Is it possible to combine Story Time between Bigger and CTC using the selections from CTC?
Jayden's been through Bigger, and I really like how the story time in Preparing goes along with the rest of the history. I'd like to continue that for her. Is it possible to just combine them in Story Time or would it just be better to keep them separate?
Combining Story Time
Re: Combining Story Time
Quick question - Are you talking about combining Grace and Jayden for Storytime in CTC, assuming it is Grace who is doing Bigger Hearts? If so, how old will Grace be when you begin this? One thing to consider is the maturity of content in CTC's history-focused Storytime. If you have a sensitive child, and she is young, it may be too much for her. If she is not overly sensitive though, and is 9 yo or older, she'll be just fine, and they are wonderful books! 
When she gets to CTC later herself, you could use the Girl Set for her. Another option, if she is somewhat sensitive, would be to read the BHFHG Storytime aloud, and let Jayden read her own CTC Storytime. Or, read 10 minutes to each of them out of their respective Storytime books, and let them finish reading them on their own. I often do this with Riley (who BTW is 9 1/2 yo and loving CTC's Storytime books). This is all assuming this is Jayden and Grace we are speaking of though - please correct me if I'm off!
In Christ,
Julie
When she gets to CTC later herself, you could use the Girl Set for her. Another option, if she is somewhat sensitive, would be to read the BHFHG Storytime aloud, and let Jayden read her own CTC Storytime. Or, read 10 minutes to each of them out of their respective Storytime books, and let them finish reading them on their own. I often do this with Riley (who BTW is 9 1/2 yo and loving CTC's Storytime books). This is all assuming this is Jayden and Grace we are speaking of though - please correct me if I'm off! 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: Combining Story Time
Sorry, yes it's Jayden and Grace...
Grace is 8, but is not sensitive at all.
She will not read any of her story time book... I'm not even going to ask her with the increased reading with DITHOR from ERs
Picking my battle on this one... as in I could make her read it, but it wouldn't do any of us any good.
I guess it's just best to keep them separate. That way all the books will be fresh for everyone when they get to it
It was just a nice thought while it lasted 
Grace is 8, but is not sensitive at all.
She will not read any of her story time book... I'm not even going to ask her with the increased reading with DITHOR from ERs
Picking my battle on this one... as in I could make her read it, but it wouldn't do any of us any good. I guess it's just best to keep them separate. That way all the books will be fresh for everyone when they get to it
It was just a nice thought while it lasted Re: Combining Story Time
Lora Beth,
I do think that Julie shared a couple of options that would really help lighten the load for Storytime and would work well. We don't typically expect moms to be reading aloud two different storytimes every day, so you asked a great question.
i would lean toward either having Jayden read her own storytime for CTC (and then she could listen in to the Bigger storytime if desired).
Or, you could just read the first 5-10 min. of Jayden's storytime and then let Jayden read the rest on her own as part of school. Then, you could still read all of the Bigger storytime to Grace (and Jayden could join in if desired).
One last thought might be to have your hubby read aloud 10 min. of Jayden's storytime at bedtime (just to her) and then let her finish the rest on her own at bedtime (or during school the next day). Then, you could still read to Grace (and Jayden could join you if desired).
I know that from our perspective, we had to get creative when we got to two storytimes a day too (except in the case of the LHFHG Storytime, which was so short it really didn't count as a second storytime).
I hope you find what works for you!
Blessings,
Carrie
I do think that Julie shared a couple of options that would really help lighten the load for Storytime and would work well. We don't typically expect moms to be reading aloud two different storytimes every day, so you asked a great question.
i would lean toward either having Jayden read her own storytime for CTC (and then she could listen in to the Bigger storytime if desired).
Or, you could just read the first 5-10 min. of Jayden's storytime and then let Jayden read the rest on her own as part of school. Then, you could still read all of the Bigger storytime to Grace (and Jayden could join in if desired).
One last thought might be to have your hubby read aloud 10 min. of Jayden's storytime at bedtime (just to her) and then let her finish the rest on her own at bedtime (or during school the next day). Then, you could still read to Grace (and Jayden could join you if desired).
I know that from our perspective, we had to get creative when we got to two storytimes a day too (except in the case of the LHFHG Storytime, which was so short it really didn't count as a second storytime).
I hope you find what works for you!
Blessings,
Carrie
Re: Combining Story Time
Yes I wasn't counting LHFHG story time!
I didn't even think about bedtime reading! Even though we have been doing that the past few days anyway!
