This is actually from an older thread but wanted some thoughts... I am an old timer but this is our 1st year with HOD. My 11 yodd is having trouble with CTC, she enjoys it but is not getting thru the work every day. NOW, we have only done 2 weeks but have done them by half days to get used to the program. She is also a slow processor so she takes a little longer. My question is should we go back to Preparing? I read that this really prepares a student for CTC. We have always used narration and dictation so that is not new. The projects take her a long time. BTW, I have purchased the entire program so money is a factor here. My instinct tells me to move ahead slowly and enjoy it and let her assimilate. Thoughts??
Sharyn
preparing before ctc ??
Re: preparing before ctc ??
Are you doing all of the reading and DITHOR as well?
If you are doing DITHOR, my thoughts are maybe hold off on that until next year to have a bit more time for the other work.
You could take it slow and go it across 18 months or so vs. a school year.
My 10 yo is doing Preparing. We are just starting this week. It is manageable for her...and dare I say more manageable for us that Bigger. Going down to 4 days is really nice. I am not sure how CTC is.
If she is doing the work well, and just taking a long time to get it done, I would think staying in CTC is fine. But if she isn't mastering and things seem above her, perhaps Preparing is what is needed.
Are there things you can do to get her to pick up her pace?
I have a slow processor as well, my 7 yo. She's behind compared to others in things like reading, spelling, and math. I've got her in 1st grade stuff for that, other things are 2nd. Perhaps some subjects need to be on the lighter end for her as well. It's much easier doing that than trying to get her to move faster on grade level material.
If you are doing DITHOR, my thoughts are maybe hold off on that until next year to have a bit more time for the other work.
You could take it slow and go it across 18 months or so vs. a school year.
My 10 yo is doing Preparing. We are just starting this week. It is manageable for her...and dare I say more manageable for us that Bigger. Going down to 4 days is really nice. I am not sure how CTC is.
If she is doing the work well, and just taking a long time to get it done, I would think staying in CTC is fine. But if she isn't mastering and things seem above her, perhaps Preparing is what is needed.
Are there things you can do to get her to pick up her pace?
I have a slow processor as well, my 7 yo. She's behind compared to others in things like reading, spelling, and math. I've got her in 1st grade stuff for that, other things are 2nd. Perhaps some subjects need to be on the lighter end for her as well. It's much easier doing that than trying to get her to move faster on grade level material.
17 yo dd - finishing WH, Geometry, German, Music, Media Art - filmaking, stop animation, etc.
14 yo dd - finishing RTR & TT7, Piano, Animal Shelter Volunteer.
11 yo dd - CTC, finishing up TT5, Piano.
14 yo dd - finishing RTR & TT7, Piano, Animal Shelter Volunteer.
11 yo dd - CTC, finishing up TT5, Piano.
Re: preparing before ctc ??
We are doing CTC with my 10yo dd. This is our first year with HOD, so we have not done preparing. We just completed the third unit. The first two units took us about 3 weeks to finish because it was alot for her (and I) to get used to. But the third unit we completed on schedule (4 days). It is now taking less time, as she knows what is expected and so do I. So, I would encourage you to hang in there with CTC. I am giving my dd more help, especially with the written narration, but I think as she progresses through the year, she will become more independent. HTH 
Also, we have put poetry on hold for now (is this horrible to admit?) 
, so we can focus on getting the other boxes completed, but now that the pace is picking up, I plan on adding it back in. Just a thought...
Also, we have put poetry on hold for now (is this horrible to admit?) , so we can focus on getting the other boxes completed, but now that the pace is picking up, I plan on adding it back in. Just a thought...Beth
Mom to 5 great kiddos (15,11,8,5,2) and one due in October!
Mom to 5 great kiddos (15,11,8,5,2) and one due in October!
Re: preparing before ctc ??
