Trying to decide

[KellyB]

Hi All

I am still contemplating HOD placement for next year and could really use some help. My daughter is in my humble opinon right between 2 guides Bigger and Preparing. Here are the specifics of where we have been - sorry if its long

DD is 7.5 and in 2nd grade. She is an excellent reader and eats up books (part of the reason we are here). She is writing comfortably in cursive, and yesterday blew me out of the water with a lovely notebooking page containing a picture and 8 unprompted sentences about Hanukkah (we are studying Greece and the Macabbean Revolt at the moment). It was the first time we'd done anything like this and I just sort of gave it to her and said write 2 or 3 sentences about what you have learned and draw a picture. She has done dictation before too, but I would call it simple dictation. 2-4 sentences at a shot. She likes to write creatively - sometimes just writing her own fiction. The grammar is very rough, but she's learning.

In terms of what we have covered....in history we have been all over. Most of 1st grade was delight directed and we covered the Civil War by studying Addy (American Girl) and fleshing out the history (Lee, Grant, Lincoln, Underground Railroad, George Washington Carver, etc). We also used Little House on the Prairie and covered that period including the Gold Rush. This year we've studied Creation, a bit with the Summarians, Egypt, Greece and Rome will be our last Unit. We also studied American History of Vikings through Colonial times (Pre- Revolutionary war).

Ok, SO.....here are my reasons for each
BIGGER
I'd like to finish what we've started in US history, though I'd probably jump in at about week 8, since we've just covered the previous weeks.
She left drool spots on my catalog with all the great books selected for this guide.
She definitely thrives with the CM style of shorter lessons and shorter days. The amount of time bigger requires would allow us to delve into other things she enjoys like German with Rosetta stone and leave plenty of time for nature study and such.
We could easily add in more books/reading should she desire as we'd have the time - I'm thinking of sprinkling in some of the extension pkg as the spirit moves us.
I'd be using my own handwriting and Grammar. I finally found a grammar program she likes so will be staying there.

Will Bigger be enough is my question or will I spend the year trying to fill in?

PREPARING
She's burned out on US history....lets just say that aspect didn't thrill her about Bigger. I know this isn't a reason to bump, but she, to me, sits squarely in the middle of the skills, so its a consideration I'm pondering.
She left drool spot on these pages too with all the books I know she'd enjoy the reading.
I loved how the history project ties in with the lesson (maybe this is in Bigger too, but I didn't see). She enjoys hands on activities that connect the dots.
I think she has the skills, and she'd be challenged, but I don't want her TOO challenged. I'm concerned about the quantity of writing.

Ok, so obviously, I'm conflicted. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ladies - you are a blessing!

[abrightmom]

Welcome Mama,

Is your DD between Bigger and Preparing (as noted at the beginning of your post) or Bigger and Beyond ( as spelled out in list form toward the end)?

[MomtoJGJE]

I am also wondering which ones she's between, but really it sounds to me like she'd do great in Bigger. I wouldn't skip weeks, but just frame it as review to get used to the new style of guide. With everything included in Bigger I really doubt you'd have to add much in It's really a great program. Another reason to start with Bigger is because it trains the kiddos to move up to the amount of work in Preparing.

[KellyB]

oops my Bad - thats what I get for trying to type it quick....Bigger and Preparing.

Thanks for the insight from MomtoJGJE, that is definitely one thing I was wonder about the "preparation" component. I'd rather a year where we can breath rather than feel burned out or barely keeping up. Thanks!

[pjdobro]

Here's a post about the writing comparison between the two programs in case you haven't see it: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3602 Just because of your dd's age, I would lean more toward Bigger, but both are wonderful programs.

[countrymom]

Just wanted to add that even if she has done US history, she hasn't done it "HOD style," i.e., it will still be fun and different. Also, often when a child places between two guides it is often a better idea to go down instead of up, especially if you are doing HOD for the first time.

[Larissa]

I can see that your daughter is advanced for her age. Since you've never done HOD before, I would interject that Bigger would be a better fit. The whole design of Bigger will set her up for Preparing. All of the skills taught in Bigger will get her ready for the skills that she will need to do independently in Preparing. The other thing that may be even more important to consider is that even though she may be able to handle all that Preparing has to offer ... it's possible that once she's done with Preparing that she won't be ready for the next guide. In my experience, there are some children that are able to move quickly through the material and even have advanced skills in many areas much younger that what it seems they should. However, even though they are advanced doesn't necessarily mean that you should cover more material.
I have a 6 year old that is so advanced, that I still haven't found anything I've had to really teach him. He was reading at 4 years old, and I'd not introduced a single letter to him. When he was 5 he was able to read instructions on his worksheeet(and apply the instructions correctly) that contained words like "special" and "circle" - and I'd never taught him that a "c" could say "ssss". At 6, he will pick up a book that my almost 9 year old is reading (who is also and advanced reader), and read it without difficulty and be able to retell to me what he read. All of that is to establish that I have an advanced and gifted child on my hands. However, I am getting ready to take him through Beyond this fall. Yes, he could handle Bigger. However, I want to give him time to really think about everything that I am reading ... develop emotionally in some areas ... and allow him the gift of enjoying learning without all the pressures of what the older material asks of him. I've also had the experience of pushing my oldest son(also advanced - but not like my other son), too much and it completely backfired on me. It wasn't that he wasn't understanding the material - he really did understand what he was to do ... it was that it was too much for him to do at such a young age. Now, if any of my children are just super motivated - I will supplement by having them read more books, reading more books aloud to them, doing lapbooks that supplement what we are learning, and tapping into hands on and fun learning without all the heaviness and cumbersome work.
You might also want to consider if you put her in Preparing right now ... she may not be emotionally mature enough for the material that comes next.
A child can be a super advanced reader and still not be able to completely digest what they are reading.
I would also suggest that if you choose to do Bigger, that you not skip the first 8 weeks. The books are fantastic and most likely presented in a way that you've not had before. It's really worth it to go through it again. Beyond is also American History, but presented in a different way than Bigger, and my oldest son enjoyed both approaches so very much!
I hope that you are able to find exactly what your daughter needs - I know how tough the decision can be!