I think I'll do the Bigger reading at bedtime. That would make school shorter for Grace and Jayden would get to listen in as well... revisiting old favorites
I think it would be easier if everyone was in the same place in their guide! Jayden is in unit 25 of Preparing, Grace will be starting Bigger half speed next week, and Julianna is in unit 16 LHFHG!
I just hate to make Jayden have any more reading than she already has. She doesn't complain about what I make her do for school other than just if she doesn't particularly like a certain book. I had her reading about half the Fountain of Life reading every day (sometimes more) just because it fell during the early days of Penelope And it added a lot of time to school. She's not an overly strong reader. She's getting there, but not enough for it to be an every day thing. Especially not with adding DITHOR back in.
I didn't even think about bedtime reading! Even though we have been doing that the past few days anyway!
I think I'll do the Bigger reading at bedtime. That would make school shorter for Grace and Jayden would get to listen in as well... revisiting old favorites
I think it would be easier if everyone was in the same place in their guide! Jayden is in unit 25 of Preparing, Grace will be starting Bigger half speed next week, and Julianna is in unit 16 LHFHG!
I just hate to make Jayden have any more reading than she already has. She doesn't complain about what I make her do for school other than just if she doesn't particularly like a certain book. I had her reading about half the Fountain of Life reading every day (sometimes more) just because it fell during the early days of Penelope
And it added a lot of time to school. She's not an overly strong reader. She's getting there, but not enough for it to be an every day thing. Especially not with adding DITHOR back in.Re: Combining Story Time
Lora Beth,
Ah! I see I have Jayden in the wrong guide in my mind. Being in Preparing, instead of Bigger, does make a difference. Plus, I can see why you're needing to downsize a bit as doing Bigger and Preparing at the same time is busy!
Alright, if you're doing Bigger at half-speed, then reading that at bedtime should help (as you can either read shorter portions, or you can read only every other night - since that is when storytime would come up at half speed).
If Grace is doing DITHR, then you could consider having her listen to Jayden's Preparing storytime in place of Bigger's storytime (as then Grace wouldn't need as many of the skills found in the Storytime as she would otherwise). If Grace isn't doing DITHR yet, then she will definitely need all the storytime skills from Bigger, so then that isn't an option.
Another thing you could consider is recording yourself while you are reading Jayden's storytime (on an ipod or other device you could save for the next year). The reason I mention this is because then next year Grace could listen to you read the Preparing books on audio (which would save you much time when Grace got to Preparing)! I had my mother-in-law read and record chapter books on audio for my oldest son during our earlier years of homeschooling, and he loved following along with her as she read. It's a pity I didn't have my guides written then, or I'd have had recordings of many of the HOD books too!
Anyway, just a few more thoughts!
Blessings,
Carrie
Ah! I see I have Jayden in the wrong guide in my mind. Being in Preparing, instead of Bigger, does make a difference.
Plus, I can see why you're needing to downsize a bit as doing Bigger and Preparing at the same time is busy! Alright, if you're doing Bigger at half-speed, then reading that at bedtime should help (as you can either read shorter portions, or you can read only every other night - since that is when storytime would come up at half speed).
If Grace is doing DITHR, then you could consider having her listen to Jayden's Preparing storytime in place of Bigger's storytime (as then Grace wouldn't need as many of the skills found in the Storytime as she would otherwise). If Grace isn't doing DITHR yet, then she will definitely need all the storytime skills from Bigger, so then that isn't an option.
Another thing you could consider is recording yourself while you are reading Jayden's storytime (on an ipod or other device you could save for the next year). The reason I mention this is because then next year Grace could listen to you read the Preparing books on audio (which would save you much time when Grace got to Preparing)! I had my mother-in-law read and record chapter books on audio for my oldest son during our earlier years of homeschooling, and he loved following along with her as she read. It's a pity I didn't have my guides written then, or I'd have had recordings of many of the HOD books too!
Anyway, just a few more thoughts!
Blessings,
Carrie
Re: Combining Story Time
ooh.. Grace would like listening to "audio books" that are in a voice she knows!
And I also didn't think about her not necessarily needing the skills from Story Time as much with doing DITHOR. She will be doing DITHOR
Eventually they will all be separated by a guide, so it'll be easier. Right now I'm getting Grace and Julianna separated so I'm not doing Bigger and Beyond full speed together! Then I'll focus more on Jayden and Grace getting farther apart.
And I also didn't think about her not necessarily needing the skills from Story Time as much with doing DITHOR. She will be doing DITHOR
Eventually they will all be separated by a guide, so it'll be easier. Right now I'm getting Grace and Julianna separated so I'm not doing Bigger and Beyond full speed together! Then I'll focus more on Jayden and Grace getting farther apart.