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I will have a 10 year old 4th grade boy who can write short narrations and read well. He hasn't done American history lately. He finished rod and staff 3 and can write paragraphs using IEW level A resources. I'm not sure how well he remembers what he reads - he can read at a 6th grade level but I'm not sure he comprehends it well.

I also have a 7 year old girl who is finishing a grade 1 math program and is reading Dr. Seuss type books. She's still getting solid with reading skills. She has not done copy work since she insisted on learning cursive and I thought, "why not?" She can print all her letters upper and lower case. I have not tried spelling with her, but will do something next year.

I thought about putting them both into Bigger with extensions for the 4th grader so he could get American history but now I'm not sure. The 7 year old likes to do everything her brother does and vice versa so if I do 2 programs, they'll both be doing each other's projects anyway.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Beth

Where do each of your children place on the placement guide in terms of skills? It sounds like your daughter may not the ready for Bigger, but it is only based off of the few sentences you used to describe her. Proper placement is key for HOD working properly. If you are having to simplify things for a child, then you are going to have to be making accommodations all the way through, as the guides build on each other in terms of skills.

My daughter seems like she should place in Beyond, but she's also immature for her age. She gets frustrated easily and I need to take things slower with her, but she's too advanced for Little. My 10 year old is probably ready for Preparing, but I would like for him to get some American history in because we've done quite a bit with ancients and renaissance. I don't mind doing accommodations since I've been doing this a while (I have an advanced 13 year old). Could I just have the 7 year old tag along and cycle her back into bigger while I work on her skills?

Beth

From what you have shared, I think a placement of PHFHG for your 10 yo ds would be good. I also think Beyond Little Hearts would be a great placement for your 6 yo dd! These two guides are easy to teach at the same time. I love this placement for your dc, as they each will soar. Your ds will be reading his own science and a portion of his own history, which is an important skill for his age. He will also be learning to work on some things independently, using his guide as a student planner for his "I" independent boxes. This independence frees up time for you to work with your 6 yo, who will be needing you more than your 10 yo, as she will be learning to read, write, etc. As you ponder this decision, here are a few threads to read...

Why don’t we recommend having children younger than the target age range of the HOD guide simply listen in with the older student’s guide?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9341

What would my child be missing out on if I did choose to combine him/her in a guide that doesn’t fit him/her on the placement chart?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9342

What are we considering, when you ask us which guide your family should use?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9338

Why do we ask you to look at the placement chart for each of your individual children when considering the best placement for your family?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9339

How can I get my different-aged children into the same guide, or how do I know if I should try to combine them?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7019

So, here is a link to the placement chart, which we have always found helpful in placing our dc.
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

We are just winding down to a wonderful homeschooling year having done the High School World Geography guide, Creation to Christ, and Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory. It was all very manageable, each child loved and felt very successful with their homeschooling, and I was able to do my teaching each day along with my part-time job and some family health issues. HOD has been SUCH a blessing to our family for 10+ years, and I think it would be for yours as well. I hope this helps as you consider what is best for each of your dc and your family overall, but please keep asking questions until you are set!

In Christ,
Julie

My brief 2 cents (for all its worth) is that you don't want to force it based on what area of history you want to study right now. The guides are really a level of skills and though your 10YO would learn American history in Bigger Hearts, he would probably not be challenged or given the level of independence he needs. It is so much better to place them in a guide they fit in well. American History will come back around eventually if you keep going with the guides.

Beyond is also American History and with some great stories in it that your 10YO would also enjoy. So my suggestion would be if you want to work American History in, let him listen to the read-alouds for Beyond, or read the books on his own if he is a self-motivated reader. My 9YO loves reading her younger sister's history books, even though she heard me read them aloud 2 years ago.