For the record, I have absolutely 100% never found you to be annoying - rather a wonderful Christian lady I'm thrilled to know!
(Sorry to digress, I just read that part of your first post which I somehow missed.)
inHistiming wrote:...For my ds 12....dh and I have had the same discussion....maybe putting him in CTC. Would he do the entire thing independently? I was planning, if we put him there, to only do the T boxes with him, which is what we tried earlier in the year.
Yes, I do think that is a very good, achievable goal.
My ds did all of the boxes labeled "I" totally independently in CTC last year, and the boxes labeled "S", we did a bit of a chat about what was required, a bit of a lesson together (i.e. in math, DITHOR, and grammar) and then he did the rest totally independently. We had a small chat about the Poetry painting, so he had in mind the end result, but then he did the entire work of the box independently. The "S" box for history project my ds did totally independently. If I had a 12 yo, I'd have him do the "T" box Storytime reading independently, and just do the follow-up with him for my part.
CTC ought to be very independent, yet still an excellent program this way.
As far as the basic or extension, or both - I totally think this becomes personal preference at this age, especially if you are doing multiple guides. Whatever you choose, either one or both may be read by him. CM advocated dc taking over the bulk of their reading at age 9 or so. We ease into that over the years with HOD, first with science, then with reading about history, and last with Storytime, but your ds is at the age he can (and according to CM should) do it all.
Here are the goals of the Storytime box:
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
The storytime box (even if he reads it) will require you to do a 5 minute follow-up with him.
The extension package is meant to be done totally independently. The follow-up activities are also independent (except for the oral narration one you need to listen to). Here are the notes to consider in the Introduction in regard to the extension package:
Due to the more mature
content of the books within the ancient time period – both in the violence that was
prevalent in this period and the depravity of worship of pagan gods – this extension
package is best suited for mature 6th and 7th graders who are strong, independent
readers.
A schedule of daily independent readings for these books is provided in the
Appendix of Hearts for Him Through Time: Creation to Christ. Books are at a
mid-sixth to upper seventh grade reading level. For very sensitive sixth or seventh
graders, or for those who are not yet strong readers, we recommend the Basic
Package Option 1 – History Set for the parent to read aloud instead.
inHistiming wrote:I noticed you said dd could do the history on her own...do you mean the self-study only or the history readings as well that are normally done aloud?
I meant the "Reading about History" box and the "Independent History" box readings - and also the Storytime too, for that matter, if she's able and you just do the follow-ups with her.
inHistiming wrote:For dd, since her writing and spelling need work as well as reading (though she is doing very well...just not sure she could do CTC or RTR readings independently) I was thinking Preparing...would be best for her....starting where we left off and completing the guide, then moving into CTC once we finish sometime around Feb. 2011. If I do this, would I need to get the extensions? I know for the age range she fits at the top end of the range, but I noticed under the extension description it says the self-study deluxe package is for 3rd and 4th graders...she'll be in 5th.
I do think PHFHG is an excellent placement for dd, that she should be able to be much more independent in it than if she was trying to do CTC, and that you could choose either the deluxe or the extensions for her. I would pick whichever she can truly be independent with as they are both wonderful. I'd personally lean toward the deluxe, to give her a year to work on independence (as the plans are in the 2 page spread) and to let her soar!
But you'll know best here.
I think you'll find this to be a good fit for all and more manageable for you too! You would enjoy the personal nature this lends to doing devotions too. Both of my ds's share much more in our individual devotion time than they do when we're all together. The character training this affords is priceless.
In Christ,
Julie
What to do? I feel so silly at this point...we start our school year, officially, on August 16th and I'm still trying to decided what we're doing?! I also have to take into account two very important events that are coming up this fall.....the arrival of baby #5 in October (or there about) and another move shortly after, probably toward the end of October. I want to have something that is pick up and go, which I know HOD is.....I already own several other 'curricula' but can't decided if I should go with what I already have on my shelves and have to use the library more, or if I should just buy the HOD program (or programs) and have it all right here accessible. Also keep in mind, I am using Beyond... with ds 7 and will have a toddler and a newborn, as well as a move thrown in this year. I am SO in need of advice...Help, please?
I would plan to buy the extension package for him to read on his own inplace of the basic...unless it's recommended he do both....but since I'll be doing Beyond...read alouds and probably Preparing... as well, he needs to be able to do that on his own. He's capable....just wondering if he should read both or just one or the other. Oh, after re-reading, I noticed you said dd could do the history on her own...do you mean the self-study only or the history readings as well that are normally done aloud?
) but he wants me to choose what is going to work best for us this year with all we have going on. It's wonderful that he says that....but he has unknowingly put me under more stress to 'get it right'. 