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I am trying to get a plan for the next few years for my dd (7). We are currently using MFW Adventures and loving it and my looking at HOD has no reflection on MFW(they are wonderful). However, I also love the look of HOD and what I am reading about the curriculum excites me. Without making this an epic novel I will skip the reasons for my question (unless you need it to make a more informed answer) which is can you skip Preparing if you do Bigger in 4th with the extension pack and then go directly to CTC, skipping Preparing?

Each guides builds up to the next in skills, so I would not skip any of the guides. That said ... of all the HOD guides out there Preparing is one that I would NEVER want to skip. I cannot say enough about how wonderful it is. My oldest son is doing Preparing this year and absolutely loves it. He did Bigger last year and Beyond the year prior, and while he never complained about it, he has said that he loves Preparing best. Preparing sets up CTC just as Bigger sets up Preparing in important skill building areas. If you are going to make the jump to HOD, I would suggest Preparing as written as opposed to Bigger with extensions. (as long as your child places in Preparing on the placement chart) Really, Preparing is too good to skip.

I agree that I wouldn't skip a guide because of the skills taught.

But one thing to note is that even if Preparing uses the same books as MFW, it's taught in a completely different way. So even if they've done the books and the time period before, it'll be fresh and new.

I would check to see if your dd fits better in Bigger with or without extensions or Preparing (and if she's in between, go down).... If you want her to do American history, then start in Bigger, but don't skip Preparing. Each guide really trains them well for the next guide.

Thanks both of you. I did hear that the HOD guides build on each other, I had forgotten. So y next question would be should I skip Bigger and go right into Preparing for 4th? I am leery of doing Bigger in 3rd because we are already studying US with Adventures and am not sure it would be a redundant year doing another US history...figured a year of geography/cultures would fit in there.

Well, in HOD's scope and sequence, there are two years of US history with Beyond and Bigger, but they are taught in different methods with slightly different time frames. Bigger is a biographical approach.... and looking at the MFW Adventures package, it appears to be similar to Beyond. I wouldn't hesitate putting her in Bigger after Adventures.

I would say no. In addition to what's already been said, I would add that the quantity of work between the two don't compare. It would be a huge leap.

We came to HoD after using ToG. My oldest some placed into Preparing but HoD was our first real introduction into the Charlotte Mason method of education. We are going back to Bigger to pick up the foundational training we've missed before moving back up into Preparing. So I guess what I'm saying is from the prospective of changing educational methods. If these CM methods are new to your child (and you as the teacher) I would recommend going with Bigger.

Feel free to ask lots of questions here, all the women on the board are eager to share their experience to help make it easier for you to place your children.

I would look at the placement chart and carefully decide where she places on the chart at the time that you plan to order. If it were me, regardless of what History you have covered in the past, I would go with wherever she places on the placement chart. Even if you have covered American History in the past, the approach in Bigger will be different than what you have done, so it will be fresh to her. Preparing is an incredibly rich program and when you do it as written it is also a pretty intense program. I found that doing Bigger beforehand is really what has made Preparing such a rewarding year for us. My son had all the skills he needed to have a successful year in Preparing. Bigger is really a huge skill building year.

The most important way to ensure success with HOD is to make sure that you place her properly. Make sure that you don't place her until right before you order, though!

Thanks ladies, you have given me much to think about. Happily I have until September before making a final decision. I am leaning toward Bigger for 3rd, Preparing for 4th and adding in some World Geography and Cultures through out those two years.

That sounds like a great plan!