ages/program questions

[wensuetay]

Hi. I have a 10 yr. old(just turned 10)that will be in 5th grade in the fall and a 7 yr.old who will be 8 in Sept. and 3rd grade....and a 1st grader that I would like to do the science and read alouds including him as well and do his own phonics,etc. Anyway...Do you think Bigger is too young fior my 10 yr. old? Neither of my boys have much writing experience and are not great at cursive yet so it seems that they would fit into the Bigger rather than preparing even though their ages match with preparing. WE are also just completing a yr. of American history through Sonlight so thinking another year of American in HIstory would be good before going to World History..What do you think? It is just that my 5th grader would not be able to complete all the high school programs if we start in Bigger and wouldn't he need to complete all?
Also if we do Preparing I wouldn't need to ppurchas the extension in Bigger which would save money. Do any of you have 5th graders in Bigger and how did it work for you? And do any of you put your young ones with your olders like I said at the top so you are just doing one program like they do in MFW starting at 2nd grade? SOrry for all the questions, but thank you and Happy Easter. WEndy

[wensuetay]

I meant purchase..sorry for the typo:)

[beverett]

I was just wandering if you have had a chance to look over the placement chart? Especially the first page? When we came to HOD this is where I was able to really pin down the placement for my own sons... I have two boys right now that are 8 and ten. We did start out being 7 and 9, and I had a hard time choosing where to place them also. I ended up putting them together in Bigger and it has been perfect! I think that if your children place firmly in bigger according to the placement chart then that is where I would start! Age is really only one of the considerations when placing them, as I discovered There is a good step up to Preparing... in things like writing and that is most important to us because I have boys (and maybe some love to write, but out of 5 I havent had one just LOVE it yet ) After all that I would say that if you decide to go with Bigger I think you would find it to be plenty! The extensions would then be a good idea for your older son, I think.