Question about extensions

[Mommamo]

I got to thinking about something after reading the thread on extensions for Preparing. I have a son who would be more in the extensions range for Bigger (which we're starting this coming week, actually--I'm super excited as it will be our 2nd pass through Bigger). He'll be in 4th, but he's not a strong reader yet. He has pretty severe dyslexia and is actually going to be going to therapy for that. His reading has improved considerably, but is nowhere near 4th grade level. Math he is at a 4th grade level. Comprehension-wise he is for sure a 4th grader. He understands things well and makes good connections. He can narrate fairly well for something that has been read to him (although we are actively working on strengthening those skills). It's just reading that is still very rough. I'm just wondering if intellectually he would need the books in the extension. I wasn't planning on using them with him, but after reading the thread and Carrie's explanation of the purpose of the extension package (which I realize did include the student taking on some of the history readings on his/her own), I got to wondering if maybe the extra content would benefit him. He's a really smart kid, he just can't really read yet. (Still not even a strong enough reader for the Emerging Readers, he's more of a k/1st level in reading.) I would be happy to read the extra content to him or to find him what we could on audio book. He is very happy to go sit on his own and listen to his audio books, and has a comprehension level way above his reading level. I also thought maybe it would make him feel that he had something special that his little sister didn't have since they will be combining. We already have many of the extension books on our bookshelf, so that wouldn't be an issue at all. Just curious about your thoughts.

[LynnH]

I honestly would spend the time on continuing to re-mediate his reading rather than do the extensions. I don't know if you have a certain program you are using to work on the dyslexia, but I know those can be time consuming and draining on the student. I would only use them if he just really wants to and sees some that seem really interesting and then maybe try and find them on audio book.

[Mommamo]

He'll be doing his reading classes at the Scottish Rite. From my understanding, they really don't want me to do any teaching beyond what they will be doing with him. So at home we'll be doing math, history, science, but anything reading-related like spelling, reading, and handwriting will be done at the Scottish Rite. He's going there 4 days/week. If they give him homework I'll do that with him too. If we weren't doing the classes there, the bulk of our time would be working on reading/spelling/handwriting. Thanks though for the quick response! It helps me to talk through ideas with others.

[Nealewill]

If it were me, I would skip them. It can be a lot! Also, I know that in CTC, several of the books are much more mature in nature. All of the books that Carrie selects for the extension package are geared toward that age range. With younger kids, they really don't need to complete this and their year will still be plenty full. I also saw that you have other kids as well. It would probably create some stress to start adding his in if you had to do the reading of all these books too. Just my 2 cents. For what it is worth - I am a book worm and love all books! I ordered the extensions package for my kids from Bigger through CTC. I find that my kids are plenty tuckered out after their assignments and not really interested in "learning" anything else. This is just my experience. Now....I have read most of them and loved them! I have decided that in getting the extension books, my aim at this point is to create a wonderful, rich library. My kids love it when we read to them before bed time. I actually have read some of the books to them already. I have several of the books from the book packs in in Bigger and Beyond. And as my kids get older, I plan to keep looking at the books in the extension packs as potential evening books. I read most of the books from CTC in advance because I wanted to see what was in them. Some of them were kind of scary. Some of the books from Bigger and Preparing would be just fine for younger kids. Just my 2 cents. The books are great. But I don't really think they are necessary at your son's age and think your kids will still learn a ton without them.

[Mommamo]

Yeah, the boy in question will be in Bigger. My oldest (11) will be doing CTC, but she's pretty independent at this point, and she will definitely be doing the extensions. She can handle it, no problem. I'm truly not super worried about her school at all. Or about the youngest doing LHTH (we're about halfway through it already and have a good routine). I don't figure the extensions will add more than *maybe* 15 minutes to our day, and we have run multiple HOD guides in the past. I'm really just wondering if he needs the extensions in Bigger intellectually since he will be a 4th grader. I feel like I've spent so much time focusing on him learning to read that I really have neglected what he needed as far as content, especially these most recent years. He finished Beyond in the middle of 2nd grade and we sort of then went to focusing more on reading and math since it was clear something was going on with his reading. He is going into 4th and will be combined with his 2nd grade sister, so I thought maybe *he* might need that content for himself, and also to not feel like he's doing a 2nd grader's work (he has some self-esteem issues due to the dyselxia because his 4 yo sister is almost at the same reading level he is, and the 2nd grader has long passed him--we've always been very positive and stressed his strengths, but he puts so much pressure on himself). We already have most of the books because they are just good books. Bigger along is definitely a great, full program. We did it many, many moons ago when my oldest was in 2nd and loved it. I just didn't know if he might need it right now. We probably wouldn't continue the extensions into future guides, I just thought they might be good for him now. I do have Pedro's Journal so I might just start with it and see how it goes. Thanks for letting me talk it out!

[Nealewill]

Oh....I see said the blind man LOL. I think it is up to you. It adds a lot of reading but again, up to you. How old is your son? My son was 8 last year when we did Bigger. He turned 9 this summer. We read some of the extensions for story time. He did like them. But we learned a ton without the extensions too. If your son is in the extension range (not grade), I would pray about and decide from there.

[Nealewill]

I just looked at your son's age He is borderline. I understand why you want too My guess though if you add in the extension your 2nd grader will want to listen too They really are great books. You could always add it in and see how it goes. Some of the books I felt like did take a bit of time but many of these books were available from the library on CD. We listened to Ben and Me many times after I had actually read it - had no idea it was available on audio. Bud and Me was also available on audio. That book was hilarious. We read by the Great Horn Spoon for humor and my son LOVED that book! I also read Buffalo Knife for storytime and that one was really good. The books are great! So I guess it really is up to you. The science book and the book from Christian Liberty Press that include history and addition science probably wouldn't necessarily be things your 2nd grader would crave necessarily and those would definitely extend the learning. Again, I have read most of the extensions myself and thoroughly enjoyed them. As your son gets better at reading, especially if you decide to keep these two together in level, the doing the extensions would probably be wise.

[Mommamo]

Thanks for talking it out with me! That really helps me a lot. My boy is 9 1/2 and will be 10 right after Christmas, so will be 10 for a good portion of the school year. I think he would like having it for his special time with me. And yes, my 7 yo would probably want to listen too, but she'll have her special time while he is at his reading classes, so maybe she'll just want to play outside.

[mom2samlibby]

I would read them to him. I have a dyslexic son also and we started with Bigger when we started with HOD. He was on the higher end of the age range. I read him the extensions. We loved them. They were excellent books. As long as I was doing the reading, my son was content to learn/listen as much as he could.

[Tami]

Your son sounds very much like my son who will be 4th grade, 10yo in September. He can read, just not fluently, due to some dyslexia type issues and a dysfunction of the symbols of language. I'll be reading the Bigger extensions to him because he will love them and he's on the older end of things. He's a deep thinking science guy and he's a sponge when it's read to him. In addition to the extensions, we will be using AAR as well as the dictation. I'll also being using R&S 3 (instead of 2) and hoping to work in DITHOR because he will love the activities.

I think all of this, while a lot to do, will help him move forward in his reading....at least that's MY plan!