Carrie...how independent is RTR and time frame

[inHistiming]

My oldest ds will begin RTR sometime next fall, once he completes CTC. I'm curious about how much independence is in the new guide, and about what the time frame is for the work to be completed each day. I will have dd 10 in CTC, but will do things a bit differently for her than I am with ds this year. I will be doing the history read-alouds with her...and I am not currently doing that with ds. I will also have my younger ds in LHFHG. I know that should take about an hour or so to complete...and I expect him to be able to begin the emerging reader's set in Beyond...sometime in the fall, just based on when I think we will complete RME. Anyway, just trying to gauge how much time I will need to spend with my oldest. I can't wait to see samples online for the new guide! When will those be up?

[Carrie]

inHistiming,

You always keep me accountable with your excellent questions! I had to smile when I read this one, as I knew the question would be coming soon.

One fully Teacher Directed box for the new guide will be a rotating box (which includes choice of Boyhood and Beyond or Beautiful Girlhood twice weekly, or both depending on whether you have both a boy and girl using it), poetry by Emily Dickinson once weekly, and Looking at Pictures once weekly). The other Teacher-Directed box will be the Storytime box (which will have the option of having the student do the readings on his/her own if desired instead).

The Semi-Independent boxes will be the history project (which we've been finding is mainly independent), grammar (which is scheduled twice weekly), Drawn into the Heart of Reading (three times weekly), Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons (three times weekly), math (four times weekly), and dictation (3 times weekly).

The Independent boxes will be the Reading About History box and its corresponding follow-up activity (with the exception of one oral narration a week), a rotating box which includes timeline/mapping/research/Shakespeare, the Independent History Study box, the Extension Pack readings, the daily Quiet Time Bible Study from Philippians, and the Science Exploration (with the exception of one oral narration a week).

Out of around 270 minutes each day, approximately 40 min. will be completely Teacher Directed, approximately 110 min. will be Semi-Independent, and approximately 120 minutes will be completely Independent. If your child follows directions well and is an independent worker, you can also pretty much move 20 of the Semi-Independent minutes for the History Project to the Independent minutes total on most days. The 270 minute total will likely actually be a bit less than that each day as that is the maximum time allotment we're planning for this age.

Blessings,

[inHistiming]

Yes, I'm nothing if not predictable with my curriculum questions. I appreciate the time you take to answer my questions...thank you. Now I have a good idea about what will be expected and can move forward with my planning....though in our household plans seem to have to change quite regularly. Looking forward to being able to preview the new guide online soon.

[Carrie]

inHistiming,

I LOVE that about you! You ask wonderful questions and are good at looking ahead. I thoroughly enjoy having you on the board!

The packages for RTR should be up on the website by mid-February. The Sample Layout of a Day for RTR will be up around the first week in March. The first week of plans should be up the first week in April.

Blessings,
Carrie

[juliekay]

The Independent boxes will be the Reading About History box and its corresponding follow-up activity (with the exception of one oral narration a week), a rotating box which includes timeline/mapping/research/Shakespeare, the Independent History Study box, the Extension Pack readings, the daily Quiet Time Bible Study from Philippians, and the Science Exploration (with the exception of one oral narration a week).

Thank you for adding the Extension Pack reading into a box!!!!! It's crazy, but my extension kiddos often "forget" their extension reading and I "forget" to check up on them - simply because it's not on our daily page(s)!

[Carrie]

Oh, Juliekay! I hate to disappoint you, but the Extension Pack readings will still be in the Appendix. We are so limited with space in the boxes on our two-page daily layout that there isn't room for one more box! I'm sorry I wasn't clearer on that one. I agree it would be lovely to have those on the daily spread to check-off.

You could photocopy the Extension Pack schedule and put it in a binder for each child to check off daily. We do this with our oldest son to keep him accountable for those readings. Just a thought.

Blessings,
Carrie

[juliekay]

Oh well. Thank you for at least clarifying so that I won't be disappointed later when I open up my new RTR! However, we will survive. Yes, I have photocopied the page. Now that I think about it. We did OK when I stuck the photocopied schedule right in the current extension book they were reading. I just need to keep on making photocopies with each new extension book. The bigger problem is that there are 2 of them reading the one copy that we own... Why is so hard to share?!

[Carrie]

Julie,

For my own boys, I just make a copy of the schedule for each of them. They place it in their own separate schedule binder under a tab, and check off each reading one day at a time. That way they each are accountable and have a check-off that they can turn to when it's their scheduled reading time for the Extension Pack. Of course, mine happen to be on different guides this year, but the premise would work the same. Just a thought.

Blessings,
Carrie

[SouthernMrs]

Hi,
I just wanted to add a quick note to this topic, since I too often "forget" those extension readers in the appendix. I've added the titles to the correct Units on my weekly materials list that I've typed up for the guides we are using, but I do not take time to plug the actual reading schedule onto this page. Someone else though, from the MB came up with a great idea of making a bookmark and putting the actual extension reading schedule on the bookmark for the child to check off. I've copied the idea and made my own for some of the books we are reading this year in CTC. Each unit has it's own bookmark and my dd cuts it out as she gets to that unit or book.
I'd be happy to share a copy for the CTC units that I've made them for (Unit 13 & up so far). Just send me a PM or an email with CTC Bookmark in the subject line

Take care,
SouthernMrs
at cox dot net

[juliekay]

Great tip Charlene!

Thanks so much! I didn't PM you because I'm using Preparing extensions, but I am off to make that bookmark right now since I have a free moment! Are you planning to RTR next year. If so be sure to post your idea when you make your RTR bookmark!

[SouthernMrs]

Hi Julie,
I'm glad you found something to help with those Extension readings!
Take care,