Optimal schedule for Rod and Staff

[tbarr12]

I am really hoping for an answer to this one, too, as I'm pondering placement for R&S for my 2!

[Tree House Academy]

I am in the same boat as you and we are going with your option #2. We are doing all of R&S 5 this year and then slowing down in R&S 6 since it will be more of a challenge overall. Good luck with your choice.

[Carrie]

If you're doing CTC, I'd be inclined to do 1/2 of English 5 this year and 1/2 of it the following year. Then, you could do all of 6 in 8th grade. This would allow you to follow the English schedules in CTC and RTR and then to do all of English 6 in the upcoming guide (instead of the half that will likely be scheduled). But, we will plan for daily grammar in the upcoming guide (as we plan to split the lessons for English 6 so kiddos are doing grammar daily anyway). So, the balance of grammar will not be changed as much as if you did one of your other options. The reason I lean in this direction is that when pairing a writing program with each guide, we weigh how much time grammar will be taking. In CTC and RTR the balance would be tilted to be heavier than we're planning in the language arts department if you did grammar daily (as in both those guides we're planning for it to be twice weekly instead). So, if you can go with the plan in our guides (or closer to it) it will go smoother for you time-wise each day.

Clear as mud?

Blessings,
Carrie

[Tree House Academy]

I am confused by this part..."But, we will plan for daily grammar in the upcoming guide (as we plan to split the lessons for English 6 so kiddos are doing grammar daily anyway). So, the balance of grammar will not be changed as much as if you did one of your other options. The reason I lean in this direction is that when pairing a writing program with each guide, we weigh how much time grammar will be taking..." can you explain this further, Carrie? We are not so far ahead that we couldn't stop now and follow English as written in CTC if this is what you are recommending.

Are you saying that in CTC and RTR, you scheduled the writing based on the amount of time the child was spending on English 5 and that in the next two guides, English 6 will be scheduled to be done more often while writing will be less often? Or did I miss the boat on that completely?

[Carrie]

Rebecca,

You are right! We did schedule grammar in CTC and RTR to be at half-speed twice weekly to accomodate the increasing rigor of the writing programs included in those guides. Within the guide to come after RTR, grammar will be scheduled daily (four days a week) no matter whether you are doing half-speed English 6 or full-speed English 6, it will still be scheduled daily. So, we will factor the amount of writing kiddos are doing in grammar daily when we weigh which writing program we will add into the guide after RTR. We will also be factoring in increasing written narrations in the guide after RTR. So, when looking at the balance of writing within your day, it helps if you can stick more closely to the same number of grammar sessions we are scheduling weekly in each guide. Is that clearer?

Blessings,
Carrie