able to get in an HOD groove with your daughter!