Extension pack and CTC questions

[Joyful3]

I am looking at CTC and wondering if students do more with the extension package than simply read? Just curious as to how these books are used. It also says for 6th and 7th graders, to read the history set aloud OR read the extension pack books OR both. Thoughts about the best route to go? I would love to do it all but also don't want to overload my DD. However, she will be on the older end of things as a seventh grader next year. She would love to study this time period but I waffle back and forth, wondering if it an appropriate placement. Should I be concerned about it being too easy, or would it be fairly simple to beef it up if she needs more challenge? She is an average student with very splintered skills, but does often rise to a challenge.

She is so excited about everything I tell her about HOD and can't wait to start!

[8arrows]

I have boys who have been combined with their sister who have not done CTC. In another year, we need to separate them for a year so that my older daughter can do the world history guide. It will give them an extra year before I put all three of them into the geography guide. So, I need to fill a year for them. They will be in 7th and 8th. Since I have all the items, I will have them read them all. If I was ordering just for them, I would skip the read alouds and order the extensions. If you want some of the read alouds, our favorites were The Golden Bull, Pyramid Boy, and Jasub's Journal. There are activities in the back of the guide to do with the extensions: oral narrations, written narrations, and picture and caption are the ones I am remembering.

[Joyful3]

Thanks, that helps. I have been looking at the read alouds and they do look so good, and that is one of our favorite things to do. I will keep thinking and praying about what to do. It is good to know there are plans included for the extensions.

[my3sons]

I'm glad your dd is getting excited to do HOD! Honestly, we've done all of the HOD guides, and the history is pretty exciting in all of them! I'd not choose based on the history, but rather by using the placement chart. Looking at the placement chart, where does dd place best? Especially considering the first page of the chart - her reading, writing, grammar, and math. For older dc, it is key they are reading their own history and science. So, looking at the history and science resources and seeing what level she can read well independently is important. The Storytime books are awesome! You can certainly enjoy reading all of those aloud to your dd. As far as the extensions go, I'd have a seventh grader do them if she is doing CTC. Unless they are going to stress her out, or unless reading is a difficult area for dd, I'd have her do them. A rotation of mainly CM style follow-ups is planned in the Appendix for the extension titles. There is also a schedule of what to read each day that dd can check off as she goes, so it is meant to be an independent subject for her. If you get a chance to share more about dd with the placement chart in mind, I'd love to help you fine-tune placement for her! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[Joyful3]

Thanks so much, Julie. We are about 9 weeks away from finishing our current curriculum, so I think I have a pretty good feel for where she is going to be by the end of the year.

DD loves to read and does so at grade level, has grade level comprehension, but has really struggled in the past to answer any kind of comprehension/essay type questions over her reading. I think DITHOR will really help her to analyze/think about literature in a different way. She does have dysgraphia and struggles to organize her writing, although she can do some nice work when using an outline form. This year we did IEW student writing intensive group B, and her descriptive writing has really improved if she takes off on her own, but she still lacks organization, purpose, spelling, etc. So writing and discussing things she has read is a weakness for her, even though she really enjoys writing and does not balk at assignments. Interestingly enough, grammar is a strength. She has completed season one of Analytical Grammar and did great! However, the grammar she knows and can identify is not necessarily the kind of grammar she uses in her writing.

For science, I was already thinking of placing her in Res to Ref. She has been doing Apologia science (Botany, Flying Creatures, and currently Anatomy and Physiology) with the notebooking journals for elementary. It has worked very well for her and I see vast improvement in this kind of work over the past 2 years. Again, answering comprehension questions is a bit of a struggle even though she understands the material.

I know I can place her where needed for math. This is tricky, too, as she has above average computation skills but struggles quite a bit with math reasoning. We just started Singapore 3B to work on the reasoning. I think she can move quickly through at that level but can also tell it is helping her think about numbers in a way she never has before.

