Already read extensions....what now?

[Mom2Monkeys]

For a child that has already read the extensions for BHFHG, what would you suggest we use in their place?

[my3sons]

Hi Tamara - has she read all of them? If not, which ones has she read? If so, hmmm, not sure there - why did she read them? Couldn't keep her hands off them I bet? Let me know, and we'll brainstorm together.
In Christ,
Julie

[Mom2Monkeys]

All but a couple. And yep...couldn't keep her hands off them! Lol. Also, thought shed be doing PHFHG on er own but brother is more ready for full speed BHFHG and we are moving....AGAIN. School got postponed and I started working part one from home. Combining is very attractive now. Lol

[Mom2Monkeys]

Just bumping

[holyhart]

Even though she already read them, could she read them again, but this time at the slower-scheduled pace? So that she can savor them and gain more understanding from them? Especially in context with the other readings she would be doing along with them?

[mamanlait]

Tamara,
There are so many good books out there for this time period that are of similar reading level to the Bigger extensions. Have you considered: Plain Girl, Little House Series, Thimble Summer, Sign of the Beaver, any of the Childhood Biographies (my dd has read nearly all of them ---loves them!).
Hope that gives you some ideas.
Amy

[my3sons]

I do think that excellent books beg to read again, but every person is different in the ones they love to reread. Wyatt has read "Seaman" at least 4 times, and when he saw it is scheduled in RevtoRev he was beyond excited to read it again. Some books just effect us like that. I have found that books my dc have read on the fly, at a breakneck speed from cover to cover - they do not remember. On the flip side, books they have read CM style, with the savoring bent holyhart mentioned, they remember well and very fondly. As the pp mentioned, there are other titles that could be used as well, and she gave some good ones as suggestions. However, the scheduled HOD ones do match the themes of the units very nicely, so that is nice to take advantage of if possible. So, I think I'd do some investigating - did dd do the savor and enjoy method of reading, or did she do the on the fly quick method of reading with each book? I'd maybe see which ones she actually can tell you much about, in a very casual way so she doesn't feel like she's being quizzed. More like a book club conversation - I guess. If it seems that she is very familiar with some, I'd sub in a few different titles to spice it up, unless she is excited to read those titles again. If it seems that she remembers little about them (and she may be a tad agitated/embarrassed about this), I'd have her read them to savor this time. I often let my dc know that the same exact thing happens to me - books I've read in a flurry are gone from my memory in a flurry, but books I have read slowly over time in shorter segments, stick with me more. It's not a "fault" of the child, it's just the way the memory works. My best loved and most remembered books are the ones I've read in a hot bath, 15 minutes a night, until I've completed them. I hope something here helps, and I pray that your move goes well, Tamara! Lean upon the Lord, He will hold you upright through this. A move can be stressful, and several moves within a very short time can really be stressful. I am praying for you and your sweet family!

In Christ,
Julie

[Mom2Monkeys]

She read through them a little each night, so she does remember quite a lot of several of them, though not all. I think her comprehension is high enough that her memory would be jogged quickly after a chapter or two. She's read a couple twice already. She also spontaneously narrated to me at least a time or two with each book. I'd say she read each over one to two weeks. She does really like them or would likely be willing to read them again! My concern is that they wouldn't add anymore depth to the lesson for her now...She's read some of the Mara Pratt books already which I thought about using, but she didn't really get into those. I thought about using a book a Christine miller's that I can't recall the title of, to pick books from the library based on the units topic. (I know y'all use other books from her...this one is.....I thunk all through the ages?? Reference book type??) anyway, I just can't dish out much money but really want to make sure I've added enough for her as a 5th grader. Should I have her just research a topic from the unit, so then she's getting more info plus starting research like in PHFHG? Or should I find more books to replace the extensions? I so wish I'd known she would be joining brother before I let her read those!! I do have a few from the last several units that she either didn't read or i found some others to use (a couple Wendy Lawton books).
I look forward to getting settled in our new home. God has blessed us with it beyond my dreams! It all happened so fast...we still are staying with inlaws an hour away and traveling over there without the kids to get stuff done. It's been tiring! I appreciate your prayers and encouragement! Off to get some sleep..hopefully. little 21m guy barely sleeping at night...think he's homesick. Poor guy! But he's almost weaned from nursing after all the days away from each other!

[Mom2Monkeys]

Hey Julie...just bumping this up b/c this board is hoppin'!

[my3sons]

I'm so glad you are happy with your move, and I hope you can be in your new house completely soon! I think that I'd have dd read the extensions and do the follow-ups suggested in the Appendix to them, as they would teach her more difficult skills, but if the books seem too familiar, you could always choose your own. I really like your idea of doing research too, and I think you could follow a format similar to PHFHG's to add that quite easily. Maybe you could have her choose a "Key Idea" concept from history or science to research, maybe one per week? The key ideas usually include the important events and people studied, so they would give her something to choose from that correlate well with the history/science. You could also use PHFHG format to guide dd in written narrations, maybe one a week? I believe that may be a follow-up in BHFHG's extensions though? Not sure - anyway, I hope that helps, and I am so excited you are getting ready to be settled in your new home (and that sweet baby is almost weaned - how I long for you to get some needed sleep m'dear!).

In Christ,
Julie