I have a child who's on several different grade levels.
I have a child who's on several different grade levels.
And I'm not sure how to make that work. I opened up the manual tonight and delved into the books and projects and I'm so excited to get started!! My concern is that some of the things look too easy, (Rod & Staff 2 is mostly review & the Dictation and Spelling seem too simple) but Math and writing are going to be challenging for her. After testing, we've learned that she's on a 6th to 7th grade level in Reading and word comprehension, but on a mid-third grade level in Math and Math facts. She turns 9 this summer and starts 4th grade. We'll be substituting Math, unfortunately, because Singapore became too difficult for her at this level. It's an odd place we're in right now. I've never heard of a child being on such varying levels with the basics. Does anyone have any ideas on how to beef up the Language Arts to fit her? Should I be doing DITHOR 4/5 instead of 2/3?
Dd 9 - Bigger Hearts.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.

Re: I have a child who's on several different grade levels.
I think this is one strong point of HOD. Most of the guides have several levels of Grammar, and math to choose from. You can have your dd do R&S 3 with Bigger, and then do 4 with Preparing. As far as DITHOR yes if she is going into 4th grade level 4/5 would be fine. The biggest difference between the two levels is the amount of writing required. You can always use the level 2/3 student book with a higher level of book pack if she needs less writing. I believe Preparing has more then one level of dictation so if you want you could get the preparing manual, and use the dictation, and R&S schedule. Then the following year do the second level included in Preparing.
ds 12 RevtoRev
dd 9 Preparing
dd 7 Beyond
ds 5 Little Hearts
dd due September 20th
dd 9 Preparing
dd 7 Beyond
ds 5 Little Hearts
dd due September 20th
Re: I have a child who's on several different grade levels.
I would suggest that perhaps you do R&S3 instead of R&S2 to better fit her level. That is easy to do with Bigger by just doing one lesson each day for 4 days each week.
For dictation, you could go up a level or two. You would have to get the Preparing guide (it has levels 2, 3, and 4) to do this or you could choose to use dictation passages from the books you are reading and just use the instructions in the Bigger manual for doing the dictation. The great thing about using the leveled dictation is that it is a steady progression of difficulty. I think that might be a big more difficult to figure out how to have that steady progression of skills on your own. Dictation is a surprising thing to me. It is more difficult that it appears. It can be challenging to not miss some of the little nuances in it even if one can correctly spell everything. The dictation in Bigger has been easy for dd but I have continued to go through it anyway. I think it has still been beneficial and since she is such a natural speller who is way above grade level, I haven't worried about it. It worked for me since I really didn't want to jump too far ahead since I was doing this level with my ds also. I think I could have pushed him more and perhaps in reading the recent posts about dictation and how many times dc should be missing a passage each week, I think I should have skipped ahead some, but again I still think it has been a good experience for him. We might step it up a bit next year. Anyway, I digress, you could step up the dictation by moving up a few levels. I think this is what I would do considering your dd's age and strengths.
For DITHR, I would still lean towards using level 2/3 just because of the writing involved, but I would suggest that you use higher level book packs. We have done that this year. My dd reads at a level similar to your dd and we have used the level 2/3 student book, but used more of the level 4/5 book packs. I haven't decided for sure yet whether to use the level 2/3 or level 4/5 student book this year, but I know I will be choosing books in the level 5 and above reading level. By choosing books at your dd's reading level or slightly below you can keep her engaged in her reading. By using the level 2/3 book, the amount of writing is less though and you listen to your dd read more which is still very helpful at this age even though she is reading at a higher level.
I don't think it is that unusual for a dc to be at varying levels of basics like this. Writing is a fine motor skill that some dc just don't master until later. My dc are in that camp. Math and reading require different skills and it seems some dc are gifted in one and not the other. These skills seem to take off at different times too, so it's not at all unusual for skills to be all over the map. The wonderful thing with homeschooling and HOD is that you can customize the program to fit your dd utilizing her strengths while working on her weaknesses.
For dictation, you could go up a level or two. You would have to get the Preparing guide (it has levels 2, 3, and 4) to do this or you could choose to use dictation passages from the books you are reading and just use the instructions in the Bigger manual for doing the dictation. The great thing about using the leveled dictation is that it is a steady progression of difficulty. I think that might be a big more difficult to figure out how to have that steady progression of skills on your own. Dictation is a surprising thing to me. It is more difficult that it appears. It can be challenging to not miss some of the little nuances in it even if one can correctly spell everything. The dictation in Bigger has been easy for dd but I have continued to go through it anyway. I think it has still been beneficial and since she is such a natural speller who is way above grade level, I haven't worried about it. It worked for me since I really didn't want to jump too far ahead since I was doing this level with my ds also. I think I could have pushed him more and perhaps in reading the recent posts about dictation and how many times dc should be missing a passage each week, I think I should have skipped ahead some, but again I still think it has been a good experience for him. We might step it up a bit next year. Anyway, I digress, you could step up the dictation by moving up a few levels. I think this is what I would do considering your dd's age and strengths.
For DITHR, I would still lean towards using level 2/3 just because of the writing involved, but I would suggest that you use higher level book packs. We have done that this year. My dd reads at a level similar to your dd and we have used the level 2/3 student book, but used more of the level 4/5 book packs. I haven't decided for sure yet whether to use the level 2/3 or level 4/5 student book this year, but I know I will be choosing books in the level 5 and above reading level. By choosing books at your dd's reading level or slightly below you can keep her engaged in her reading. By using the level 2/3 book, the amount of writing is less though and you listen to your dd read more which is still very helpful at this age even though she is reading at a higher level.
I don't think it is that unusual for a dc to be at varying levels of basics like this. Writing is a fine motor skill that some dc just don't master until later. My dc are in that camp. Math and reading require different skills and it seems some dc are gifted in one and not the other. These skills seem to take off at different times too, so it's not at all unusual for skills to be all over the map. The wonderful thing with homeschooling and HOD is that you can customize the program to fit your dd utilizing her strengths while working on her weaknesses.

Patty in NC
b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
******
Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
******
Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
Re: I have a child who's on several different grade levels.
Thank you so much for the suggestions and advice, ladies.
If I could give you both a big hug, I would! *virtual hugs* It's nice to know that this is a common thing. I may start saving up to purchase the Preparing TM this summer. 


Dd 9 - Bigger Hearts.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.
