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Or maybe that's backwards from what I'm trying to ask...

My son reads. A lot. He can read a book in a day. (or two!)

How is this going to work with preparing?

I've been thinking of setting up a rule that he has to finnish the entire day of school before he can move ahead at all.
But, since it's a unit study type of thing, should I not allow him to move ahead in just one book?

How do you handle letting them be independent, yet helping them stay on schedule within the guide?

Thank you,
Mercy

School stuff gets read on the school schedule and anything else can be done after school is completed.... There are too many books that my kids haven't read besides school books... if they are interested in a topic they can check out other books from the library that cover the topic.

My son is a read-a-lover as well and I have a stack of books that he can read on his own and go through. When he finishes those he lets me know so I can give him more books. He is not allowed to read ahead in any of the school books, but is allowed to read any of the stories we already did for school. He is allowed to read the Bible as much and as often as he wants and wherever he wants to read!
We are only in Bigger so he does not have as much independent time. We encounter him wanting to go ahead in his DITHOR books, but I tell him that he can read it in 1 setting after we are done with for DITHOR and that made him happy
It is such a blessing to have children who love to read and how important that they read good books. What a great problem to have, is it not?
Success and hope this helps you!

Just chiming in to say I have a book lover in Preparing this year too. For birthdays and other holidays that is what she gets for gifts or saves her gift money and buys them. And she too can read through many books in a one day. I often have to tell her to stop reading and go play outside or whatever or she would just read aaaaalll day long. Our rule is that she may not read ahead in school books but that once we have read it completely for school she can read it on her own any time. I do insist that she return it to the school room shelf, so I can find it later. We check out gobbs of books at the library. But I always preread evrything first. So I have the library rolling cart that the books come home in for me and a plastic filing box, that when they are approved for reading, she can read from at her leisure. BTW- having to wait to dig into the new DITHOR books has had her on the edge of her seat salivating at the unread books.


Edie

It is such a blessing to have children who love to read and how important that they read good books. What a great problem to have, is it not?

We check out gobbs of books at the library. But I always preread evrything first.

Yes, a blessing that he is a great reader, but at the same time a struggle to make sure he is reading quality books! I appreciate moms who pre-read the books brought home. I have never been able to do it. I set it by my bed but never seem to get around to doing it. In the meantime he is asking and asking if I have done it, so finally I just read the beginning few pages, the last chapter and find a few random pages & decide from there. Thankfully I trust his discernment, even at this young age he stands for righteousness. Praise be to Jesus!

I like the idea that school books are for school time, but to keep providing books to read on the side.

Thank you!
Mercy

I have 2 book lovers, and I totally agree! Racing through books is something they can do with books outside of school, but school books are meant to savor (and remember!). Reading excellent living books in bite-sized pieces is a staple of Charlotte Mason learning, and with good reason. My dc have read a ton of books, but hands-down, it is the books they've read through HOD they remember (and love) best. Truly spending time in a book, and then having all of the awesome activities/discussions that go with it, is what makes them retain what they've learned. Doing a 2 page one day's worth of plans each day in PHFHG will give your ds such a great year! We loved PHFHG - "Grandpa's Box" was a definite favorite among many others. I too have good plans to read books before my dc to, but like you, I don't get it done. For this reason, I have utilized ALL of HOD's book choices as much as possible. I use the DITHOR Sample Book Ideas list, and especially the HOD Bookshop. Any books that I didn't use (i.e. there are 3 Storytime sets in Beyond and Bigger, and you only use 1), I get from HOD and put in my dc's room for free reading time. We are beginning to have a truly excellent home library of books. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Good morning Julie!

Thank you so much for your reply. I actually bought the extension pack from preparing to give to my son for extra reading (when he has finished his school work ). I'm not requiring it, but I don't have to really...he's already drooling over the books & we haven't gotten them yet. lol! I was also thinking about the fact that its nice to be able to trust a company that their books are God honoring. I am planning to use HOD's recommended book list to stock our home!

Have a great Saturday in Jesus!
Mercy
...Monday can't come fast enough! Our books are waiting at our local UPS store - right now...ooh the agony!! LOL!...

Mercy,

I'll just paste a previous response of mine that may be an option for you.

I'll copy a post below I made awhile back that is on this same topic:

I am a book lover by heart too, and I just wanted to say that at HOD we strive for fewer books of higher quality done better over time, which is very Charlotte-Mason style.

But, I do still love having my kiddos have free reading books of high quality too. So, to address this need of mine, we keep a laundry basket under each kiddos bed and at the beginning of the year, I make a list of free reading books that I put in their basket. They must read those books before summer, however, they can read them when they choose and as fast as they'd like when they have free time. This way, I still feel like I have a place to go with my "book finds" but it doesn't add on to our precious school day time. I also get some harder, more classic books on audio (to put in the basket) and have my kiddos read and follow along with the audio.

Before the laundry basket idea, my kiddos each had a shelf downstairs that functioned the same way. However, they could only "check out" one book at a time from their shelf and then had to return it prior to checking out another book.

It made a huge difference in how the kiddos viewed those books. The books became special.
Anyway, just a thought!

Blessings,
Carrie

And here is a bit more information of mine from before on a similar topic:

My kiddos aren't required to do anything additional with their basket books except to read them sometime before summer. Often I'll place any books (from the guide the kiddos are using) that we wouldn't otherwise get to read in the basket. For example, if we're reading the Boy Interest Set, I may put the Classic Books and the Girl Interest ones in their basket. I do use some of the books within our programs as extras of books on tape for the whole crew to listen to at lunch instead.

I try to keep the list, including audios for the basket, to around 20-25 book titles. I do put all of the actual books in the basket (or on the shelf) and keep my own copy of the list in case one gets lost. After the child is done reading them for the year, I do box them up in a lidded tub and put them in storage for the next kiddo. However, I'm finding each kiddo is different, so the books I list for my oldest to read may be quite different from the ones I will have my next one read next time around. I pull out the books for that year from storage as my next one gets old enough, and then make changes or substitutions as I see fit. It's definitely a work in progress each year. But, of course, I love looking through great books. It gives me a place to put all my new (or old) finds.

I will mention that I no longer do this with my oldest son, as he has his own ideas now of what to read and his reading for school is fairly intense!

Blessings,
Carrie