heartofdakota.com

Right now my 6,7 and 8yo are finishing up Beyond. I knew that I'd have to split up the boys at some point, but I'm hesitant because of the work required for ME. My 8yo will turn 9 in August and beginning "4th grade". I'm worried that I'm holding him back AND I'm concerned that if we go at this rate, he will not get to do the last HOD guide.

So, I'm considering skipping Bigger for him, and going right into Preparing. I know this is a big jump, but I can work on the missing skills this summer. He'll need to learn cursive and work on spelling, other than that he fits into the skillset outlined in the placement chart.

What would you do ??

If you had a good year, I would just keep them together. However, I have much better success with combining since I cannot keep up with multiple guides. You may feel differently about that. My daughter is doing REV2 REV with extensions for her 9th grade year, so obviously I didn't worry about not getting through all the guides before high school.

We have LOVED Bigger this year! I wouldn't skip it. You can add the extensions IF needed, and place him in math and LA at his level (perhaps R&S 3 vs 2 for the younger ones).

My ds may not get through all the guides and I'm simply not worrying about it. No need to borrow worry from tomorrow.

I also have an 8 year-old, turning 9 in August and entering 4th grade. She will be doing Bigger next year. This year she did Beyond with her sister who will be 7 over the summer. I plan to keep them together as long as I can, since I think combining is both a time-saver (a precious commodity for me) and it's nice for the kids. They like to be together and having them together is also a way to teach them patience and kindness and respect for each other. I will only uncombine, I think, if I have to slow down too much for my younger one. I have found it easy so far to "beef up" for my older one, and next year there will even be extensions!

As far as missing the last guide, I am not too worried about that at this point, though I do occasionally think of it. I think that when she reaches ninth grade, I will put her in the next higher guide for literature, and possibly science, Bible or some other subjects if she is ready for them, but keep her combined with her sister for history still. There have been several threads about this sort of thing. Here's a thread about not completing all the guides:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13638

HTH

With HOD, you really have several great options here! Could you please share a bit about your ds in regard to the placement chart columns of reading, writing, grammar, and math? Where does he seem to place in these areas?

Writing is a consideration. When you look at this thread, does he seem ready for the writing in PHFHG without having done BHFHG?
Amount of writing in Bigger vs. PHFHG:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3602

Reading is a consideration. Did he do "Drawn into the Heart of Reading" last year? Also, when you look at PHFHG's deluxe package and science package, can ds read these books on his own independently?
http://www.heartofdakota.com/preparing- ... ckages.php

The level of independent work and the amount of directions ds will need to be able to follow on his own in PHFHG is also a consideration. When you look at the "I" boxes of PHFHG's first week of plans, can he do these boxes well on his own?
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/PHFHG-sample-week.pdf

Cursive and grammar can easily be done with PHFHG, so those areas are not as much of a concern. Likewise, DITHOR can be done with BHFHG or PHFHG, so that is not as much of a concern. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this when you get a chance! Just remember, ds has many great options here, so whether it is BHFHG or PHFHG, he will be just fine. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, Julie, for giving me those details. That helps immensely. We started our HOD journey with Preparing when my oldest was 10, so I've not done Bigger yet. It helps to see the comparison of the two programs.

For all of those areas, I think Bigger would be more comfortable for my son, though with some pushing he would be capable of the work in Preparing. We have several of the books in the extension package, so I may choose to use the extensions with him.

It sounds like Bigger Hearts is the winner! Have a good year with it, and I am secretly glad your ds will get to do Bigger Hearts! It is a key teaching year, and full of such amazing books. Enjoy your year!

In Christ,
Julie