Question on Extension Curriculum Assignments

[tnahid]

A couple of questions:

I am thinking ahead for next year, and thinking about getting the extensions for my 9 year old who will be doing Bigger with his younger brother. What exactly will they be doing with these extensions? Will they be required to listen to the read-aloud and do the science for Bigger PLUS do extension reading assignments? Is that the idea? Or do they have separate assignments to do with the extensions as well?

So next year, if my son is doing Bigger left side with this brother, then he would need to be in LA 4 (he just started 3 today!) with extensions in history and science, plus DITHOR, cursive handwriting. Right? (We have a separate math curriculum.)

Thank you for any insights!

Tina

[pjdobro]

I think you have it figured correctly. Since he is 9, he still fits in the age range for the guide so the extensions are really optional to use only if you feel they are needed. Here is a another link that is discussing a similar question: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7818

[Tansy]

that topic is great and totally follow the link to Carries explanation its so helpful!

[my3sons]

You may want to first just get the Bigger Hearts guide and do a week or a month of it without the extensions to see if they are necessary for your 9 yo. Bigger Hearts is a meaty program , and the extensions are meant for 10-11 yo's. I think the first goal is for a child to get the absolute most out of the daily core plans of the guide, and then if extending is necessary and a child can completely do the extension reading and follow-up assignments on his own, then it's easy to add. The extension books are a higher reading level, and the follow-ups are optional and meant to be completely independent. You may want to check out the reading levels of the extensions as well as the maturity level and see if they are a good fit for your ds - if they are, they are wonderful books and a good way to extend the learning in the areas of history and science!

In Christ,
Julie

[Heart_Mom]

You may want to first just get the Bigger Hearts guide and do a week or a month of it without the extensions to see if they are necessary for your 9 yo. Bigger Hearts is a meaty program , and the extensions are meant for 10-11 yo's. I think the first goal is for a child to get the absolute most out of the daily core plans of the guide, and then if extending is necessary and a child can completely do the extension reading and follow-up assignments on his own, then it's easy to add. The extension books are a higher reading level, and the follow-ups are optional and meant to be completely independent. You may want to check out the reading levels of the extensions as well as the maturity level and see if they are a good fit for your ds - if they are, they are wonderful books and a good way to extend the learning in the areas of history and science!

In Christ,
Julie

Hi, Julie! I'm planning on doing Bigger with my older two children next year and I just assumed that I wouldhave to do the extensions with my son who will be ten in the end of July, but since he's still playing catch-up because he had some vision issues (visual processing, tracking, eye teaming) I'm thinking it may be "enough" for him to just do it as written (with age level math and LA). It would officially be his 4th grade year. Does that seem reasonable?

[my3sons]

Heart_Mom - I do think that makes total sense! I would begin without the extensions, and add them in later if you feel he needs more. Bigger Hearts is a healthy step up in work, especially in the areas of reading, writing, grammar, and independence. I think it is important to remember that the extensions are meant to be done 100% independently by the child. The child should be able to read every extension book and do the rotation of suggested follow-up assignments completely on their own. This is an indicator they need the extensions. Otherwise, they don't need to do them. The follow-up assignments to the extensions in Bigger Hearts are...
*orally retell what they've read (suggested 2 times a week)
*write a one paragraph summary of the reading (suggested 2 times a week)
*draw a picture with captions about the reading (suggested 1 time a week)

The reading level span of books in Bigger Hearts' extension package is from 4.5 (fourth grade, fifth month) to 6.7 (sixth grade, seventh month), with most of the books falling in the mid-fifth grade to mid-sixth grade range.

HTH - but if you aren't very sure ds is needing the extensions, I really would start it without them, and add them in later if need be. We are going through Bigger Hearts for a second time with our second ds - what fun! We are loving it so much. In fact, my older ds (who did BHFHG 3 years ago) is begging to read the red Eggleston books again for fun on his own - I told him he can when my middle ds and I finish them, as they are special for us this year. My middle ds beamed, and my oldest ds is chomping at the bit for us to finish them. Ahhhh, good living books do give such joy and satisfaction, don't they?!?

