Hi, I'm trying to prepare for next year (starting Year 3). I have two sons in UG right now. The 12-year-old was a late (and still reluctant) reader and has a problem with short-term memory. The 10-year-old is a voracious reader and is always trying to understand everything more than his older brother.

So, I know that the 12-year-old should be heading into Dialectic, and it will be a challenge, but one that is good for him. He is definitely heading into puberty, he is asking "why?", etc.

The question is what to do with my 10-year-old. If he was the oldest, I would wait another year and just give him extra readings (I think that's what I'd do anyway! . But, the two of them have always done their school together, so do I keep them together even though this one may not be able to make the connections yet?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. (Any thoughts on how to help my reluctant reader would also be appreciated....he definitely is the type who just wants to "check off that it's done and move on".)

Thanks,

Candace

I think I would start to purchase the D books and as they arrive use the IG and see how much is read in them and what sorts of questions are being asked. Then if you feel your younger would be okay with these books, more or less, just move him to D.

My oldest did D at 11. For him being able to type was important to getting his written work done.

My sons turned 11 and 12 during this school year. I had the 12 year old doing D reading and the 11 year old doing UG. It worked out well. Actually, my 11 year old is/was the reluctant reader when the school year started. He actually read both levels of the literature reading and even some history reading from the D level. He has surprised even himself with how much he enjoyed the reading of the literature choices.
Now, my 12 year old who is the voracious reader(when HE chooses the books) disliked all of the core history reading. He would be the one to "check off that it's done and move on", but he is now reading The Frontiersmen ,which is a 700+ page book , for fun!
If you are borrowing your books from the library, get both levels and let him decide some of the reading, even if he swings back and forth between levels. If you purchase your books and you have another child that will be able to benefit from them later, go ahead and get both levels if that is something you can afford.
My boys have always done their school together also, but I did not find that a different level in TOG made much difference. They are still on the same subject matter at the same time. They also will talk about what they liked about a book ,if it really stood out to them, and the next thing you know, the other one will pick it up and start reading it!
Not sure I am much help, but I saw the ages of your children and thought hmmmmm, we have a little in common!
Mindy,
Wife to Tim -16 years
Mom to 12 ds, 11 ds, 9 dd, 4dd, 2dd

Thanks for the comments. I always forget about that wonderful aspect of TOG....I can go back and forth between UG and D easily!! My 10-year-old, although a voracious reader, is not ready for the dialectic-level thinking (as Dana pointed out in another post, D is not about reading level but puberty).

Again, thanks for the insights. Does anyone else have any other thoughts about how to help my 12-year-old enjoy the learning process more instead of just trying to find the answer and move on? Maybe just using the dialectic level will do that on its own?

Thanks,

Candace