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Started CTC yesterday, and it went very well. I can even see the possibility of being convinced that I can give up my spelling program!

Anyway, just wondering - do you assign any written work for the grammar, or do it all orally?

Thanks!

Tracey

I'm so glad to hear this! CTC just keeps getting to be more and more of a fit as the year goes on and kiddos get into the routine of it too. I was just looking through my ds's CTC Student book from last year and thinking what a good year it was. For the R & S English, we typically did about 1/3 of it orally. I had him write about 5-8 things a day. I usually tried to pick the ones that had some learning to be had in the writing of the answers. For example, I'd have him write more of the diagramming ones than the ones that asked him to write "S" for Subject and "P" for Predicate, as writing "S" and "P" doesn't teach much in itself. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Tracey,

I am just about to order CTC so I can start soon. I was wondering why you said you might be able to give up your spelling program? What does CTC have that makes you think that? Just really curious as I don't know what to expect from the program yet since I don't have it in my hands. Can't wait!

Thank you!

Lynn

Well, it seems that the way CTC addresses spelling is through dictation. I guess after doing the dictation on Friday, I can see how this can help with spelling, and I may not need an additional program which teaches rules. I could see how my kids studied the spelling in the passage, and then really worked to get it right when they wrote it out (although they didn't always!) I like the way they have to do the passage over until they get it right (on subsequent days). I think I am going to give this a try for awhile before I decide whether to start my spelling program.

I'll just say here that my dd has always struggled with spelling. I have struggled myself with believing that dictation is 'enough' by itself. However, after state testing in April, and only having done dictation for a few short months, my dd's spelling had improved by 1.3 years (from the previous year's scores) so it really does work. She still has lots of words she misspells in her other work, it's just a weak area for her, but I can really tell she has improved and I can't wait to see how her scores are next spring, as we just picked back up with dictation today. Also, as a struggling speller, the dictation seems to make her feel good about herself, where missing the spelling words week after week tends to make her feel "stupid" (in her words). Just my 2 cents!

inHistiming,

I'm so glad to hear this update on your daughter and dictation! I have come to be a believer in it too!

Blessings,
Carrie