Hi Linda!
We just returned from a convention, so thanks for your patience in my getting back to you here. Thank you for explaining more about each of your dc with the placement chart in mind - that really does help so much.
LindaOz wrote:...I've had a look at the placement chart and I *think* that these two would fit into CTC. They both read independently and, although I haven't yet got DITHOR, I think they would both be capable of doing the level 4/5 although they haven't really done any formal lit study - mostly read and narrate, write a summary etc. They are both fine with copying in cursive and are able to take dictation, although dd12 (will be 13 when she starts HOD) struggles with fluency in her writing so I think that extra work developing written narrations would be good for her. She really blanks out at creative writing and I'm wanting her to have some basic instruction in this area. Dd11 is good with dictation, writes short narrations and does some creative writing. Dd11 has just started R&S English 4 after using some of English 3 and a variety of other grammar resources. She enjoys this and has understood her work so far. Dd12 is using another grammar resource at the moment but I would like her to work through R&S English 5 when she is done with her current book. She can get a little muddled with grammar as well. As for math, dd12 is strong in this area and is nearly finished Saxon 8/7. She will stay with Saxon and go into Algebra 1/2. I've actually just done the Singapore Math placement test with dd11 and I have her books ordered but they haven't arrived yet. I haven't been happy with the math she has been doing (thus the change) and she only tested into level 3B. I'm hoping that she will be able to go through that level quickly and be ready for at least 4A when we start with HOD.
Does that help? I hope I've made things clear.
Yes, that helps so much!
I think the 2 of them can be well placed in CTC along with the LA/math you've mentioned.
We especially appreciated the clear explanation and instruction of written narrations. The Written Narration Skills list in the Appendix helped us focus upon one skill at a time helped my ds to improve his writing tenfold.
"Write with the Best" helped our ds to improve his creative writing ability so much. He was able to attempt to emulate the style of many wonderful classic authors, while still choosing his own topics of interest, which he enjoyed doing.
I think your R & S English choices sound good, and HOD advises doing around 2/3 of it orally or on a markerboard, and only reserving 1/3 or a section of it to be written. We have done this and found we are able to clip along with R & S English, making it more enjoyable and doable for the long haul.
There are many levels of dictation to choose from in CTC, so that should work, and the extensions will extend it for your older dd nicely. I do think you'll be able to clip along with the math with dd11. One thing I have learned (the hard way
) about Singapore is that it is not helpful for me to insert "my" little tips and tricks and steps for math alongside or in lieu of the Singapore methods.
There is much purpose to the order and the method Singapore uses to teach skills, and "my way" confuses that method. So, the only advice I can give with Singapore is trust the manner they are going about teaching math, sit alongside your dd and learn it with her as you do the Textbook part of the lesson together, and then let her do the Workbook as solo as possible. That has been what has worked for us with Singapore, and the results have been amazing!
LindaOz wrote:Can I ask you about another child too? Jessica is 14, but will be 15 in September and is currently doing Sonlight Core 100. She is a very advanced reader (the SL reading she is doing is easy for her) and has a deep understanding of what she reads. She's right into Jane Austen at the moment and can give me insightful comments and verbal character analyses just in conversation. I'm really unsure of what to place her into next year. I was going to have her do MFW AHL..... but then I discovered HOD and now I'm tossing from one to the other. She writes easily and is a talented creative writer (was short-listed last year in a national competition) although she could use work on writing poetry
I would like to give her some formal instruction in academic writing (essays etc). She has done some of this but I want to take it further. She is currently working through R&S English 6. Math and Science are NOT her strong points. Would Rev to Rev with extensions be suitable for her? Or would she be past it? I'm so unsure.
Yes - we love to hear about each of your dc here at HOD!
I think Jessica would do well with RevtoRev along with the Extension Package. It is definitely a meaty program - the poetry and primary source documents, along with the level of writing and reading selections come to mind as I think of how challenging RevtoRev will be. I think your dd would enjoy the "Creative Writing" program as well, and the R & S English 6 and dictation passages will be challenging too. She could do the Advanced Physical Science, which is high school credit worthy, and DITHOR 6/7/8 which you can choose some Austen titles and some other challenging books to give her a lit credit. Here is a link about that:
DITHOR Titles for High School:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7765&p=56997#p56997
LindaOz wrote:Also, how much of Rev to Rev is American history? Jessica will have just completed a whole year of American history and she is enjoying it, but because we Australian it may be too much to do another whole study on it the next year. I'm not worried about the state study - we would just substitute that with some Aus studies. I am thinking more of the overall history study. Anyway, thanks so much for answering my post and for your help.
I think that American is definitely balanced well within world history in RevtoRev. "George Washington's World" gives excellent overall coverage of history, and along with "The Growth of the British Empire" - which runs throughout - and the other sources such as "The Story of Napoleon" and Diana Waring's "What in the World" audio tour through history - make for a good mix. However, you will know best here.
HTH! We have enjoyed HOD so much in our own home, and one of the reasons is each of our dc is getting just what they need. This makes our days flow smoothly, and it makes our years such satisfying, enjoyable ones. HOD makes homeschooling relatively stress free - even though my house is filled with 3 very BUSY active boys!
We love our days together. And it's largely due to HOD. May HOD be a blessing in your home as well!
In Christ,
Julie
Hopefully that will smooth the waters a little. We won't actually start with CtC until after Christmas as we school calendar year here, but it's nice to know that we will be on the same journey. 
When she had completed junior high, HOD didn't have anything i could use with her at the time, so I sent her to public school. Since she is also a pre-professional dance student, after two years of public school she was open to finding a way to study at home again, and we settled on the online school. If HOD had anything that high in level currently written, I would certainly be using it for her as well