Placement Help

[Cristi]

This year we will be doing Adventures in MFW. But next year I was thinking of switching to HOD. My oldest daughter will be 7 at that time. I started her early (cause you know I was a silly over eager mom). So even though she was 5 at the start of this year we did MFW first grade. She did great and is reading wonderfully now. So I guess technically shes a grade ahead. Ok so heres my question. I'm thinking of switching to HOD next year because I'm not sure she will be mature enough for the subject content in the next level of MFW. She will be a better age for Beyond at that time (she will be 7) but it uses many of the same books we are using this year and so I think it would be lots of repeat and she might be bored. So I was thinking shes a good fit for Bigger but she would be on the very low end of the age range and I've heard many people say thats not a good thing. Any thoughts?

[StephanieU]

Will she be a young 7? We are only in Beyond, but my daughter is a young 2nd grader. She won't turn 7 until December, but she is doing fine with the guides. But, if your daughter is barely 6 now, then I would consider maybe spreading Adventures and Bigger out to closer to 3 years. Many families do this by only schooling 4 days a week. I am not sure if Adventures in 4 or 5 days a week, but if it is 4, then you could just do 3-4 days a week. You could continue in math and phonics daily if you want, but don't go as fast for history.

[MelInKansas]

Are you only using HOD then to fill in some years and then go back to MFW? If so, I am not really sure what to advise you. Usually you use the placement chart as a guide for where your child fits in the guide (and you would probably want to wait to do that until closer to the time you plan to start it). Even if you've used the books before, HOD will put a different spin on it and do it differently, along with having some books that will be new. And you don't want to go too high, so Beyond would seem to probably be the best fit. Even if she is ahead in several areas, the amount of work required and handwriting would probably be difficult for her and make school no fun. But LHFHG might be too basic, though you could probably add on and make it work if you really tried.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Nealewill]

Actually - we did MFW Adventures last year and my 5.5 & 7 yo started the year off with Beyond and they loved it. They remember some of the Pioneer and Patriots books but they didn't mind at all us rereading it. Also, they absolutely loved the additional Christian Liberty press books with HOD. Those were probably their favorite books! I found that even though we did Adventures last year, Beyond was VERY different and my kids absolutely loved it. This year, my younger 2 are being separated (now 6 & and they are doing Bigger and Little Hearts. And they are really enjoying doing their own thing now.

[Cristi]

Nealewill why did you switch from MFW to HOD?