Need Placement help please!!!

[Charika30]

Hi everyone,

So my ds started Bigger about a year and a half ago with extensions. He was in 4th grade at the tjme and 10. However, due to some family hardships, we had to cease doing HOD. Although, I tried to still homeschool utilizing libraries and computer, our homeschool suffered and I think my dc have fallen behind some. Now we have moved to a new state, more settled and on our feet again and I am looking to resume HOD.

So, my question is mainly regarding my ds. My dd is 9 and doesn't turn 10 til December so I think Bigger will be a good guide for her now. But I think it is now to young for my ds. He will be 12 in August and in 6th/7th grade. So the probably obvious choice is just to move him to Preparing with extensions. But I am wondering if skipping a guide and going up one to Creation or even the next guide without extensions not advisable? Keep in mind they haven't had ole lot of independent experience when it comes to homeschooling. But I don't want to put him in preparing if it will be still to easy or young for him. On the flip side, will doing preparing or creation with EXTENSIONS be an OVERWHELMING amount of work load? age and grade wise he also places in 3 of the higher guides. But after doing the placement chart I think skills wise he places more in preparing and creation. I just want him to get ahead again and on track and not be lagging behind his peers. Also, we will have state tests to deal with this yr. I want learning to be challenging while still being fun and interesting again for my dc. I am afraid they have lost their academic passion over the last yr or so :-/. But that's another story lol. Thanks in advance for any insight.

[StephanieU]

Because it has been so long since he started Bigger, I would look a the placement chart with fresh eyes. Pretend that he hasn't used Bigger, and see where he places now. If he places in CtC, start there. He may even place higher, which is okay.

[Charika30]

Thank u for your fast reply . One reason I thought he placed in Preparing was because he struggles with creative writing A LOT! Not sure if the next guide requires them to have morw writing skills and experience?

[MelInKansas]

You say on the chart you feel he fits in Preparing or CtC. Usually we suggest people use a lower guide if their child places between two and they are just starting HOD. You have used HOD before so you know how challenging it can be, and that each level ups the amount of work required and the independence needed of the child. Placement of Preparing or CtC is "behind" grade level if you want to call it that but that should not matter. If you do it all as written and it is truly good placement for your son it will be a rich experience and he will learn and grow. It is far better for him to be well-placed and thriving than struggling in something too hard for him. And the guides are so much easier to run when they are well-placed.

So in the areas where Preparing is the placement you would choose, you would need to decide whether those are enough to hold him there, or if you think he might be able to grow into the CtC skills pretty quickly. Look at the sample week(s), maybe even have your son look at them and look at some of the book selections. I would not add extensions, especially at first, I would try to get a good rhythm going in the guide before considering that. With DITHOR and the guide itself there is plenty to do and plenty of interesting stuff.

[Charika30]

Thank u so much! I will definitely take your suggestions. I am feeling so much better as u have definitely calmed my concerns and more confident in making the best decision for him. Thanks again!

[Charika30]

So I just did the placement chart again. Ctc and PHFHG r very close. I have 9 boxes circled for Preparing and 7 boxes circled for CTC. . I had a difficult time choosing between those two guides because they seemed so similar? Although most of the boxes were both circled for both guides, the boxes I couldn't circle for CTC were Writing because he went through about half of italic cursive about a yr and a half ago and probably has forgotten how to write cursive, definitely not ready to copy entire passages (I don't think). And grammar because he only completed English 2 and has not begun basic diagramming. So, I am still trying to decide if Ctc might be too challenging or Preparing too easy...

[mamanlait]

There is a lot of written narration work in CtC. If he is rusty on copy work, I really think Preparing with Extensions would be the best start. Besides, I LOVE PREPARING HEARTS!

Why not do a little cursive work over the summer so he doesn't feel frustrated starting the year out unprepared? He seems to place in Preparing for Grammar as well. Also, CtC has a pretty rigorous Writing program. That might really be a struggle if he doesn't even feel solid with copying passages.

[Charika30]

Thanks, Mamanlait! Great suggestions!