Rev2Rev with 9th grader

[Yaya68]

Hello, is anyone doing Rev2Rev with a 9th grader (15yo). That's where my son places due to his grammar and writing struggles. He is absolutely against this and has basically forfeited any enthusiasm for school unless I move him up to a more grade and age appropriate level. He wants to do the Geo study. I totally get his heart in this since he is working way below and feels that the readers and assignmemts are for youngsters, but how do I juggle a student = very strong reader/comprehension yet poor writer/grammar? I am completely and utterly overwhelmed and stuck. I feel like a big failure and can't seem to get past the what ifs. I am trying to decide levels for other dc as well, but those seem more manageable and clear. This dc has me in panic mode. HELP

[chillin'inandover]

I am not techie savy, but if you look under Main Board Message under the sticky above it has How to Beef Up for Jr/Sr High. There is a threads for Rev 2 Rev. It has been done by several on board, so you won't be alone. I just want to say welcome to HOD and to enjoy your high school journey.
I have graduated 2 from high school but they didn't use HOD because the guides needed weren't available yet. They did use DITHOR- Drawn into theHeart of Reading. My greatest struggle was teaching writing because I prefer math & science. We took a CM approach to grammar and didn't start formal grammar until 7th grade. Both my daughters have excelled in language arts, either because of or instead of my instruction. On ACT they received 31/36 for language arts. My daughter is in college to teach English as a second Language and both have tutored English in College. My daughters commented how ps students could not write a paper despite 13 years of formal training.
HOD has solid instruction in writing. The combination of Rod& Staff plus writing program is thorough. Throughout the boxes there are instruction too in history, science, DITHOR, reaearch, and storytime. Also child studies such rich literature that it gives them something to write about later too. I believe ps students have been passive in their learning that they can't write because they don't have enough to draw from and they haven't had to ponder so deeply.
The guide looks exciting I can't wait for my ds to dig in next year. IMHO the older the child is the more he gets out of the guides. They are "meaty" and require a lot of the student.
High school is an exciting time. With God all things are possible. God bless you & your family during this time.

[little1stwo]

I don't have a lot of advice, but I did want to let you know that I will be doing Rev to Rev with my 9th grader this year too - he's 14. So it might make your son feel better that there have been other 14/15 year olds who have used (and are using) Rev to Rev. On the other hand, I think if it were my son and he wanted to do the new Geography guide very badly - I would let him- and just do writing on his level. Start at the basics with writing. HOD uses one year of IEW for writing - so maybe choose something from them on his level. I want my children to enjoy school as much as possible and then the hard things don't seem quite as bad. My son hasn't studied the history time periods in Rev to Rev and MTMM yet - so he WANTS to do those guides. If he wanted to do the geography guide - I'd be all for it. Can't wait to get to that guide myself!

Lynn

[Yaya68]

Thanks for the encouragement and advice and sharing of your own plans.

I am struggling with choosing the right course for ds. While he wants to do the Geo study...he hasn't done the 2 preceding levels. He finished RTR and quite enjoyed that one, but did comment along the way of how elementary the guide was and he always felt very much behind his age and grade. I think that's why he had this ho hum attitude through out the yr. I want him to embrace his work and 1st yr of high school, but keeping him below level (when I know that he comprehends far beyond that-just not in writing) seems wrong and backwards somehow. However, my mind tells me to enforce what I think is right (Rev2Rev)...but my heart wants to "allow" him some freedom in choosing his path. I just don't know what is the right thing to do. Would it be awful to bump him to the high school level and do as Lynn said...choose the writing/grammar level where he places? How would that look and work? Would it work? Would it mess things up for future guides? If I decide to use Rev2Rev...he will never complete the high school levels and that just doesn't make sense. I want to make a decision with his best interest and success as my primary goal. I want him to look forward to school every morning. I have 2 other kiddos (9&7) that need my full on attention and guidance with school, so it is essential that 15yo takes responsibility for his work (with mom as support and sound board).

