Placement Question?

[happy]

I know this is asked all the time, and I even ordered my stuff already. But, I am still wondering if I went with the right level. My dd is 7 and I homeschooled her for kindergarten and 1st grade. I decided to try cyber school this year for second and she recieved all the curriculum for second grade. But, I am not happy with cyber school and have decided to leave. I chose HOD becuase I have always leaned toward Charlotte Mason and used a little bit of Ambleside last year. But, I feel like I need some sturcture and at this point in my life I need someone else to hand me the lesson plans. So I am super excited about HOD. I have ordered LHFHG for my 5 yr old and am happy with that choice, but I debated for a long time between Beyond and Bigger for my 7 yr old dd. I ended up choosing Bigger. But, now that I am reading the forum it seems that a lot of people have there 2nd graders in Beyond. Is Bigger going to be to advanced for her? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[blessedmomof4]

Hi, and welcome The best place to start is the placement chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php After reviewing the chart, maybe you could tell us a bit about where you think your 7-year-old fits best according to the chart, and then come back and give some details so some of the moms here can help you think it over

[beverett]

Happy,
Hello! I think that if you looked at the placement chart (? assuming you did before you ordered?) and felt like your daughter placed in Bigger, then she should do fine. Yes there are a lot of ladies using Beyond for 2nd grade, but there are some of us who have used it with 2nd graders as well. I actually used it last year with a 2nd grade boy. It was a challenge at first for him (only the writing part). I would think about where she placed best on the placement chart and if you still feel it is in Bigger, then that is just fine! Once you start doing Bigger with her if you felt like it was a little much, you would certainly be able to slow it down to half speed with her at any time to make it a little easier for her. This would give her a little more time to learn the skills taught in the guide? What do you think?

[happy]

Thank you for your responses. Yes I looked at the placement chart more than once. And debated and debated . I even had my husband look at it with me. I think she fits into bigger, but I am concerned that it might be challenging. So, it is nice to hear that I could do it half speed. When you say that what do you exactly mean. Just school less days a week or do less work in a day?

I can also add where my dd is academically. She is struggling with reading still, so I did pick the emerging reader set, but I think she should be fine with those books. In math she is ready for the Singapore math 2B I am pretty sure. I just know that with doing Cyber School here in the beginning she was finding the grammar and such a little overwhelming, since I had never really focused a whole lot on that area. I was planning on bringing it in around 3rd or 4th grade. But, now we are considering sending her to school for 3rd grade and my husband is concerned that she needs to be familiar with the 2nd grade material. So, since she seemed to fit in Bigger o.k. I decided to go with that. If I wasn't concerned about next year I may have just done Beyond with her becuase I feel like we are missing out on so much good stuff. But, I am starting my 5 yr old in LHFHG and I am excited to go through some more guides with him in the coming years.

[beverett]

Happy, it sounds like you have really looked at everything, and that Bigger is a good fit for you daughter! The emerging readers are what I did with my son as well while going through Bigger. You are right it could possibly a bit of a challenge to start off... then you could just do it half speed this would mean doing less work each day. I do not know how to put a link up (i should figure it out?), but jus ttype in the search at the top of the page "Bigger half-speed" and you should get several threads with options on how to do this!

I am going to attempt pasting a link to a thread about half speed Bigger. If it works just go to the top and look for Julie's post on how she was doing it with her son!

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5600&p=41232#p41232

Also I would tell you that I waited to start Rod and Staff grammar with my son until he had finished the Emerging Readers... I really wish that I had just gone ahead and started it, I think he could have done it well... but he is fine and we are going through it now, I am positive he will not be behind or "ruined" It really is a gentle start to grammar, so if you choose to do it I really dont think it would be overwhelming? ?

[blessedmomof4]

Happy,sounds like you have a good plan-I agree that Bigger sounds like the right placement for your girl I would also add that when you do Rod and Staff 2, you can do most of it orally, and some on a whiteboard or chalkboard-that will keep it a gentle approach by minimizing writing in a notebook (which can be tiring to a young child, especially since she will already have an appropriate amount of writing in Bigger) and it adds some variety too , but she will still get a solid introduction to the basics of grammar

[happy]

Thank you so much for your replies. I am feeling better about my choice and can't wait to get started.