In Christ,
Julie

[Heart_Mom]

Heart_Mom - I do think that makes total sense! I would begin without the extensions, and add them in later if you feel he needs more. Bigger Hearts is a healthy step up in work, especially in the areas of reading, writing, grammar, and independence. I think it is important to remember that the extensions are meant to be done 100% independently by the child. The child should be able to read every extension book and do the rotation of suggested follow-up assignments completely on their own. This is an indicator they need the extensions. Otherwise, they don't need to do them. The follow-up assignments to the extensions in Bigger Hearts are...
*orally retell what they've read (suggested 2 times a week)
*write a one paragraph summary of the reading (suggested 2 times a week)
*draw a picture with captions about the reading (suggested 1 time a week)

The reading level span of books in Bigger Hearts' extension package is from 4.5 (fourth grade, fifth month) to 6.7 (sixth grade, seventh month), with most of the books falling in the mid-fifth grade to mid-sixth grade range.

HTH - but if you aren't very sure ds is needing the extensions, I really would start it without them, and add them in later if need be. We are going through Bigger Hearts for a second time with our second ds - what fun! We are loving it so much. In fact, my older ds (who did BHFHG 3 years ago) is begging to read the red Eggleston books again for fun on his own - I told him he can when my middle ds and I finish them, as they are special for us this year. My middle ds beamed, and my oldest ds is chomping at the bit for us to finish them. Ahhhh, good living books do give such joy and satisfaction, don't they?!?

In Christ,
Julie

Julie, your description of what would be required for the extensions is really helpful! I don't think he'll be ready for that next year, but you never know... he might surprise me! His vocabulary and comprehension are excellent, but his writing skills are definitely behind (but catching up! ).

One blessing of homeschooling is being able to teach each one of my children at just the level they need. Sometimes it's just hard to accept that he's a little under grade level in some areas BUT I know that God is in control of every aspect of his life and education!

My son has lots of great skills besides academic things too: he can wire working electrical models and safely handle and create with wood, hammers, hand saws, and variety of other shop "stuff". And more importantly he's growing in character and love for God and others! I have to remember what's MOST important!

Thanks for your help! We are SO thankful for HOD! We tried another literature based curriculum that was just too "edgy" for us, then I tried to create my own curriculum (that did NOT work well). This is our first year with HOD and now HOD is just feeling like "home" for our family!

[my3sons]

...One blessing of homeschooling is being able to teach each one of my children at just the level they need. Sometimes it's just hard to accept that he's a little under grade level in some areas BUT I know that God is in control of every aspect of his life and education!

My son has lots of great skills besides academic things too: he can wire working electrical models and safely handle and create with wood, hammers, hand saws, and variety of other shop "stuff". And more importantly he's growing in character and love for God and others! I have to remember what's MOST important!

I was so glad to read this! The skills you describe your ds as having are just as important, show just as much promise, and display just as much talent as those skills that school seems to bring more to focus. What a wonderful blessing that God created all of us to have different talents, gifts, and purposes - or what a one dimensional, dysfunctional world we would be! With HOD, my hands-on son thrives with the history projects, with the science experiments, etc. and that is where he shines. I'm glad to see you not forcing your ds to do things that are not right for what he needs right now. Nothing squelches a love of learning like pushing too hard and making dc feel like they are not capable. Their only impression of how they are doing in homeschooling is pretty much the one we give them as their homeschool moms. I'm glad you are celebrating your ds's talents and strengths, while still encouraging him and expecting his best effort in other areas that he doesn't have as natural a bent toward. Way to go mom - your ds is blessed to have you be his teacher!

In Christ,
Julie

[Heart_Mom]

...One blessing of homeschooling is being able to teach each one of my children at just the level they need. Sometimes it's just hard to accept that he's a little under grade level in some areas BUT I know that God is in control of every aspect of his life and education!

