RTR questions

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momof2n2
Posts: 273
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:54 pm

RTR questions

Post by momof2n2 » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:02 am

Hello Ladies.
I have not posted in quite some time.
We are gearing up for our new school year. I ordered my books last week and just opened the box today.
And panicked.

I am planning RTR for my oldest son who will be 12 in a few weeks. This will be for 7th grade. We do our own math and science, and he is up to the 7th grade book for Rod and Staff English. We will be using RTR for Reading about History, Storytime, Research, Independent History Study, Art Appreciation and Bible Quiet Time.

He is a really good student and did well with CTC mostly independently. The problem? - I am concerned these books are going to bore the pants off of him and that I will be fighting him for the first time in his schooling. American history has been fine, and the CTC was awesome as it lined up so well with all of the Bible.

He and I just looked through the books. He was excited about the Shakespeare, but that was about it. Oh - he thought Forbidden Gates looked good too.

Ladies - if you have had experience with your kids doing RTR please chime in and tell me how they responded to it. I also think that this time frame is just so unappealing to ME and it will be hard to motivate him.

We've LOVED HOD since we first used Beyond Little Hearts some 5 years ago.


[My other kids will be:
5th grade boy - a gap year. He did Preparing for 3rd and Bigger for 4th. I made my own curriculum for grade five, then he will start the CTC, etc.
3rd grade girl - Beyond with extras
1st grade girl - Beyond
Toddler girl
Expecting #6]

Fall 2015
DS 17 -gr.12 full time college student
DS 15- gr. 10 favorites from World Geo and World Hx.
DD 13- gr. 8 Rev to Rev
DD 11- gr. 6 CTC
DD 7 - gr. 2 Beyond
DD 4 - pre-K Rod & Staff and Phonics Pathways

Allison TX
Posts: 186
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2008 5:36 pm

Re: RTR questions

Post by Allison TX » Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:06 am

My boys loved the books in RTR! :) The Story of the Middle Ages was a book I was concerned about them not liking, but it was one of their favorites. I think you will be fine. :) Most boys find this time period fascinating.

Allison

my3sons
Posts: 10698
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: RTR questions

Post by my3sons » Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:51 am

This was my ds's favorite time period so far! He loved the books! :D Some of the covers may be 'older-style' looking, but I do believe they are pure gold inside. Miss Charlotte Mason would have approved - all living books in the bunch, so enjoy! :D Also, RTR has follow-ups that make each part of the plans (even the independent ones) be something to be shared in some way, shape, or form between us as parents and our dc. :D It may just be checking this or that, discussing this or that, editing with one another, referring to the Appendix together, reading something together, hearing an oral narration, or enjoying looking at a project together, so though ds did a good portion of RTR independently, I felt very in tune to his school, and he loved that! We utilized the 'meeting time' Carrie has mentioned, and found this to be a very interactive, yet stream-lined way to enjoy RTR together! I think RTR's varied follow-up assignments and activities make the books all that amazing too. HTH! :D

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

LynnH
Posts: 1846
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: OH
Contact:

Re: RTR questions

Post by LynnH » Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:07 pm

My ds also loved the books in RTR, actually probably more than CTC. He loved all the kings, queens, knights, battles etc. In fact because of RTR our downstairs is covered with a table full of the Lego Kingdoms set. He also was really enthralled with the church history and all the suffering that people went thru just to do things like print the bible. I saw a real understanding come over him as far as realizing that being a Christian isn't easy and there will be persecution. He also loved the art study. We did a visit to the art museum this summer and he was so excited to go and look for artists and paintings he had learned about. In fact he has asked when we can go again! Like Julie said we had some very good discussions as follow ups, although he usually didn't wait for the meeting time, he just had to tell me as soon as he finished reading.

The retention I have seen also is probably some of the best he has shown. Our church does church history as a combined all church Sunday School every other summer. This year it happens that we are studying the exact time period that my ds studied in RTR. He loves that he is already familiar with the people the pastor is talking about and actually knows many of the stories our pastor is sharing.

I do think you hit on a key point. If you aren't excited about it, then he will know that and most likely also not be excited about it. I don't fake excitement, but I do read the books myself so I can find things that I think are interesting. Then when my ds shares things with me I can point out things I found cool. MOH 3 I found especially fascinating. Her writing style is so engaging. I also loved Peril and Peace and Monks and Mystics. In fact my dh who isn't a reader then read them and also really enjoyed them.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

wonderfilled
Posts: 145
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:59 am

Re: RTR questions

Post by wonderfilled » Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:57 pm

I really can't be much help here. My son just started RTR and is really enjoying it. He has only read about half of Forbidden Gates (the first book scheduled) and he loves it and can't wait to finish it. He was begging me today to go ahead and finish it ahead of schedule. I can't say anything about the rest of the books, but I'm sure they're great.
Enjoying Heart of Dakota for our fifth year using:
Ds15- World History
Ds13-MtM
Ds11- RtR
Ds7- Bigger Hearts
http://wonderfilleddays.com

annaz
Posts: 833
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:47 pm

Re: RTR questions

Post by annaz » Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:55 pm

I've heard .....elsewhere.... :oops:....that RTR was even better than CTC!

:mrgreen:
Married 1994
One DD 6/2000
One DH :)
One cat
One dog
Three horses :shock:

Kathleen
Posts: 1980
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:23 pm
Location: NE Kansas

Re: RTR questions

Post by Kathleen » Wed Aug 01, 2012 10:49 pm

Grant also REALLY loved RTR! :D He was also intrigued by the early church history, the knights, the battles...just like Julie and Lynn shared. He didn't think any of the books were boring - he really enjoyed them all! I did find that it took him longer for the history readings when he was reading Peril and Peace and Monks and Mystics. But those chapters have a lot of information.

:D Kathleen
Homeschooling mom to 6:
Grant - 19 Kansas State University
Allison - 15 World Geography
Garret - 13 Res2Ref
Asa - 8 Bigger
Quinn - 7 Bigger

Halle - 4 LHTH

momof2n2
Posts: 273
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:54 pm

Re: RTR questions

Post by momof2n2 » Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:03 pm

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. We will manage to get through. My son's interests in knights and castles starts and stops with the Chronicles of Narnia.

My approach with him is going to be that this is good practice for the rest of his life. There are going to be times, and in fact entire college semesters, where it is possible he will not care for what he has to learn. But he has to learn to persevere and do it well. I pointed out that we get to bound through 1600 years of history in one year and then we can get to the 1700s/colonial times again soon. :) It's a good life lesson. And, he IS interested in the Shakespeare and I KNOW he will LOVE the Phillipians study.

We start school on the 20th. Soon - so soon!

thank you again.

STACY

Fall 2015
DS 17 -gr.12 full time college student
DS 15- gr. 10 favorites from World Geo and World Hx.
DD 13- gr. 8 Rev to Rev
DD 11- gr. 6 CTC
DD 7 - gr. 2 Beyond
DD 4 - pre-K Rod & Staff and Phonics Pathways

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