Your dd sounds like she's doing well with CTC half-speed, so I think I'd continue with that for awhile. Being new to HOD and to CTC will add some time to the day, but after you've done it longer, you'll begin to shave time off. In this thread, Carrie posted approximate times for CTC assignments, and that really helped me put together a schedule. I also think it helps to shoot for the time increments suggested, knowing things will take a little longer at first as you and your dd get used to the routines of the boxes:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3765
You may want to set the timer for her to show her how long things are supposed to take. This can be done in an encouraging way to show that school is not meant to take so long, and that amount of time is "good enough". Are projects taking longer because she is creative? My nephew is that way. He likes to take a long time with his projects and add his own twist to them. Carrie has set the timer for him and told him he needs to complete the plans given in the guide first for the project within that time, and then if he wants to add more to it, embellish it, do his own twist on it later in the day after school is done, he can. Maybe this would help your dd too? Or, if dd isn't finishing projects just because she's taking long to do them (perhaps more of a perfectionist thing - as my oldest can tend to do), then setting the timer and letting her know it needs to be completed within that time frame will help in that situation too. That has alleviated the "trying to get it perfect" syndrome for my oldest ds when he's doing projects. He understands part of success with the project is completing it in a timely fashion. Or, if dd isn't finishing projects because she needs help, you can jump in and help her finish it more quickly - with the thought that the help you're giving should get less and less each project until she can truly be independent with them.
I hope some of these ideas can help! Being only 2 weeks in and new to CTC, I think it's going great for you and your dd! I'd just give it more time and enjoy it.
In Christ,
Julie
Being new to HOD and to CTC will add some time to the day, but after you've done it longer, you'll begin to shave time off. In this thread, Carrie posted approximate times for CTC assignments, and that really helped me put together a schedule. I also think it helps to shoot for the time increments suggested, knowing things will take a little longer at first as you and your dd get used to the routines of the boxes:viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3765
You may want to set the timer for her to show her how long things are supposed to take. This can be done in an encouraging way to show that school is not meant to take so long, and that amount of time is "good enough". Are projects taking longer because she is creative? My nephew is that way. He likes to take a long time with his projects and add his own twist to them. Carrie has set the timer for him and told him he needs to complete the plans given in the guide first for the project within that time, and then if he wants to add more to it, embellish it, do his own twist on it later in the day after school is done, he can. Maybe this would help your dd too? Or, if dd isn't finishing projects just because she's taking long to do them (perhaps more of a perfectionist thing - as my oldest can tend to do), then setting the timer and letting her know it needs to be completed within that time frame will help in that situation too. That has alleviated the "trying to get it perfect" syndrome for my oldest ds when he's doing projects. He understands part of success with the project is completing it in a timely fashion. Or, if dd isn't finishing projects because she needs help, you can jump in and help her finish it more quickly - with the thought that the help you're giving should get less and less each project until she can truly be independent with them.
I hope some of these ideas can help! Being only 2 weeks in and new to CTC, I think it's going great for you and your dd! I'd just give it more time and enjoy it.
In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: preparing before ctc ??
Sharyn,
I agree with the ladies wise advice! If your daughter seems like she is in over her head skill-wise then comtemplating switching to Preparing Hearts is a good idea. If, however, it seems like skill-wise she can do the work in CTC, but it's just taking a long time, it's likely a good idea to perservere with CTC and let her grow into it.
I do think you can continue on at half-speed if desired. I've found my kiddos also get into a good routine when they recognize the pattern in the guide and know what's coming on which day.
One of my little guys is a born perfectionist, and professional dawdler! I do keep him on a fairly strict schedule until lunch, using a timer and jumping in to help him wrap up on time as much as possible. Then, in the afternoon, I schedule anything that he can do more independently and just allow him to draw it out if he wishes. Often his afternoon time is taken up with his science and his history projects, and I don't mind as I'm not hustling him through them. That way we get the best of both worlds, as I keep him on schedule all morning and his afternoons are his to meander through the more independent things without keeping me waiting.
Anyway, just some things to ponder.
Blessings,
Carrie
I agree with the ladies wise advice! If your daughter seems like she is in over her head skill-wise then comtemplating switching to Preparing Hearts is a good idea. If, however, it seems like skill-wise she can do the work in CTC, but it's just taking a long time, it's likely a good idea to perservere with CTC and let her grow into it.
I do think you can continue on at half-speed if desired. I've found my kiddos also get into a good routine when they recognize the pattern in the guide and know what's coming on which day.
One of my little guys is a born perfectionist, and professional dawdler! I do keep him on a fairly strict schedule until lunch, using a timer and jumping in to help him wrap up on time as much as possible. Then, in the afternoon, I schedule anything that he can do more independently and just allow him to draw it out if he wishes. Often his afternoon time is taken up with his science and his history projects, and I don't mind as I'm not hustling him through them. That way we get the best of both worlds, as I keep him on schedule all morning and his afternoons are his to meander through the more independent things without keeping me waiting.
Anyway, just some things to ponder.
Blessings,
Carrie