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After working through the placement chart for both kids, I really think I should split them. DD falls between Bigger and Preparing. DS falls in CTC. Since I own Bigger already and can't afford to buy two programs, I think I will put DD in Bigger with Extensions and put DS in CTC with Extensions. We are starting DD in Bigger today at half speed for the summer to see how things go. DS will read through A Child's History of the World this summer and work through Cheerful Cursive to get ready for CTC. I think he's too far along in most areas to do Preparing even with extensions and I'm not sure I would put DD in Preparing yet.

DS has never been one to work independently so I'm a bit nervous about doing two programs. Last time we did two programs it was very long and drawn out every day. DS insists on sitting in on DDs readings and wants to do your stuff too. Hoping he's matured enough to do his own work this year, although I did tell him he could listen to her history and storytime.

DD however is excited to be doing some independent reading.
Still praying over this but may be on the right track. Any thoughts?

It sounds like you have a good placement for each of them, and that really helps the day go more smoothly - at least it has at our house. I think I'd let your ds read any of dd's Storytime and history books he wants to this summer, in lieu of letting him sit with you and listen in on them in the school year, especially as you mentioned being worried about him being independent enough to finish his work on time. His listening in will add time to the day, and it will also not let him learn to work well independently while you are working with your dd - plus your dd will feel special to have 1:1 time with you, as your ds will when you do CTC's "T" directed boxes. Maybe let him know that listening in on dd's school adds quite a bit of more time to his school, meaning he'll finish quite a bit later, because not only is he making his day longer by listening in to dd's school, he's also making it longer because he's not working independently during that time. It has helped me to put something independent for my older ds during the time I am reading aloud to my middle ds, and I try to choose something that he should finish by the time I am done reading. For example, if my middle ds's reading is going to take about 10-15 minutes, then maybe I have my older ds finish his math workbook, which I know should take him about 10-15 minutes. I let him know that by the time I am done reading, he should be done with his math, and then I check it when we're done. If he has trouble with a math problem, he can skip it, and we'll do it together when I'm done reading to my middle ds. In this way, he kind of is able to listen in, as he's working within earshot, but he is still moving along with his work, and my middle ds is still the only one really answering the questions and doing the follow-ups. This has worked well at our house at least. HTH, but otherwise, sounds like you're set!

In Christ,
Julie