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Jerin's Zoo
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| Posted: March 06 2006 at 5:05pm | IP Logged
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Ok, so I'm looking at CHC, and for the most part, I like what I see. The one thing that is concerning me is the fact that I don't have a child who is functioning remotely at the same grade level in all subjects. I'll probably be keeping the math and spelling I've been using, so that takes away that factor, but I'm trying to figure out how to make it work otherwise.
My other big concern is that I have children who are very close in age, none at a point of working very independently (my older 2 are doing more on their own), plus a very busy toddler who is intent on getting into the thick of it all. With my curent curriculum, I've loved how I can do things like history, geography, science, and literature with everyone at once. I realize that language and math might need to be separate for a while yet until their abilities level out some, but it has been nice to combine as much as possible, and I can't see doing K, 2nd and 3rd grades all completely separate with a toddler, too!
So, what I'm working with is a rising third grader, slightly advanced interests, somewhat precocious in his interest and understanding of religious themes, 8th grade reading level (at least -- got to balance for the interest thing), finishing 4th grade grammar right now, finishing 4th grade handwriting (may stick with our current curriculum there), and decidedly 3rd grade on creative writing skills/interest. So, I'd need about a 5th grade level for him in language (mostly), but probably more like fourth grade for social studies, science, and religion.
Then, I've got a rising second grader, pretty typical in her iterests, very advanced in artistic ability. She reads at a third/fourth grade level, is finishing a second grade grammar program, writing is either absolutely gorgeous (when she applies her artistic inclination or barely legible -- she doesn't like our current handwriting.) She's probably at about the same point as her brother on synthesizing/recording ideas (creative writing). she's probably the easiest to fit, I may be able to go with a third grade program, add the sacramental prep materials I used this year with her brother, and call it good.
Tagging along for now is my rising kindergartener (we already call him a kindergartener because the others got to be in K on their summer birthdays and he remembered, so we'll call him a kindergartener for a year and a half.) He's really taking off with his reading (solid first grade level, moving quickly to second), writing pretty well, tagging along and not doing badly with some of his sister's language assignments, though I really am thinking of moving him to his own.
So, do you think there's a way that CHC would work for us? How many grades' worth of lesson plans, and which ones would you suggest?
Thanks
__________________
Jerin
wife to Dan since 1994
mom to ds (6/98 ) , dd (7/99), ds (1/01), dd (2/05) and 16 more
Life at the Zoo
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momwise
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| Posted: March 07 2006 at 8:32am | IP Logged
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I've been thinking this over Jerin and I guess I don't know what I'd do. If you use the 3 gr. for the upper 2, you'll miss out on the First Communion resource of the 2nd gr., which I think is the best part of the curriculum.
And if you continue with your own spelling/math/grammar resources, you'll be making more revisions than it may be worth. With your kids so close I'd hate to lose the opportunity to teach everyone the same history/science/art, etc.
You could get the 2nd and 3rd grades, let the Kdgr. work through as much of 2nd gr. as possible, use the 1st Comm. resources for the 2nd grader, and put everyone through the 3rd gr. subjects together 
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: March 08 2006 at 6:46am | IP Logged
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***With my curent curriculum, I've loved how I can do things like history, geography, science, and literature with everyone at once. I realize that language and math might need to be separate for a while yet until their abilities level out some, but it has been nice to combine as much as possible, and I can't see doing K, 2nd and 3rd grades all completely separate with a toddler, too!***
Hi Jerin,
I know you asked specifically about CHC, but I'm not sure its really the best fit either, given your situation and given that you already like your own spelling, math, etc.
For language arts, I like Primary Language Lessons, Intermediate Language Lessons, and Lingua Mater very very much. ILL is written for 4th-6th, and Lingua Mater is supposed to be done as a one year course in 7th grade but is often done as a 2 yr course for 6th-7th. Both include grammar, but not systematically. They are perfect for grammar refreshers, imho, for a child who has already studied grammar, or a gentle grammar intro. ILL might be an inexpensive program for your oldest ds because its around 20 bucks (Emmanuel, or Amazon) and because you can fit your child in wherever he falls academically. Each 100 lessons is written for a specific grade level.
For geography, science, history and literature, I'd suggest looking over at MA. I've been reading over there for a week now and I am sooooooo impressed with what I have seen. Kellie and I have been chatting about it as both of us are moving on from Sonlight, too. It would be very easy to pick one level, like you used to do with SL, for all three children to follow. Their geography includes earth science and they use very colorful books and neat experiments just like Sonlight. For some of the courses, you can print out weekly schedules off their web site, too.
If you like CHC's religion, I'd buy one set of lesson plans (probably 2nd grade) and use that with all three.
The other possibility for combining science would be CHC's Behold and See (3rd grade). Lots of people are using this over a wide age span and although I've only looked at it briefly once, its beautiful and living books people seem to really love it.
Hope this helps!
~Books
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Jerin's Zoo
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| Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:57pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Gwen and BWT.
I looked at MA ... it's definitely the sort of thing I want for literature.
I'm thinking of trying CHC 3rd grade ... I think that I'll end up using all or most of it between the 3 of them.
Unfortunately, unless the new bishop (yet to be named) says differently, I'm pretty tied to the parish program for my second grader, though I have the supplements I already bought for this year's second grader to use again. That's one area where I miss Denver, Abp. Chaput, and Msgr. Buelt, who was/is very pro-homeschool.
I'm trying to decide what to do with language for my older ds. Dh suggested that we just focus on writing next year. I'm considering SL's Diamond Notes or it may be time to get The Writer's Jungle (I've looked at it before, but the children were too young for it to be useful yet.)
More to mull over.
__________________
Jerin
wife to Dan since 1994
mom to ds (6/98 ) , dd (7/99), ds (1/01), dd (2/05) and 16 more
Life at the Zoo
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mary
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| Posted: March 09 2006 at 6:06am | IP Logged
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my oldest ds is just a year younger than yours. we are using chc's language of god and speller and i'm thinking of doing julie's bravewriter for the writing. he will just be old enough.
do you have to use your parish program for your second grader's religion? we are just finishing the first communion notebook and it has been fantastic, both in experience and final product.
would any of those suggestions work for you?
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Jerin's Zoo
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| Posted: March 09 2006 at 1:39pm | IP Logged
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It's good to know someone else may be using Bravewriter with a second grader. (I'd probably use it for my dd, too.) I'm going to talk with Julie and Rachel and Susie and others over there and discuss more about whether it's a good fit yet for them.
Right now, diocesean policy is that we have to use the parish program (though I have supplemented and done a lot of the prep on my own), but our bishop has also just been promoted to our archbishop, so we're still waiting to hear who's going to be bishop. Depending on who it is, I could see sacramental prep on our own getting easier, harder, or staying the same.
__________________
Jerin
wife to Dan since 1994
mom to ds (6/98 ) , dd (7/99), ds (1/01), dd (2/05) and 16 more
Life at the Zoo
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: March 09 2006 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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There are ideas in Bravewriter for K- about 8, I think. I am glad to have it on my shelf. 
Julie posts over here...it might be a good place to ask your questions.
~Books
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: CHC with children who are all over?
