So I know my third born is well placed with LHFHG (at least I think so
). I started her phonics in April, we are taking a break for summer, and will resume her phonics in the fall with LHFHG. She can read and spell some basic 3 letter words. Does it look right? Next year would be her Kindergarten year if she was in school.It is my ds8 (turns 9 in a few weeks) that I think I have placed correctly, but I want to make sure. On the placement chart he has all of his circles in either Preparing or CTC; except for one circle in Bigger. For example, his age spans Bigger - CTC. His reading is in CTC. His math is in CTC. His Bible and grammar are in Preparing. His writing is in Bigger; or really half between Bigger and Preparing. So I was thinking Preparing. Does that sound right? On my chart I lowered all his CTC (I think would be much too hard) circles to Preparing. So my chart is filled with Preparing circles, and then the writing one in Bigger ~ or a little higher than Bigger. So it says to pick the one column with the most circles. Preparing, then?
This past year he did do ADV with MFW, but I added a lot to it for writing and science. I added the Junior Note book for Apologia that gave him 2 sentence note book entries once a week for science and an extra copy work scripture verse every other week. I also added Rod and Staff English 2 to MFW's Primary Language Lessons. I did have him write 1/3 of the R&S lessons by spring, and more inconsistently before that. I always had him write the original sentences required in it from the beginning of the book. I also added All About Spelling, which included dictation. There was dictation and copy work in PLL as well. I also added Italic D for cursive. This spring he actually was doing daily dictation between PLL and AAS.
So I looked at the writing laid out in Bigger on one of the posts. One of the reasons I am picking HOD is for Carrie's standards in writing. Without my additions, I can see why ladies recommend Bigger to follow ADV.
So the main difference I see between Bigger and what we did was greater consistency. ADV note booking for history is fairly inconsistent. It does have copy work in PLL, but it isn't every week. The weekly scripture copy work between Apologia and ADV was consistent. The copy work and dictation in PLL is fairly involved. The dictation really builds to some complex sentences, and can be long. But it isn't consistent, since it mixes in with picture study and such. Does this make sense?
Oh, I should add that I liked the books in HOD so I added from Bigger 1/2 of the history spines, 1/2 of the extension package (he is an advanced reader), and most of the classic and boy packages for Bigger to ADV for book basket. He did read all of the books, and most of the spines.
What does the writing look like at the start of Preparing? From the list it looks like it picks up quite a bit from the writing required in Bigger. Does it start at that level? I keep thinking that what he did was similar to Bigger, but probably not quite as much writing since Bigger is a fuller more consistent writing program than my beefed up ADV. He clearly places in Preparing. Can I take the writing slowly if we need to for a few months? Since he has read most of the books from Bigger for ADV I rather take Preparing slowly than Bigger quickly. Thoughts?
We all need a break now and then - it gives us time to get excited and eagerly anticipate the next section of our HOD journey in homeschoolilng!