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My daughter who just completed Preparing and will be doing CTC next school year and with that I have a couple of questions. I love how history is interwoven with other subjects and was thinking about ordering the history interest for the independent study portion, but I am wondering if the girls interest would be better for the sheer discussion of what happens with other girls. My daughter will be in 6th grade and I think she might enjoy it, but I have such a issue with getting away from our historical time period. So wondering what you ladies think? Second thing I wanted to run by you to see if any of you have experienced this with your children. During the day while doing school my daughter will always count how many pages she has to read before she reads it, and then laments over the amount that she is having to read. This irritates me given the fact that I know the reading will continue to be more with each year. Now, she likes the stories and loves talking about them, but I cannot convince her that this habit is going to add much grief throughout the rest of her school. Any suggestions on how to deal with that? Thanks ladies, I enjoy reading the message board, and get so much out of your comments!
Paula

I can't help with the reading choices, but I had to smile at your daughter counting the pages to read before reading them. I do that to this day. For me it is more of wanting to know what lies ahead. When I set out to read something for the day I automatically look ahead to see how long the chapter is. I suppose it's not the best habit, but perhaps it's more curiosity than anything. I wouldn't like or accept the poor attitude toward the length, but know that perhaps that is just something she just wants to know ahead of time. I just like to know what is expected of me and I think that is more of a personality trait than anything. Then again, I might just be strange!

BOTH of my sons do this! But they both don't mind reading, though. I think they like to know what is ahead too. I would say it is fine as long as there isn't complaining about it. The complaining is the real heart issue, in my opinion. If she is complaining, then that should be addressed as the main issue.

Are you doing DITHOR? I was going to say, if you are doing that program, you could choose the girls' interest books and she could read them that way, as well as doing the history extensions if you wanted her to. Another option would be to try and find some historical fiction books that she might like that match the time period you are studying and let her read those on her own. Just some ideas!

About the first question, my daughters, who will be in 7th and 8th grade in the fall, will be doing CTC. I asked the youngest which reading set she wanted to do, and she said without hesitation, "Girl Interest". As for the 13 year old, I decided she would benefit, for the sake of furthering her history learning, from doing the History Interest set independently, because she is older and a bit more mature than her younger sister, yet not a strong enough reader for the Extensions set. I suppose it depends both on your goals for your child and your child's needs.
As for the second question, my 13 year old does the very same thing...so do I, but when I count how many pages I have to read in a chapter, it's out of anticipation, whereas when she does it, it is out of dread I try to reassure her the lengths of her assigned readings are reasonable

Ladies thanks so much for your replies, I love the input! Tina let me ask you a question, I know it sounds silly, but I never thought about doing it as DITHOR. We did it during Preparing, and I would just fit whatever book she was reading for history into a genre, but that is a perfect idea! Ok if she is doing DITHOR and the girls interest, is the independent study time mostly the Diane Waring audio? I looked in the sample pages and all of them I believe were Diane Waring, so would I do the extensions during that time? I sound like someone who has never done this, but in Preparing we did not do any extensions. Thanks so much!
Paula

The Independent History is more than Diane Waring. That is interspersed with filling out a prophecy about Christ chart, Draw and Write through History, and other activities including some mapping. There is quite a variety in that box. I really wouldn't do the extensions with a 6th grader, especially if she didn't do the extensions in Preparing. The reading is pretty meaty in the non-extension books and a big jump from the books in Preparing. My 6th grade ds has been really challenged.

I would think if you do the DITHOR with the girls interest books, that would be enough to add without extensions. Just my opinion though. You know your daughter best. We are still in Beyond and haven't made it that far yet! But I really feel doing DITHOR with her would be enough, and she would really like the books. DITHOR is a very meaty program that really teaches them to think, in my opinion! Hope that helps you.

Such wisdom in these replies already here! You have many good ideas to ponder. I will just say that I think the extensions are added when "more" proves itself necessary. If dd is counting the pages simply in anticipation, well that's one thing. If she's counting the pages because the amount of reading is a daunting task for her - that is altogether another thing. If it's the former - well, a little habit that is part of her trying to map out ahead of time what is to come. But if it's the latter - well, an indicator the extensions will be too much. There is not one right answer for all here, just one right answer for your dd! Such is the amazing flexibility of HOD - a benefit to embrace!

Let's just say that the reading is too much for her - in that case, I would definitely read the Storytime books aloud to her, and I would give her the HOD catalog, or look online if you don't have one (and then by all means order one ), and let her pick. The history core in CTC is s-t-r-o-n-g. You cannot go wrong here. Letting your dd choose will be totally fine, and will get her more on board with what's read. As far as DITHOR - you definitely want to do that. I'd let her look at the 4/5 and 5/6 packs, and see where she's leaning. She'll be doing DITHOR 3 days a week in CTC, so 5 genre's worth of books will do. Oh, and if it's hurtful to you that she's counting the pages - let her know. I would. Sometimes dc have no idea how what they do affects us. They need to know, and alter their behavior accordingly. If she wants to count mentally, a-o-k. Counting out loud and lamenting - not nice for the mama - and mama deserves better. HTH as you weigh what's best for your dd!

In Christ,
Julie

I really appreciate all of this, gives me much to think about. I looked at the books for the DITHOR book packs and am still worried about doing those for her scheduled DITHOR time three days a week because I am hearing you ladies say that all the other reading is pretty "meaty". If I am giving her 20 pages a day just for her DITHOR and she still is reading everything else except for Storytime, I think it will be a struggle for her. I know she can read it, but I think I will lose her interest in what she is learning. I know I am probably over analyzing this, but I want to make sure I am truly giving her what she needs without totally frustrating her. I read on hear somewhere that she shouldn't do her DITHOR with the Storytime, but that she should be reading those herself? Thanks ladies!
Paula

You can read the storytime books aloud to her, but DITHOR is independent reading. You could use the level 4/5 workbook with her so that she has more interaction with you-there will be times the teacher guide tells you to have her read aloud a few pages to you, and there is more teacher directed learning-in level 6/7/8 the assignments in the workbook are nearly entirely independent and they child doesn't read aloud to you anymore. I would suggest you start the year slowly, maybe half-speed, and see how she does. If she takes off running, you can move to full speed.