My son has lots of great skills besides academic things too: he can wire working electrical models and safely handle and create with wood, hammers, hand saws, and variety of other shop "stuff". And more importantly he's growing in character and love for God and others! I have to remember what's MOST important!

I was so glad to read this! The skills you describe your ds as having are just as important, show just as much promise, and display just as much talent as those skills that school seems to bring more to focus. What a wonderful blessing that God created all of us to have different talents, gifts, and purposes - or what a one dimensional, dysfunctional world we would be! With HOD, my hands-on son thrives with the history projects, with the science experiments, etc. and that is where he shines. I'm glad to see you not forcing your ds to do things that are not right for what he needs right now. Nothing squelches a love of learning like pushing too hard and making dc feel like they are not capable. Their only impression of how they are doing in homeschooling is pretty much the one we give them as their homeschool moms. I'm glad you are celebrating your ds's talents and strengths, while still encouraging him and expecting his best effort in other areas that he doesn't have as natural a bent toward. Way to go mom - your ds is blessed to have you be his teacher!

In Christ,
Julie

Julie, what you wrote is SUCH an encouragement to me! I can't tell you how much help and wisdom, as well as practical tips, I have gleaned in the past few months just from reading your posts here on the HOD forums. Thank you so much!

Thank you for reminding me that my feedback is really the only feedback my children are getting. I want to be SURE that they know that I'm pleased with them! I think my #1 focus always needs to be attitude anyway. My son is struggling sometimes with having a complaining attitude about some of his written work. I tell him that his heart attitude is WAY more important than the answer to a math problem: that if he is cheerfully doing his best, then that is great! I know I need Christ's strength to maintain a cheerful attitude myself throughout our days.

Well, now I think I'm just rambling...

Anyway, thanks again Julie! I might ask you a question about my four year old's plan for next year soon if that's okay!

[my3sons]

Thank you! Sure, I'd be glad to help, and attitude is pretty important - in all areas and ages of life. You are so right!
In Christ,
Julie

[tnahid]

Thank you so much for this encouragement! By the time we start Bigger next year, my oldest son will be 10 and a half. I THINK he will be ready to do extensions then. He really loves to read. That is his favorite thing. His comprehension is so-so in my opinion. We had a rough day today. I think I am too hard on him, but I don't want him to think he can get away with just doing minimal work either! The Lord restored us this evening, but it has been one of those emotionally rocky days. I just don't like it when it is like that! Ugh! Those days make me feel like I can't do this, but I know that I can. I don't want to squelch his love of learning, but I also want him to try to do his best and THINK about what he is doing! Ya know?

Thank you for all your helpful comments!

Tina

[Heart_Mom]

Thank you so much for this encouragement! By the time we start Bigger next year, my oldest son will be 10 and a half. I THINK he will be ready to do extensions then. He really loves to read. That is his favorite thing. His comprehension is so-so in my opinion. We had a rough day today. I think I am too hard on him, but I don't want him to think he can get away with just doing minimal work either! The Lord restored us this evening, but it has been one of those emotionally rocky days. I just don't like it when it is like that! Ugh! Those days make me feel like I can't do this, but I know that I can. I don't want to squelch his love of learning, but I also want him to try to do his best and THINK about what he is doing! Ya know?

Thank you for all your helpful comments!

Tina

Hi, Tina!

It's good to know that your son and my son will both be starting Bigger at the age of 10. I hope you have a better day tomorrow. It can be hard to feel like you can keep on going when things seem to be such a struggle, but don't give up! I think one key is to make sure our attitudes stay right, even when the children's attitudes are not. We've been referring often to our Beyond Unit 10 verse we memorized: Col. 3:23 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

[pjdobro]

I don't want to squelch his love of learning, but I also want him to try to do his best and THINK about what he is doing! Ya know?

I can so relate Tina! I too have times when I feel like I am too hard on my dc, but I do want them to strive for their best. It's such a hard balance. I am sorry you had such a rough day. We really can do this with the Lord's help!

[tnahid]

Thank you ladies for your kind and helpful responses and wisdom. Today we a much better day...actually is was absolutely precious...His mercies are new every morning...