What if...

[Mom2Monkeys]

....you were combining your 2nd and 5th graders in BHFHG (extensions for the 5th, of course) and you felt the 2nd grader needed to go half speed for a while but the 5th is plenty capable already of doing PHFHG, and BHFHG w/extensions at FULL speed is also a good fit, and separating them in different guides in not an option? DS will be in 2nd this fall, and turns 8 in Dec. He's right at being an emerging reader now, though we aren't starting the ER set just yet. He still needs to cement some phonics skills and has been in public school this semester (first and only semester he's been in). Bigger is a great fit for him, or will be, come fall. I just feel it will be too much right at the start as he's never done that much work at home! I know he's doing a lot of writing at school, but not copywork and too much inventive spelling, unless it's words they've been tested on, then the teacher will correct them. I don't want to move him too fast, yet I don't want to hold back DD, who will be 10 and in 5th grade.

I have considered it before, and am considering again, that although she is very bright and unofficially considered "gifted", that I may put her back in 4th grade in the fall. She's very young for her grade and will graduate at 17 on this path we are on. (June bday) She is seeing a psychologist that has tentatively diagnosed her with "Impulsivity" (I know every child is to a degree, but this seriously affects her, her abilities to relate to others, make friends, obey, control her anger, and she has "asperger type tendencies" but not truly on the spectrum from what they are thinking as of yet, and it's not ADHD...kids at school make fun of her, call her weird, etc...she is quite different with many odd quicks and "ticks"..in all love, she is my over-caffeinated monkey. hehehehe) The fact that I need to slow her brother down at the start is weighing heavily on my decision to hold her back. I don't want her still in Bigger for 6th grade, but holding her back means she'd only have a few unit of Bigger in 5th grade before they moved to PHFHG. I keep thinking I should just pick up in the fall where we left off with Preparing (were half speed so only unit 4) and put DS in BHFHG half speed...not sure I want to do that!

So, what if you were in my shoes. What would you do?

[Kathleen]

To me, it sounds like much less work to just put them in their own guides and move forward. Open & go!

If you're worried about needing to move at a good clip through Bigger w/extensions to not hold back your daughter, when "life happens", you're probably going to get stressed about being behind and wondering what to skip, etc. That skipping may play out fine for your oldest, but then what about the younger? Not that that will happen, I'm just saying that's what I would feel. I can see the benefit of having them together in some ways, but they're quite a ways apart in abilities still, and I'd put the whole comparing thing on the list of reasons not to combine, too. (But you know what the positives would be for you.)

Anway, my vote would be, dd in Preparing and ds in Bigger.
Kathleen

[Mom2Monkeys]

Kathleen, your thoughts summarized my concerns very well. I'm already immensely stressed over this fear of needing to steadilymove my 5th grader forward and the likely need to slow down for my 2nd grader if combined in BHFHG. I was at such peace with the idea at first, but I keep getting uneasy about it now. I have wanted to combine so badly, for so long, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to do so. I've had such trouble getting school done in the past and I that is mostly why I want to combine. I loose my motivation after one guide and I'll have three this fall! Im able to see some light at the end of the tunnel now and perhaps I actually can accomplish this with separate children. HOD makes it super easy to do so, but this has been a very trying season in life for me. There are upcoming changes though. Sleep is near! also, a little more time with other things...more stress about DD missing any school and needing to clip right along!

There are therapies definitely for DS1 and now (one upcoming change) DD9 is being evaluated for PT and OT/sensory so likely have some for her as well. plus every other week a long drive into town for errands day, twice monthly get togethers snd my once a minth Bible study. Therapy is great news, and the others are things I don't want to miss since it's our only activities with other moms and kids, but it's time away from our schooling. Meaning I'd be more stressed trying to keep her moving forward in BHFHG and leaving little guy in the dust. In light of the new info, I'm more apt to separate them now even though at first, combining seemed perfect. (thanks to Julie for helping me sort through that!) I'm thinking out loud here, hence the babbling

So, I'll be pondering your advice Kathleen. I'll be praying as well. I hope to get DH to sit down with me sometime and look at the placement chart. He's more unbiased than I and may be able to help placing them. He has no idea what we do or don't own, or who has done what or when, and no preference in guides. Perfect!

If I were to place DD in PHFHG, being 10 and a 5th grader, strong reader who enjoys reading very much, would you suggest the extensions with or without the followup assignments?

[anointedhsmom]

Tamara,

If she does place well in Preparing on the placement chart then I would just put her in PHFHG without extensions because PHFHG is geared to 8 to 10 year olds. PHFHG is a full program for a 10 year old. Also with the information you've given I think that with the therapies, PT, outside social activities (I understand not wanting to give these up if you aren't getting to meet with other kids very often) if you do the extensions you will feel stressed if they don't get done. You are also saying you don't want to move her along to fast even though she appears to be on the gifted spectrum. If she is a strong reader and loves to read then I think letting her read the extensions would be ok ONLY if you can release yourself from feeling like it must be done since you bought them. I speak from experience here. If you truly want to slow her down from graduating at 17 then do PHFHG as written and then follow the guides.

