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Hi, I am just curious if most of you use Preparing for 3rd or 4th grade? My daughter has a summer birthday and could technically be in 4th grade as she just turned 9, but she is working at a 3rd grade level in most subjects.
Thanks!

Have you looked at the placement chart?

My 9yo (turned 9 in January) is just beginning Preparing (started today actually), but she's gone through LHFHG, Beyond, and Bigger...

I think Preparing is a great 4th grade program, but only if they absolutely fit there on the placement chart... there would be no hesitation for me to put a child in Bigger in 4th grade, especially if they were a young 4th grader.

On a "normal" track Preparing is 4th grade, and if you do one guide per year after that you would complete all the guides and get all the available H.S. credits.

Many people are ahead or behind this schedule. Proper placement is what you want, not a specific grade level, as kids really learn and grow at their own pace and if they are properly placed you will enjoy your experience with HOD so much more.

I agree with the others. You will need to check the placement chart to see if your child is ready for it or not. My oldest dd had no problem starting when she was 8, almost 9. My youngest is very advanced and she will start when she is 8. But my middle child, he will start at either 9 or 10 LOL. Each child is just so different So check the placement chart to see if your 9 yo is ready for Preparing. If not, then Bigger is also an excellent program too. And you could do Bigger without the extensions.

MomtoJGJE wrote:I think Preparing is a great 4th grade program, but only if they absolutely fit there on the placement chart... there would be no hesitation for me to put a child in Bigger in 4th grade, especially if they were a young 4th grader.

My daughter is in this situation exactly, on the younger side, and we did Bigger this year for 4th, and will be doing Preparing next year for 5th. For her this is a perfect fit and she has had a fantastic year.

We used Preparing in 4th grade when my dc had just turned 9. It was a good fit, but we had done LHFHG, Beyond, and Bigger, the three years prior, so it was the natural progression for us. I agree with the others that the grade really doesn't matter, just go with where your dc places on the placement chart. That's the most important thing.

We used PHFHG for 3rd grade for my oldest ds and for 4th grade for my middle ds! Both were a success! Placement is key, as the ladies have so wisely shared. Doublecheck the placement chart and place your sweetie in the guide that fits her best right now - you'll have a super year ahead of you then!

In Christ,
Julie

As we do math and language separately from the guidebook schedule, I have ended up using Preparing as young as third and as old as fifth. When I did it with the third grader I had to help with research and help more with history project. I am thinking about using it this upcoming year for my daughter for 5th grade (she's never done it - my mistake - I should have had her do it this year but with a new baby I was doing something different). I will have her do almost all of it independently. I will do poetry and storytime follow-up with her.

If your DD completed Bigger, then she should be fine to start Preparing. My son used Preparing for "4th" grade, he turned 9 in July before starting.