Please help me decide - Bigger or Preparing???

[mom2bbj]

My daughter and I will be homeschooling for the first time, soon. I am trying to place her. I reviewed the firsts week of both, and still can not determine which is best for us. I have studied the placement chart and I believe she falls into Preparing. She is 11 years. A young 11. She has APD and has struggled SO much this year, she is on school overload. In order for her to maintain anything close to grade level, it requires us to preview and review daily; after 7+ hrs of school. She hates it. I don't blame her. She is not learning, she is merely memorizing to "keep up". With that said, my priorites for next year is (1) let her learn to like learning, (2) gain a bit of self confidence and (3) re-assess what she really retains, not where she "has" to be at.

I think she would enjoy Bigger. But because I know so little about homeschooling, I do not trust myself to make a decision. Is she really just too old for Bigger?

Any suggestions, comments and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Vickie

[mamayi]

Welcome to HOD and homeschooling! Please know that any concerns or "worries" you may have about homeschooling have been experienced by most of us!!! You are not alone!

When looking at the placement chart where does your dd line up best skill-wise? While age is surely to be figured in to placement, skill and maturity should be a bigger consideration. (IMO )

Bigger is a great program to start HOD with as it lays a foundation for the skills that will be used in the next guides. We just finished Bigger last week and it was a joy to teach. As with all HOD guides there is such a variety of activities that students get to learn in many ways. I am sure your daughter will find areas that will restore her love for learning.
But if she lines up better skill-wise with Preparing you can be assured that it will gently and consistently teach her as well.

I am sure some more ladies will pop in here soon to give you some advice as well.

[mom2bbj]

Bigger is a great program to start HOD with as it lays a foundation for the skills that will be used in the next guides.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I am going with Bigger. Thanks for helping me!

Vickie

[acts29stl]

Glad you are choosing Bigger! It's such a wonderful program and really prepares the kiddos for Preparing. I was nervous about going into PHFHG this year but my dc have flourished! Bigger really helped them, so I encourage you to do evrything the manuals says and most of all ENJOY learning with your dd

[psreit]

Although I haven't used Bigger or Preparing yet, I think, given your dd's situation, Bigger is a good choice. I have the manual, so I'm somewhat familiar with the daily work. My dd will be 9 in May and will begin Bigger sometime in the fall. I am planning to go half-speed for a while, or through all of it, if need be. If she goes half-speed all the way, she won't finish it until she is between 11 and 12. She has some processing difficulties and stresses very easily if something just doesn't click. Then she 'hates school'. Some days she does great. So, I need to make sure I don't overload her as well. The bite-sized portions of HOD have been working well. I think your priorities are in order.

[mrsrandolph]

When choosing a guide, I would ALWAYS opt for the lower one. Just my humble opinion