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I thought I was all set for next year, but the more I think about it I'm not sure. I have my two oldest boys (11 and 9) in Bigger, Unit 22 right now. It's taken us two years to finish up because of a new baby last year. I also have realized the value of doing the program as written and having a schedule. So I think we are on track, the boys are enjoying learning and even my 3 year old (who will be 4 over the summer and will start LHTH in the fall) enjoys listening in and discussing a little bit.
My question has to do with reading and placement for next year. I am all set to start Preparing with both of them in the fall. I actually started it with them in '09 and quickly realized they were not ready so we went back to Bigger. I never quite caught up on the reading this year though. I had bought DITHOR Level 2/3 for my ds11 to do back in '09 and haven't done anything with it yet because I was overwhelmed with everything. He doesn't do a whole lot of ind. reading because of that and the fact that he doesn't like reading fiction as he says. It is like pulling teeth. I have been getting him some of the extension titles for his ind. reading and he hasn't finished one yet. He liked Toliver's Secret when he started it and I was encouraged. But he couldn't finish it and I had gotten it from the library through inter-library loan and you can't renew those. I think part of it is me letting his reading slide. I've mentioned it before on here that he enjoys reading about model railroading and reads adult manuals, etc. He enjoys the stories when I read aloud. He's told me he doesn't like to read during the day because there are so many other interesting things to do. He keeps saying he doesn't like fiction. I got him By the Great Horn Spoon to read (also inter-library loan) and he said he would enjoy reading a non-fiction book about the gold rush instead. He has a really hard time with hypothetical questions and when I question him about stories he sometimes doesn't seem to understand what is going on. Maybe a comprehension issue? He's very self-motivated when it comes to things he wants to learn about.
My ds9 on the other hand loves reading but has a lot of trouble with the actual mechanics of reading. I've been thinking lately that he may be dyslexic. He is still reading Level 2 readers and I've realized that I should have taken him through the emerging readers schedule, that it builds, and that there are questions that help with comprehension, etc. Like I said I'm finally getting it! At least with my two youngest I will just use HOD as written and progress as intended. DS9 also has a lot of issues with handwriting - actually printing the letters. It is so hard for him; he is still on ARFH Book A. He is seeing a behavioral optometrist for eye tracking issues, has done light therapy and wears corrective glasses for now for close work. Sometimes I do spelling orally with him and it is easier for him to copy things like his memory verse when I read it to him. He says something happens when he tries to get the words from his eyes to his brain to his hands. I know this is not a heart issue because he really loves school and gets right to work on independent stuff. I'm not sure if he needs more phonics work - and if so what would that be? I had him doing Explode the Code for a while, but it didn't seem to be helping. I'm thinking maybe I should pick up at Unit 22 with the emerging readers for the rest of Bigger and then he'll be caught up with that and see how that goes? I'm wondering how they will both do in Preparing, especially ds9 who seems to be a little behind (I don't want to just push him along) and ds11 who I think could actually be challenged a little more in some areas. DS11 is finishing Cheerful Cursive, he does really well with grammar - in some areas I think he could do CTC. It is easier for me to keep them together and I think ds11 would be o.k. in Preparing. I don't want to skip again and regret it and I could always beef up with the extensions if I can keep him on track with reading. I'm more concerned I guess with ds9 getting too far behind.
Sorry this is so long. Thanks for reading!

Kristen - Thanks for sharing about each of your sons here! I want to encourage you that we all seem to go through bumps in homeschooling, and I ended up landing happily in HOD and doing it completely as written with no extras now too. We love our days. I think that now that you have gotten into a great routine of doing Bigger Hearts (way to go, BTW ), it will be easier to add the reading instruction for each of your sons. Teaching the Emerging Reader's Set and DITHOR provides excellent reading skills instruction, and I think once you begin that you will find that your sons begin to make real strides. I really like your idea of starting the ERS with your 9 yo ds - you can even start it from the beginning if that would build confidence - they are wonderful books. I think this would help your ds make gains in reading slowly but surely, at a pace he can feel confident about and enjoy fully. For additional phonics, you could consider these good options...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9147&p=66990

I also would have him begin to use a markeboard to write his spelling words, as well as taking ownership of the other skills in that box by having him do the rest of the plans for spelling each day. I think he will grow into this as well. You may want to have him start saying each word aloud as he writes it on his markerboard, as he's identified that cueing system helps him. By having him do that, he will eventually begin to say it in his head rather than out loud. This works well for the day he has to use 3 of his spelling words in sentences as well. I always have my oldest ds read his written work out loud before he hands it in to me, and he catches almost all of his errors this way.

