special needs placement

[Melena]

Hello. I am looking forward to using HOD with 3 of my children next year and would like to place all 3 in CtC. My youngest will be 7, learning to read, and will not be using HOD. I need some advice.

14 year old daughter - She struggles with dyslexia and did not learn to read until age 9. She can read now but is not a strong reader and dislikes it tremendously. She is very weak in spelling as well. I do not know what grade level she reads or spells on but she can read the KJV Bible although not real fluently. She had sensory integration issues as an infant/toddler. Nevertheless, she is a bright young lady. She will be in "9th grade" next year, and I would like to use Creation to Christ and the following 3 guides for high school. She has had some copywork/dictation in the past using LLATL, but no oral narration to speak of. This year we very successfully used IEW's All Things Fun & Fascinating for composition which is for "3rd - 5th grades". She has only completed R&S 2 and 3 and a year of Analytical Grammar JUNIOR. If she does do Creation to Christ, do I have her do R&S 4 and continue from there as planned in the guides? Or do I do something different for English because of her age?

12 year old son - Also, a late bloomer reader. He has a significant speech impediment and is very slow in oral communication. Although he has beautiful cursive penmanship, his writing is extremely slow and laborious. Most of his lessons are done orally. He is definitely not on grade level in reading, yet can slowly read from a KJV Bible. He also has trouble focusing on tasks and is easily distracted by his own thoughts. Nevertheless, he is an absolute joy to teach. He is a deep thinker and enjoys learning and discussing. He has done some copywork/dictation and we are presently a little over midway through R&S 2. He does a very nice job with oral narration (I'm a patient listener), but has never produced any written narrations. He wants to compose but his slowness in handwriting has prevented this. I do not know where to place him...Ctc or Preparing???

10 year old daughter - Very bright child with no learning difficulties. However, she is not on grade level because I have placed my focus, time, and energy in other areas. This needs to change. She, too, has done some copywork/dictation/oral narration and is in R&S 2. No written narrations... CtC or Preparing???

Thanks, Marie in FL

[water2wine]

Welcome! I have a dd with Cerebral Palsy and is delayed in LA and math. First thing I would say is to cover up the age and look at the placement chart all the way through. http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php then honestly answer what is your real gut given their abilities and throwing all fear and should be's out the window, where would they place. Just from looking at what you have written I think you might be OK with CTC with some guidance for your oldest. The writing she did and Jr Analytical Grammar would indicate she could pull it off. Jr Analytical Grammar is tough. It's not just about learning the parts of speech it also asks them to identify the function in context. It's challenging. So I think if they could do that and the EIW writing I think you would be OK with the WWTB HOD uses for CTC. But again you know best.

From what you say on your two younger I might see if the could both place in Preparing or Bigger. Usually back to back guides are to be avoided but sometimes with kids that struggle it becomes a little hard in a family to do that. Wondering if the lower is ready for Preparing from what you are saying in terms of experience but since they are bright probably could adjust pace giving the 12 year old some time to catch up on skills.

This is just my guess from what you have stated though. Really take an honest look at the placement chart. One word of caution with strugglers or special needs ere on the side of lower program rather than too hard. These programs progress each year. You can carry them for a while with missing skills but eventually you will hit a wall with that if you have them placed too high for their skill levels. Try real hard not to compensate too much for lost skills in placement and then you will have the perfect fit. All the programs are very full. So for instance even if you looked honestly and found Bigger really describes skill level for your younger two you will find with the extension packs those are still very full.

Placement can be tricky with learning issues but it is worth the time to find the perfect fit. I know you are going to get some great advice on this board.

[my3sons]

Marie - I think you are going to find HOD fills the needs you've expressed beautifully! Thank you for sharing a bit about each of your dc. I think water2wine gave excellent advice here. I have used the placement chart to place each of my dc, and been so happy with the peace we've felt each year homeschooling. I just want to encourage you, if you look at the placement chart, and your dc are quite far apart in their skills and needs, and they therefore place in different guides, that will be just fine. My own dc are very different from one another skillwise and agewise, so we do 3 HOD guides. It is not hard to do, and by meeting each child's needs, the day actually goes much more smoothly and quickly, as each child is getting what he needs, and my time is divided accordingly to what each of them needs me for. If you get the chance to share where each of your dc place individually, then we can talk through options, knowing you would lean toward combining if and where it is best possible. I think you will find HOD is such a blessing in your home - it sure has been in ours!

In Christ,
Julie