Question for HOD CTC users...

[babybryte]

I am struggling with whether to use MFW or HOD this year. I would like to make a decision on a curriculum and actually stick with it for more than a few months. :) I would not be using HOD's CTC this next year, but I have the manual that I bought used for cheap. I have been trying to compare it to MFW's CTG online sample (kinda hard to do).

 

So I have been reading a lot of posts on here about MFW/HOD. One post, in particular, by Donna A. (I believe) had me thinking on something that I hadn't thought of before. HOD CTC has the student reading history and Bible independently. That is something that I'm not sure that I like or not. I think I would rather be the one to discuss Bible with my kids.

 

But I wanted to get others' feelings about this, especially if you have used CTC before. Does it bother you that you aren't reading history and Bible with them? Do you think they are really understanding it without you there to discuss it with them?

 

Thanks for any input!!!

 

Blessings,

Jacquelyn

[Tree House Academy]

In CTC , your child has some reading in Bible to do alone...as well as a devotion, memory work, and prayer time that he/she will do alone. However, there is also a section to be done with the parent for Bible that will include discussions. You can see the section I mean on Unit 1, Day 1 (right side pages, top left corner).

 

We have also used other bible programs in the past (CLE most recently) and my son LOVED reading the Bible stories on his own and answering questions by himself. It is amazing to me what kids can and do process without us mommas doing the hand-holding. I want to be there to answer questions my kids have about the Bible and to make them think maybe a bit outside the box...but I also want them to have time with God that is their own. Sometimes my kids see things in scripture that my adult, over-think-it-all mind seems to miss.

 

ETA: My son is in 6th grade this year, so I think him doing history independently is wonderful!

[Donna T.]

When you look in your CTC guide, you will see that the boxes are labeled so that you can tell whether an assignment is to be done independently (I), semi-independently (S) or with you (T - together).

 

Bible Study is labeled T. During that time, you will be reading aloud and discussing the material with your child. That box schedules Genesis: Finding Our Roots. Also, Storytime is labeled T and very often includes readings from your own Bibles. Geography is also scheduled as a T time and will include a lot of Bible as you study the geography of the Holy Land.

 

The other Bible readings and the history readings are scheduled as I activities , but a lot of moms read those books outloud, either because they want to discuss the material or because they are combining children of various ages in one guide and thus feel the need to read to younger siblings. It really is up to you.

 

I personally love that the author of HOD is very intentional about choosing books that are at the right reading and comprehension level for a child within a particular age and skill level. If your child fits into the age span recommendation for CTC (ages 9 - 11, up through 7th grade if you are using the extension materials) and also fits into that guide according to the placement chart at the HOD web site, then he or she should do very well with those readings. In the appendix, there are a few pages that provide info. on assessing your child's understanding and comprehension using oral and written narrations. That is there for those who are using the extension package. The other books, those in the regular packages, will have particular assignments that will help you to assess how your child is doing with the readings. Reading those pages in the appendix may be helpful to you if you are concerned about how this may or may not work for you.

 

I have used three full years of MFW and part of a fourth. I have also owned two other MFW manuals and spent alot of time with them. I think MFW is great, but I really wanted a curriculum that trained my child to take on more advanced reading material at an appropriate (for them) pace. Lots of moms can do that successfully with MFW, but HOD has made it alot easier for me personally.

[babybryte]

Thank you! Those thoughts helped a lot! :)

 

It is good to know that I CAN read history with them, if I want to. And I see what you mean about the (S), (T), and (I). I didn't know before what that meant.

 

My problem is that my two are NOT advanced readers at all. But in a couple of years, when we would do CTC, they may be.

 

Donna T., which manual are you doing or are going to do this fall?