Now, I have already decided that Preparing is going to best suit us for our debut into HOD, but I have two girls aged 8 and 10. My 10 year old is going on 11, and is probably advanced in term of grade level, so I have decided to get the extension books for her. But my 8 year old is what I would call an average student, and will not be 9 until mid next year. Do you think it would be possible to have her work at half-speed while DD1 is going at full-speed? In my mind it is working, and I am thinking that possibly after a year of half-speed or possibly not even that long we could move her into full-speed, and then do something similar for her for CTC. So technically we would probably take 3 years to do both Preparing and CTC and then DD2 would be 11 1/2 going into the next level. I really feel she will need that time to truely settle into the way of HOD and be ready to move on.
Any thoughts would be gratefully received. I want this to work for my blossoms and I really believe it will, but I don't want to cause any of them to be discontent with what we are doing. I am praying about this, and I'm sure God will make sure I do his will.
Question about Preparing.
Question about Preparing.
Michelle, Mum homeschooling four beauties in NZ
DD1 (13): Rev2Rev, DITHR
DD2 (11): CTC, DITHR
DS1 (8): BHFHG
DS2 (4): LHTH
DD1 (13): Rev2Rev, DITHR
DD2 (11): CTC, DITHR
DS1 (8): BHFHG
DS2 (4): LHTH
Re: Question about Preparing.
I think this is doable. The only problem I see is for you, the teacher. You would be doing the teaching part of the guide twice in a short period of time. I'm not for sure how that would be to be repeating those things so close together. Of course as the year progressed more time would elapse between the material. Perhaps you would want to start them together maybe at half-speed to get the feel for the material and see how they each do. Then you could decide whether or not to split them and increase the speed for your older daughter. You might find that after getting them started in the guide that your older daughter could take on a bit more of the work independently, like reading the history portion, so that might make it easier for you so that you are only doing some of the teacher parts of the guide once instead of twice. The program is very flexible and you can take it at the pace that works best for you and girls. 

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: Question about Preparing.
Molly,
In thinking through what you've shared so far, I have a couple of thoughts running through my mind. One thought is that if your 8 year old places in Preparing Hearts best on the placement chart, then you should just be able to do your two kiddos together (using extensions for your older child). If your 8 year old is not ready for Preparing, it is likely she'd instead place in Bigger Hearts. Since you're pondering doing your kiddos separately anyway, then it would likely be better to just place each child in the program where she fits best as an individual. If, instead, it is more important for you to keep them together, then it would work best if you found the right fit for your 8 year old first, and then pondered whether your older child could also fit there with extensions.
The reason I share this is because it can honestly be a fuller and richer academic year for a child to go full-speed in a guide where he/she fits than to do half-speed in a guide he/she is not quite ready to do.
If you get a chance to figure out where each of your older two kiddos fit best on the first page only of the placement chart as individuals, then we can entertain options of whether combining or not combining is best.
Here's a link to the chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
Blessings,
Carrie
In thinking through what you've shared so far, I have a couple of thoughts running through my mind. One thought is that if your 8 year old places in Preparing Hearts best on the placement chart, then you should just be able to do your two kiddos together (using extensions for your older child). If your 8 year old is not ready for Preparing, it is likely she'd instead place in Bigger Hearts. Since you're pondering doing your kiddos separately anyway, then it would likely be better to just place each child in the program where she fits best as an individual. If, instead, it is more important for you to keep them together, then it would work best if you found the right fit for your 8 year old first, and then pondered whether your older child could also fit there with extensions.

The reason I share this is because it can honestly be a fuller and richer academic year for a child to go full-speed in a guide where he/she fits than to do half-speed in a guide he/she is not quite ready to do.


Blessings,
Carrie
Re: Question about Preparing.
Thank you both for your advice. I keep looking into it to see whether my 8 year old will be ok doing Preparing full-speed and I really do think she will be ok. I do think we will start her a little slower at the beginning but I do think it will not take her long to get into it full-speed. DD1 on the other hand may go through Preparing a bit quicker than the usual, but I will just see how she goes. Unfortunately at the moment we can only afford to do one level. Quite possibly we will be able to afford to get CTC mid year and possibly shift DD1 up sooner than planned. I think with not seeing it all in person makes it very hard to make the decision, and also the lack of finances.
Michelle, Mum homeschooling four beauties in NZ
DD1 (13): Rev2Rev, DITHR
DD2 (11): CTC, DITHR
DS1 (8): BHFHG
DS2 (4): LHTH
DD1 (13): Rev2Rev, DITHR
DD2 (11): CTC, DITHR
DS1 (8): BHFHG
DS2 (4): LHTH
Re: Question about Preparing.
Hi Molly - I was just thinking - if you are thinking you'd like to separate them more, for your older dd to move at a quicker pace than your younger, than you could have your 10 yo do the readings for the "Reading about History" box independently, and possibly even the Storytime box. Charlotte Mason suggested that dc 9 yo or older be responsible for their reading, and in CTC, your 10 yo would be anyway. This may be a way to have your older move through PHFHG more quickly, while having your younger move through it more slowly, as you'd be doing the reading for just the 8 yo. You would have to skim what your oldest is reading, and be sure to do every one of the follow-ups in the boxes of plans with her though, as these teach important skills that help dc be ready for CTC. You may want to just set the timer for 10 minutes, and read 10 minutes of your oldest dd's Storytime, and however far you get, you get, and then she can finish. We did this in CTC's Storytime, and enjoyed it. That's just an idea I had as I read this - HTH! I think you are going to truly love PHFHG - we are enjoying it immensely here!
In Christ,
Julie

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: Question about Preparing.
Thank you Julie for suggesting getting my oldest DD to do more independently. She is quite independent already, and I think I will aim to get her as independent as possible and moving through faster if she can. I have wondered how much extra time the extension work should be taking.
My younger DD is actually further advanced in most skills than I realised. I look forward to getting both of them writing cursive. I am so encouraged by what I have read here. I am really looking forward to following HOD, and the plan God obviously has for us.
My younger DD is actually further advanced in most skills than I realised. I look forward to getting both of them writing cursive. I am so encouraged by what I have read here. I am really looking forward to following HOD, and the plan God obviously has for us.
Michelle, Mum homeschooling four beauties in NZ
DD1 (13): Rev2Rev, DITHR
DD2 (11): CTC, DITHR
DS1 (8): BHFHG
DS2 (4): LHTH
DD1 (13): Rev2Rev, DITHR
DD2 (11): CTC, DITHR
DS1 (8): BHFHG
DS2 (4): LHTH