We are currently doing Sonlight D+E if that is any help in knowing where we are. It has been a great way to learn American history, but I am concerned some of it is not really sticking very well or that she is understanding some of the issues discussed as we zoom through. She loves the reading but is really a hands on learner who needs more ways to process the information she is taking in, thus our excitement in finding HOD and a more CM approach.

Overall, she is a good independent reader, diligent student, just struggles a bit with abstract and reasoning skills, along with the writing.

I know I shouldn't choose based on history but she's always been fascinated with ancient Egypt and has never studied the ancients. I also love how CTC is tied into Biblical history, and would enjoy seeing her make those connections. On the other hand, she's a bit of a thespian and was excited to hear about Shakespeare studies in Res to Ref. And looking ahead, I'd like to make sure she's in the right place if/when we are able to do HOD for high school. So trying to weigh more than I know as I ponder all this!! I appreciate the help so much as we get closer to making our choice for next year.

[my3sons]

Thanks so much for your description of your dd - she sounds precious! I think you have an excellent handle about what dd can do. I really like the idea of dd doing CTC with RTR science. That sounds like a good plan for many reasons. I think you will enjoy the trip through the ancients so much along with your dd. CTC does a great job of setting dc up to be successful with written narrations, as well as many other writing skills. WWTB will be a good writing program as well - I think dd will enjoy it. R & S English can be done mainly orally, reserving just a short amount to be written. We have followed HOD's suggestion for doing this orally for the past many, many years, and it has worked wonderfully well! I'm not sure if you are going to do that or Analytical Grammar, but just thought I'd mention that as we have enjoyed it and found it to still result in good retention. Dd could do R & S English 5, and it is scheduled in the CTC plans each day. R & S English is advanced. HOD has a goal for high school students to work through R & S English 7 and 8 throughout high school, as it is high school credit worthy, so this puts dd on the track to do that.

It sounds like you are set with math - I agree, Singapore math helps teach how to "think about" math and really know what you are doing. This is worth some backtracking as it will eventually make forward movement very successful. You can always do math on the fifth day of the week if you want, as CTC is a 4 day a week plan, as are all the guides after CTC. This is an easy, non-pressure way to move forward more quickly in math without doubling up. For the extensions, dd can enjoy the reading, as she sounds like a solid reader. The follow-ups are to tell an oral narration, to write a 2-3 paragraph summary, and to notebook by drawing a picture and doing a 1 paragraph summary. There are excellent descriptions for how to go about doing this in the Appendix at the start of the extension package. I'd probably have dd do 2 oral narrations a week, and alternate those with the other 2 suggestions - the summary and the notebooking. The paragraphs need not be long. I think dd can focus on quality rather than quantity here. The notebooking in CTC is sure to help dd with organization, spelling, writing, etc. - it sure has for our dc! I think you and your dd would have a terrific year with CTC with extensions, and RTR's science! When dd does get to high school and would be enjoying RTR, there are threads on the board to help with counting credits, and the science is already credit worthy. HTH, but keep asking questions as needed - we love to help here!

In Christ,
Julie

[Joyful3]

Thanks so much, Julie, for your reply. This does help in so many ways. I have asked a few questions here to make sure I'm thinking this choice through correctly, but now really feel at peace about it. I can't wait until we can order and to get started next year! I think my DD is going to love it and the curriculum sounds like it was written just for her.

Just have to add...this board is the best!!

[my3sons]

Thanks so much, Julie, for your reply. This does help in so many ways. I have asked a few questions here to make sure I'm thinking this choice through correctly, but now really feel at peace about it. I can't wait until we can order and to get started next year! I think my DD is going to love it and the curriculum sounds like it was written just for her.

Just have to add...this board is the best!!

I am glad to help - and I agree - this board is the best! The ladies are quite gracious and the advice is usually given in an encouraging manner that honors the Lord. Enjoy your year with CTC and your dd, and be sure to share your box day here if you get the chance!!!

In Christ,
Julie