For your older ds, I would begin DITHOR 2/3. It may help to have a little talk with him about reading instruction not being an optional thing for him to do. Reading each of the genres requires different skills, so only reading 1 genre will not teach the necessary skills for reading. Many dc find new favorite genres by reading from each of them. My oldest ds read... and reread... and reread... "The Little House on the Prairie" series way too many times to count. He even listened to it on audio too. I couldn't get him to read anything else. But then, DITHOR encouraged him to branch out, and now he has a well-balanced reading diet. Though he still has his favorites, he has learned to like them all with the excellent books selections HOD suggests. Just like we can't only eat our one favorite food all of the time, we can't just read our one favorite genre either - it prevents healthy growth from happening. I wonder if you could tell him he could look at the Level 2, 3, and Boy Interest 4/5 books and choose 1 or 2 books for each genre from those options? Maybe he'd be more motivated then. But if he is not excited about that idea, I'd just choose for him and encourage him to grow in this area, as it will improve his reading skills and broaden his reading genre preferences.

I think your sons will be well-placed in PHFHG, and I bet you'll see real growth in each of them as they take over a portion of their history readings and their science readings. You'll see such a maturing in what they can do when they work through PHFHG. That year was such a special year for my oldest ds - academically and spiritually. The Bible Quiet Time he started, and "Grandpa's Box" really spoke to his heart. He began taking small steps to grow into a young Christian man that year, and he's been stepping in that direction with HOD ever since. I'm excited for your sons to do PHFHG too! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, Julie, for the great insight. You gals are always so helpful. You mentioned ds9 using a whiteboard for spelling and I've been doing that which also seems to take some pressure off. I think I'm going to start the emerging readers from the beginning and go through them with the questions as written. The links for the phonics programs are great too! I'm going to check those out. Looking back I can see how everything we do with HOD builds on each other. I guess some of us have to learn the hard way.
I will also start ds11 on DITHOR 2/3. I feel you're right on that one too where it is something he just has to do. I've been telling him that lately. I think maybe having him help pick the books and also starting at a lower level will help. Maybe he'll enjoy reading them to me - the fact that I'll sit with him and spend a little extra time with him. Plus once he does a few he'll get used to it and grow into it like everything else. It's always hard just to get started with something new.
What do you think about finishing up a few units of Bigger in the fall before we start Preparing? We usually take a summer break and I don't think we would finish until mid-July which is just a little longer than I'd like to go. Is it o.k. to still be working on the emerging readers and DITHOR 2/3 when we start Preparing? Those seem like things you can just carry over into the next guide, but I'm not sure.
Thanks for helping to clarify where we are headed!

I would personally keep cruising along with the Emerging Readers during the summer (even if you break from the rest). You'll be fine using level 2/3 of DITHOR during Preparing though. And if your other son isn't done with the Emerging Readers when you begin Preparing, keep on trucking with that, too. Maybe it would be good for morale if you have both of your sons just doing reading during the break so that the Emerging Reader doesn't feel like he's being singled out or "punished" for something. Then you'd be in a groove with that before you jump into Preparing. Getting through those Emerging Readers will really help your 9 yo be ready to read his Independent History and Science as they're about the same reading level as the end of the Emerging Readers.

Happy Reading!
Kathleen

Thanks, Kathleen. That makes a lot of sense. I usually try to do some reading over the summer anyway so that's something we could do. I think it will be good for keeping the flow of things going and help us catch up a little before we jump into a new guide.