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Hi again!...I am looking at starting my 6yo for 1st gr in Beyond next yr. Just looking down the road, to Bigger for the next yr..they both seem to be based on American History?..maybe i am wrong??...does this seem to keep kids interested?...don't want him to feel like he is doing the same thing over again. Also by that yr (the oldest in 2nd gr, 7yo)..my next son will be 5 and in starting K probably...so, would want that to be a good yr for both...trying to avoid any fussing that "i've already done this"..etc...lol. This is our first yr hs this fall and still trying to figure everything out, as far as placement and course of HOD. Thanks for any advice or experiences with these ages!

We are doing Bigger Hearts this year after doing Beyond last year.
They are not exactly the same and my son - with a great memory - didn't feel it was repetitive.
The few times it had a subject he had previously learned about he was excited that he already knew some about it, and glad for a chance to learn more.
HTH

They are actually quite different. Bigger takes a biographical approach to history while Beyond is more chronological. They are both wonderful programs and my son loved them both. You needn't worry.

Bigger may touch briefly on some things that were in Beyond, but Bigger covers so much more, eg, more people and into a later time period, inventions, wars, etc. No problem with doing both.

Agreeing with the others. They're covered in such a way that it's not repetitive. We've loved both, but ds is especially loving Bigger this year.

Thanks so much!..that all makes sense....another question though...i have read others say that a 7 yo almost never goes into Bigger...if my son (who will be 6 in May)..does Beyond this year...wouldn't that put him doing Bigger at 7?..is this a problem?.....what do others do?..again, thanks so much for your experiences and input

This is our second year with HOD. I used Bigger with my son last year and now I'm using Beyond with my daughter. I don't feel it's repetitive at all because the focus of the guides is different. I plan on using Bigger over 2 years for my daughter so it will be 2nd and 3rd grade for her.

Hi Christine..thanks for you response..can i ask why you are using Bigger over 2 yrs??...and how do you do that, 4 days a week?..if you wouldn't mind, i would like to know what your schedule is like, and why you chose to go over 2 yrs??..thanks so much!

momof3kids wrote:Thanks so much!..that all makes sense....another question though...i have read others say that a 7 yo almost never goes into Bigger...if my son (who will be 6 in May)..does Beyond this year...wouldn't that put him doing Bigger at 7?..is this a problem?.....what do others do?..again, thanks so much for your experiences and input

I think if your 6 yo is placing correctly into Beyond, then there should not be a problem heading into Bigger at age 7. These guides prepare really well for the next one in line! You just want to make sure that if there are things you have to adjust at the beginning of Beyond (for example, copying less than the full poem in a week or going less than full speed, etc.) that you are working toward them being able to do all of the guide as written by the end of it. If you run full days, with all requirements as written, there will be a step up in skill for the next one, but it should not be too much for the child to handle. There is definitely reason for the age ranges recommended for the guides, so don't think that just because others aren't ready by the younger end of those ranges that your child won't be. (I usually have the opposite concern, my children run at the later end of the age ranges and I worry that they should be doing the next one... -it's silly! Just put them where they need to be and try not to worry. )

Bigger is not repetitive at all. The focus of Beyond and Bigger are totally different even though they cover a similar time period. Beyond focuses mostly on pilgrims, pioneers, and children in early American history. Bigger covers important historical figures, and events. While in Beyond there are a few important people and events mentioned the stories are from the children's point of view.

We also used Bigger for 2 years. I added A Beka Language and Letters & Sounds, we participated in a co-op, went on field trips, and did a unit study around Christmas. I am not OCD about getting day 1-5 done Monday-Friday. So, with all that going on it allowed us to go slow and use Bigger for two years.