Use higher manual for LA or Queen's book?

[sted]

I am debating whether to use a higher manual right hand side for my older daughter using the same program as her younger sister. Let me explain. I'm doing Beyond for both my 6 and 8 yr. old. The manaul is great for my 6yr.olds level but I need to do slightly harder material for my 8yr. old (will be nine in Oct.) My question is should I order Bigger and use the right side of plans or use something else like Queen's Language Books which seems to cover grammar, dictation, spelling and some narration. Should I add anything else? Her writing is just starting to come. I'm also planning on having my older daughter do oral and written narrations with some of the Am.Patriots book and the storybooks to make it a bit more challenging level wise for her.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Shannon

[funkmomma71]

If I were in your shoes and this was my family I would choose buying the Bigger for the following reasons:

1) if you plan on continuing HOD then you'll have it ready for next year, no added cost like you would have by ordering Queens.
2) Beyond already has narration built into the storytime lessons, so that would be a redundancy.
3) the level 2 spelling is in both Beyond and Bigger, while the Bigger guide has dictation passages for spelling
4) the Bigger guide has plans for math
5) by using one curriculum for LA you have consistancy, less bouncing around,and ultimately, less work for mom.
May the Lord be with you as you make your decision.

[my3sons]

Good morning, Shannon! I agree with Nancy for all of the reasons she listed so well. I like the way the LA skills build in the HOD guides for 2 reasons - the skills are retained better, and dc can become more naturally independent with them, taking them on as their own skills. As the dc reach higher HOD guides, these LA skills are integrated with the history, Bible, and science, so it just makes things flow smoothly if they've learned them bit by bit the CM way HOD teaches them each year so they can be successfully more independent with the skills as they do the older HOD guides.

In Christ,
Julie

[Polly]

The other thing I wish I would have considered when I chose Bigger was that the events of Am. History are covered in Beyond. The people of Am. History are covered in Bigger. I had to supplement when using Bigger for my son so he would understand the events around the people. It wasn't a huge problem, but a problem none the less. Just something to consider.

[sted]

Polly,
Oh, thanks for that "heads up". I was just considering ordering Bigger instead (for my older daughter). Isn't it the other way around though? I though Beyond was more about people and Bigger more about events?

I'll have to look that up.
Shannon

[Polly]

Sorry! Bigger is the people. That's what we used last year. Sorry to confuse them. It was one of those days!

[sted]

No Polly,

Actually you were correct according to your original post. Beyond is more events, Bigger is more biographical.

Thanks,
Shannon