Cynthia - Daisy sure did a super job of answering your questions!
Isn't this an awesome board?
I am starting CTC and Beyond in a few weeks, and I just made my schedule. Here's a link to it in case that may help you (I'm my3sons and it's near the bottom of the page):
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=60
HOD programs are designed to be VERY time conscious. The time allotments suggested have been about what it takes us to do in the past, though it does take us 2-4 weeks to really get in the swing of things and shave time off the day as we learn the routine of each box. CTC should take about 4 1/2 hours. I think your alternate LA and math must be taking a really long time. Have you thought about making a switch to Singapore and R & S English? Both are much shorter and excellent. It sounds like your other LA and math are taking all morning, and CTC is unable to be started until after lunch. That WOULD make for a long school day!
I can positively feel your stress, and it's making my heart race.
If there is any way you can cut down the LA and math time - either by switching or modifying - I'd start there. I also think it would be a good idea to start CTC half-speed, doing the left side of the plans one day, and the right side of the plans the next day. Doing LA and math daily or not would be up to you. I would not cut things out of CTC, since they are all a part of what a child should be learning at that age.
If you ordered books you didn't want, HOD has a 30 day return policy. Mike and Carrie are extremely gracious of their time to help people with the ins and outs of their personal orders, and they always try to work with each person to help them get what they really want. So, I know they'd be willing to work this out with you. They are 100% about excellent customer service, as evidenced by their constant availability through phone, email, and this board.
Just take a deep breath - you are only on Day 2, and it takes awhile to get into a rhythm! In the meantime, you can shave time off your day by addressing the LA/math time issues, and also by going half-speed with CTC.
As far as the ins and outs of the program, it is sooooo worthwhile to carefully read through the Introduction. I always start there to get ready for the year. For example, as far as the Storytime, here's the part in the Introduction that helps explain it well:
Storytime
There are 3 book set options for Storytime: History Interest Set, Boy Interest Set,
or Girl Interest Set. If you desire to read aloud books that coordinate with the
historical time period being studied, you will want to choose the History Interest
Set. In keeping with the ancient time period, the History Interest Set does contain
some violent content. If you wish to avoid this, choose the Boy Interest or Girl
Interest Set instead; these sets do not match the history, but were instead selected
to provide excellent read-alouds from 9 different genres. Sixth and seventh graders
should either listen to the History Interest Set read aloud, or read the Extension
Package books (as scheduled in the Appendix), or do both of these options in order
to extend their learning. If you are a family that enjoys reading aloud, you may
choose to read aloud more than one set of books from the Basic Package.
“Learning Through History” Components
(continued)
These scheduled read-alouds are highly recommended, unless you need to
economize. Complete listings and book descriptions for these books can be found
in the Appendix. These books are sold as a set as Basic Package Option 1, 2, or
3, or sold individually, at www.heartofdakota.com.
Each unit includes the following activities in coordination with the
“Storytime” read-aloud assignments:
Day 1: give a detailed oral narration
Day 2: rotate through the following 4 narration activities: an outline sketch, a
short skit, a question and answer session, and an advertisement speech
for the book
Day 3: give a summary narration
Day 4: make connections between the story and Proverbs
Just grab a cup of coffee and browse through the Introduction, pencil out a schedule to try half-speed CTC, and hack away at that LA/math time burden somehow, and you'll be A-O-K! Anyway - don't worry! Give yourself a break - you are just starting, and there's going to be a learning curve - still always is for me, and I've been teaching going on 15 years. It will get easier and easier for you each day.
And soon, you'll just wake up loving your day!
In Christ,
Julie