Going to have to stop...

[Tree House Academy]

parts of Bigger with my oldest. He has some struggles and he has asked me for a "textbook." I think I am overwhelming him coming from ps to a very weird, pull it together myself schedule last year, to HOD with Extensions. So...here is what I have decided to do:

We are going to go with Rod and Staff for English - switching from CLE. Then I am going to do History and Science *this* year only for American History using Rod and Staff as well. We will still do Poetry, Storytime, Bible Verse/Study, and Music from HOD Bigger. We will also be reading lots of the recommended books in both Bigger and the extension pack as they fit. That will be to get us through this year and finish up American History. While doing the more basic approach, we are going to be working on his struggles which are in English and writing extensively. I think switching to R&S English will help this a lot!

Next year - for 6th grade, we are going to come back to HOD for him and do CTC as written. I think that starting at his actual level and doing the program without extensions (boys...extra work...not working for him) will work beautifully. My heart is HEAVY - and if I wasn't set on getting in a year of American History, I would move him up to Preparing without extensions THIS year. But alas, I feel like this is what he needs right now.

Ahhh...but don't think you will be rid of me that easily! LOL My younger son is still LOVING Little Hands and we plan to continue with HOD for a long time to come. I just felt like I needed to share this so I wasn't posting here under false circumstances.

[my3sons]

Hey Rebecca - could you maybe just stop the extensions? Just a thought - BHFHG is a full program without the extensions anyway. Maybe downsizing the writing expectations and writing a portion for him for a bit on some of the notebooking would work too, also maybe having him just do a portion of the poetry copywork. Just brainstorming here - but you will know what's best for your little honey.

In Christ,
Julie

[Tree House Academy]

Thanks for the suggestions, Julie. If he were not in 5th grade, I would do that in a heartbeat. I don't think that Bigger is quite a 5th grade level, though, without the extensions. With him, I also have a catch 22. His dad and I are divorced and he doesn't agree with me homeschooling past 6th grade. Nothing is for sure, but in the event that my son does have to OR choose to return to a brick and mortar school after 6th grade, I need to make sure he is still on grade level. Right now, he isn't. His challenge is that he NEEDS to do more writing on his own. He needs to get better at his grammar and English work. Bigger with extensions is taking him 5-6 hours to complete right now (as much due to his ADHD as workload) and, by the time we finish school for the day, there is no room for extra writing or extra grammar. I am attempting this in hopes that I can bring his "basics" skills up to grade level and let history/science be very simple this year. Then, next year, when he is hopefully writing much better, we can jump in to CTC and he will be on grade level with no extensions. Does any of that make sense?

[my3sons]

Yes, that does make sense. I know what that's like - having someone constantly questioning what you're doing , though in my case, that has improved dramatically and become less of an issue now. I see what you are saying here, and I will pray for you and your ds that this goes well. I think you have such a love for your dc, that is so apparent. When that's at the heart of decisions, they usually fare well. I think spending some time with your ds to work on his writing may effect everything else positively in the long run, so I pray that goes well too.

Love in Christ,
Julie

[Sheila in OK]

Rebecca,
I'm sorry your son is struggling with Bigger. I completely understand--I was concerned at first about doing Bigger with my 11yo, but I have found that with the extensions (especially with requiring the extra written work) that it is *plenty* challenging for her. I did add in Write with the Best a couple of weeks ago to bump up her LA a bit, but it is a very full day for her!

I did want to say, though, that I was personally impressed with your son's written narrations that you shared on the weekly report thread recently. My dd is in 6th grade and we are just now getting to the point where she can do a decent written narration. It is a tough skill to learn!

Anyway, hoping you find a good balance this school year for your son.

[Tansy]

I don't think their is anything wrong with focusing on the basics if that is what he needs, then you should do that. Some of us *raises hand* do need to be taught the rules of composition. I love the fact that you are going to fit in the history books as they come up. That is a great Idea.

I understand your need to keep him up to speed incase he goes back to p/s My dd is in p/s and her science scores were bad.. but when I looked at her test I pointed out to her teacher, it was not what she was taught. Words and phrases were different so of course she wouldn't know them. the stuff she was taught she did very well on. So if he is headed back to P/S you do need to focus on those areas.

[Tree House Academy]

If I had it my way, he would NEVER darken the doors of a ps again. However, I can't fool myself by thinking that, when he is a teenager, he will never want to go live with his dad. I mean, I hope he doesn't, but there is a big chance he will. That just seems to be the way it goes with divorced parents. I am sure we will have some rules he won't like and he will get "grass is greener" syndrome. I am not saying that will be the case, but I feel like I have to be prepared incase it does happen.

That said, he started the Rod and Staff Science and Social Studies today and did fine with it. He said it was "quick and painless." But he also said he missed the HOD books. The text book approach is not the most exciting. LOL