[LynnH]

You can easily choose your own grammar program to go with the Geography guide. It even says that in the grammar box. If you think he needs a lower level of Rod and Staff say level 6 then you could either do it just part time as scheduled in the guide or you could do it daily in order to get through the entire book. It is meaty and still more grammar than most high schoolers in ps get. As far as the writing program then I guess it depends on how far behind you think he is. I have heard wonderful things about Essentials in Writing that is scheduled in the Geography guide. The DVD lessons are supposed to be very good. Is it possible that he could do this as scheduled and this would be the instruction he needs to catch up? If not then you could choose something that you think would help him catch up and just do that instead. The other writing you would have to decide on is the written narrations. How many sentences do you think he can do? I think Rev to Rev requires 10-14 sentences. You could start him there with the goal that by the end of the year he would be doing the amount required in the Geography guide. I think if he really wanted to do the Geography guide I would sit down with him and look at the first week together. Let him really see what it entails and what the expectations are. If he thinks he is up to it then I would most likely let him try it. I know with my 14 year old that it helps if he does have some input into his school.

[jriggs001]

Hello there! I did REV2REV with my then 15yo two years ago and beefed up using the Advanced Science workbook with the Physical Science, 5000 yr leap, Fed. Papers and reading the Constitution along with the extensions! Don't forget those extensions! REV2REV is designed to be extended into the age range of 13-15 year olds Those extensions are tough, comprehension-wise that is, and they are like adding another box of oral and written narration! The bible is a little on the kid-ish side, but you could always just substitute something like Balancing the Sword or some of the personal bible studies from Queen Homeschool, those are great! I'm really glad I went this route with my young man. He didn't say so, but I think he thought he was going to have any easy ride that year, but it ended up being very challenging We had used MFW before, which had a lot of summarizing, but not nearly as in depth and varied as HoD! He was all over the place in his writing at that time, but could comprehend and give a fantastic oral narration. Through perseverance he has some fantastic written narrations now. I'm so thankful that we went this route. We used MTMM last year for his 10th grade year w/extensions and beefed up science with CHEM101 and bible studies from Queen Homeschool. The written narrations were longer and more in depth again, building on what was done the year before. He is doing really well and I feel confident for him going into the Geography guide now. Especially after looking at the first week and going through all the books. Wow! It is a very LARGE skill jump going from REV2REV guide to the World Geography guide. I would not skip, and just show him on the website or in the catalog that with the extension package (and beefing up the other areas) that it IS for his age. Hope this helps, if you have any questions, feel free to pick my brain. I hope this wasn't too disjointed, I'm nursing my baby and I get a little fuzzy in the brain

Jill in Cincy

[danielsmom]

This will be our first year with HOD so I don't have any advice for you. However, I did want to share that my 15 year old son will be doing Rev2Rev this year for 9th grade. He too has some struggles with writing, and in other areas as well, so I really felt this was the best placement for him.

[8arrows]

My daughter did REV2REV last year for her freshman year. It went well! She is doing MTMM this year, the world guide the next, and geography for her senior year. The last two years are flip-flopped because I combine her with younger siblings. I have the advantage at my house of multiple children. There is only so much one mom can do, so I was simply able to say, "I can't do another guide." I did let her have imput on extensions and extra-curricular events. I think that imput in other areas softened not being in a different guide. I will tell you that since I have 2 graduated now, I gave her the option of going up to the geography guide, and she chose to just keep going on the path we have set out on. So, his opinion could change down the road. Sons are a whole different ball game (I have 4, and my oldest 2 that are graduated are boys). It did go better with the older boys when they were at least somewhat engaged. I see your dilemma. However, it does seem like a big jump in guides that I would not make lightly. You as the mom will need to decide this one with prayer and the knowledge of your son's abilities and personality. I would struggle with your decision as well. Let us know what you decide.

[Yaya68]

Wow..sooooo comforting to know that I am not alone and that others have "paved the road" before me. Thank you a 1,000 times to you all. I don't know what we will do...praying on that still, but I'm glad to know that support and encouragement is here when I need it.

Yes, 8arrows...sons are a whole different ball of wax. DH and I have 5 wonderfully unique sons and they have all blessed and challenged us in ways that we can't say. This particular ds is currently the one who has DH and I on our knees. He wants to grow up so fast and call his own game; however, I can see what he needs and where he lacks. How do I get him to see what I see and submit joyfully to my decisions where school is concerned? In all other areas of family life, ds is honoring and respectful. I want to give him the opportunity to plot out his course somewhat, but not at the risk of jeopardizing his high school years. He, of course, doesn't see that. He reasons that as long as he is learning, then what's the harm in skipping guides. I can see his point. The writing and grammar is a non negotiable. He needs to work at the level he is currently on, but as for the history/lit area...what would be the harm in skipping?...I ask myself.

Sigh