Too soon to buy Bigger?

[BrooklynsMom03]

Hi...We started Beyond in Jan so are not quite 1/2 thru it...I am looking for next year and with reading others posts it seems like Bigger is more involved so want to have time to go over everything before we start it and plan a bit....My question is...would I just buy the basic program to start? I want to do the DITHOR part....2/3...but maybe we will finish up the other reading and start that early? Would there be *extras* I would need to look at purchasing to have a complete Bigger program? I just want to plan it out and have everything I would need to get started....I will go back to the Bigger page and look thru the catalog again....to double check...I just want to make sure I have everything we need to get started and I have time to review it a bit before starting...Would others who are doing Bigger say there is a big jump between Beyond and Bigger? Thanks! Beth in Idaho

[blessedmomof4]

Hi-I can understand your eagerness-I look at my catalog DAILY For Bigger, if you are just wanting to preview it, you could buy the Economy Package first. This contains all the History spines and is the bare minimum you could use. If you look near the top of the Bigger Packages page on the website
http://www.heartofdakota.com/bigger-hearts-packages.php there is a little "light bulb" icon that you can click that gives "Helpful tips on how to order".

[3sweeties]

Yes, there is a big jump b/t Beyond and Bigger. The amount of writing increases, listening and narration skills increase, and the workload in general is more. I did not do Beyond with my older DS (we weren't using HOD at that time), but I am going to take it slow with my second DS so that he doesn't reach Bigger until 3rd grade/8.5-9 yo. I did it with my first DS at 7.5-8 yo and it was almost too much for him at the beginning of that year so we slowed it down to half-speed (and he is what I would consider an "advanced" reader/learner/writer). I found that he got a lot more out of it at the end of the year than at the beginning. I would definitely look at the placement chart in the catalog and depending on the age/abilities of your DD, you may want to do it at half-speed, at least in the beginning and see how she does with it. HTH a little!

[pjdobro]

I don't think it is ever too soon to order. I love taking my time looking through things.

Yes, I would agree that there is a jump in skills and time required for Bigger. There is more narration and writing in particular. At the beginning of the year, it was a step up for my dc, but after completed Beyond they were ready for it. It took us more time at the beginning to get in the groove, but now we are sailing along nicely. You can always start slowly if you feel the need.

[Tree House Academy]

LOL - I have had the entire Bigger set sitting in a box under my school table since the end of December. My younger son is doing Bigger next year and my older son actually did some of it last year (not a good fit...wrong age...long story), so I already had most of it. I am like you...I need it in my hands to start getting a feel for it (that is with any guide/curriculum I use).

So...Go ahead and buy it!