HOD users--adapting Preparing for a 5th grader?

[koko]

If you have used Heart of Dakota's Preparing Program, esp if you have adapted it for a 5th grader, can you tell me how easy/difficult that was and how well it worked for you? Thanks in advance.

Jenni

[ChicoryChick]

I used Preparing pretty much "as is" with my 5th grader last year, except that she did most of the things independent as well as using her grade level math and I thought it was challenging enough. I find HOD in general to be very adaptable.

[Donna T.]

Preparing is written for 8 - 10 year olds with extensions for fifth and sixth graders. My fifth grader is using it as written. The guide contains several levels of dictation and schedules two levels of Rod & Staff English. You can easily use a different level of English or not even use R&S at all. I read the economy package books (the history spines) out loud. And, I read the Basic Package outloud, as it is intended. My son reads the Science books, the Deluxe Package and the Extension Package books for himself. He also uses Drawn Into the Heart of Reading and has covered four of the genres so far this year. I don't use a book package from HOD for that. I just pick books as we go along. I have pulled from the list that you can get to go with DITHOR, but I've also just used whatever we have here on hand already.

 

For us, it's a full program. It's just the right amount of independent reading for him and shared reading for us to enjoy together. He does pretty much all of the assignments except we use something else for vocabulary and use Singapore as a supplement rather than as his main math curriculum.

 

There really is alot of flexibility written into the guides. The placement chart is great for helping you to narrow your choices down and then there is some wiggle room within each guide to tailor the difficulty level.

[koko]

Thanks ladies!! It sounds like just what we are looking for :D and I am excited for what sound like school blessings ahead.