Post
by Nealewill » Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:06 am
Do you have the guide and books for CTC? Do you already own Preparing?
My dd has always been a slower reader but she also will rise to any challenge. And while she on the lowest age range, it is hard because we finished Preparing with flying colors but CTC is definitely more reading than Preparing. But not too much - the book have less pictures, the pages are much larger but you read less page. Volume wise it is similar but vocabulary wise is more difficult. There is also a lot more writing in CTC than there is in Preparing. WWTB is also a lot more difficult of a writing program than was Preparing.
Realistically, with his age, I would think he would be fine with the volume of work. I would only be concerned about his thoughts of the volume of reading. Just out of curiosity, how long does he read per day when he has to do reading? I would say if he can chapter books that don't have large print and aren't loaded with pictures for 1.5 hours per day on his own, then he would probably be fine with CTC. For my dd, because she isn't a fast reader, then it takes her about 1.5-2 hours to get through the reading. But she does get her day done in about 4.5 hours per day 4 days a week.
My son also sounds similar to yours. He does great with a challenge. I was a little worried about him start Bigger this fall because he doesn't write much and usually complains about his hands always hurting (he does have some fine motor issues but is in therapy). Before we started our summer break, we did a few weeks of Bigger and he did okay with it. Then over the summer, we started reading all the time and took a break from writing. Well, I am happy to report, we are back in school and that he is doing fine with Bigger! I am surprised at how long he can write and how he can do the volume of reading required by DITHOR even. It is a huge blessing to see that we aren't even going to need to go 1/2 speed because of his abilities. (I am going 1/2 speed for now because it is summer but once the school year starts - it is full speed ahead LOL). So if your son thrives with a challenge, you could also do CTC 1/2 speed till he catches on and gets in a grove. If you later decide CTC is too much work for him and wanted to go with Preparing instead, I wouldn't add in the extensions. I personally think the extension books would make your day longer than CTC would without any changes because the extension books have some challenging vocabulary in them.
Daneale
DD 13 WG
DS 12 R2R
DD 10 R2R
Enjoyed DITHOR, Little Hearts, Beyond, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, R2R, RevtoRev, MtMM
I will be running 3 guides. My 9yo (4th gr) will be using Preparing, 13yo (repeating 7th gr) using CtC with Extensions (he is a a bit behind academically so CtC was a good "fit" for him) and 14yo (9th gr) using the WG Guide (I am soooo excited about that!). I have an 11yo boy who is also a bit of a struggler academically. He was a very late reader and still struggles tremendously (mostly due to confidence rather than ability) though he has made great strides in the past couple years. I would say he reads a grade level or 2 behind where he "should" be. His writing and spelling, b/c of our focus on his reading, is also behind although I would say that he is a better speller than reader! Besides copywork, some dictation and narrations and a tiny bit of original writing (mere paragraphs), he has not had much in the way of formal writing instruction. His math skills are mostly on grade level (he is in Singapore 4B at the moment, soon to be in 5A). I have gone back and forth about where to place him and could use some advice. At first, I thought Preparing was going to be the best fit, using some of the Extensions for extra reading practice, adding in Essentials in Writing 5 and a more complex science and doing math as usual. Then, for various reasons, I thought perhaps he would best be served in CtC with his older brother. Working with his older brother instead of his little sister would give him a much needed confidence boost. He would still use Essentials in Writing 5 (b/c I already have it!), math at his level and CtC pretty much as written. As far as the Independence required in CtC I "think" that he could do it if we start slow and move toward the level of Independence necessary over time. This particular child seem to excel when the bar is raised. He rises to the challenge. I'm looking for some feedback from other seasoned HOD Moms. I am also concerned about placement in the proper guides as he matures. I don't want to skip any!! I know I will already have to "beef" up 1 or 2 of the lower guides when he reaches 9th grade regardless of which guide I go with now. Going with CtC means I will only have to beef up MtMM for 9th and that shouldn't be difficult at all knowing how "meaty" HOD is already! 
So...what say you? Preparing or CtC? 