One more consideration. Does she place at all in Creation to Christ? It's geared to 9 to 11. She might easily fall into that guide as well.

I'm a firm believer in the placement chart. Only if they squarely fall in the middle of 2 guides do I think a long talk with Carrie is in order. For the most part where they place on the placement chart is where they should be.

Hope that helps

[Mom2Monkeys]

Thank you for the input! I'm totally done with beige loose with the extensions. She adores books! So she might read ahead one day and not at all on other days (though she would read other books). I feel we should have them since she is in 5th grade, but not anything beyond fun bedtime reading would be the most likely use. she does place between PHFHG and CTC, but I feel PHFHG is best due to her issues with attention, dawdling, and the fact that although she can read and follow directions well, she is pretty immature in many areas and I honestly don't trust her with it yet. (paints out without me?! ) plus, we need the lessons in written narration. I think it's a perfect fit.

DH looked at the chart tonight and he would place them in Beyond and Preparing. Maybe I'm expecting too much from DS, or was being too hopeful in order to combine. I may go that route. I already own all these levels anyway-- LHTH up to PHFHG. HE is ready for cursive though, so I may add that if I drop to Beyond. May discuss doing BHFHG half speed with DH though to see what he thinks. Since I own both, I still have time to ponder his placement if I decide to separate.

ETA: if DS is ready for more grammar as well, would it work to add that to Beyond you think?

[Kathleen]

Tamara,

If you look at the Preparing guide, the extensions here are different from Bigger. You would choose those INSTEAD of the books in the independent history box. I know that I've seen Carrie and Julie say that if your child is within the age range for the guide that it really works best to use the books & the plans in that box. While the reading is not difficult there, that box contains much in the way of training your child in independent work. Using the extension books & plans instead does not give you this hand-holding in training for independence. From your description of your daughter, I'd say that this box will be very useful to you. So, I'd be much more inclined to say, go with the "normal" books there, not the extensions. She's 10, she needs the training in working independently...perfect fit!

Has your son done the grammar already in Beyond? If not, I'd go with that. Otherwise, I'm sure that adding R&S2 would work.

Kathleen

[Mom2Monkeys]

Kathleen, thanks for the reminder about the extensions! Yes, that box is very useful for her I may pick and choose a few extensions to add for her to read for fun as she pleases, bit won't replace the ones from the box.

My son hasn't done the grammar in Beyond, but has been in public school this semester. They've done lots of grammar and punctuation. Nouns, quotation marks, and more. Not sure what to do...

I'm going to go with DH's view of placement for many reasons. It's his first time to involve himself in the process and I want to show him respect in his observations-- it's a big first step! I hope to see more! The more involved he is, the more supportive he will be. So this is great!

[Gwenny]

I totally agree with you, if your DH made a decision (or gave his opinion) GO WITH IT! I have not done that so many times and it makes them not want to be involved if you aren't going to listen to them anyway. He will be so honored and respected if you go with his wishes. They need that.

Blessings,
Nancy

[Mom2Monkeys]

I totally agree with you, if your DH made a decision (or gave his opinion) GO WITH IT! I have not done that so many times and it makes them not want to be involved if you aren't going to listen to them anyway. He will be so honored and respected if you go with his wishes. They need that.

Blessings,
Nancy

Exactly! We talked more and he agrees that as we get closer to fall, DS may be ready for Bigger, but only half speed, not full speed. He is trying hard to be more interested but not much of this homeschool talk makes sense to him. LOL. He was getting a chuckle out of my excitement about HOD doing high school though! He's also quite pleased with that since he has always wanted me to use a program that we could stick with all the way through PK-12th. I also feel much more at peace about attempting to start with separate guides again since DH feels it's best...what a change after a year or two ago it was "combine" or change programs where you can...then this December it was "put them in public school"...and now it's "bring them home and I think they belong in these two guides". Submitting and praying has brought us to a new level where he not only agrees to let me homeschool, but knows it's the best thing!

I'm considering, and will talk it over with DH since he also agreed we would need to reevaluate DS nearer the fall, taking the first semester to de-school DS who is now somewhat "programmed" even after only one quarter in the classroom! Then start BHFHG during 2nd semester of 2nd grade, slowly. During first semester, we'd re-establish my role as teacher, catch him up in math, make steady progress on the emerging readers and continue some of the phonics I know he will need and has missed even though he's reading on level. (public school gap between them and what we were doing at home). DD will be ready to jump into PHFHG...I'll let her re-read the first four units worth of reading about history and storytime..and I guess science too...since we already did those units. Then we will get started with unit 5!

Does that sound appropriate?

[Mom2Monkeys]

Nevermind...DH settled it for me. He wants DD home NOW!! So she is coming home from public school and getting back into PHFHG!! DS will start in the fall with Beyond or Bigger

[Tree House Academy]

Well, that settles that, huh? I am glad you are bringing her home sooner rather than later and that your decision was made much easier.