Help Me Decide What is Best, Please!

[hugsathome]

Hi Everyone!!

Currently, my fourth grader is in Bigger with the fantastic extension package (loving it!!!). This was our first year with HOD (a trial run ). We have been so impressed! My daughter is in first grade with ABEKA.

I would like to put them both into HOD next fall, but we're expecting a new baby end of May, and I also have a 3 year old (soon to be 4). With a new baby and the 3 year old, I want to take on as little stress as possible...if you know what I mean.

So, here's what I'm thinking.
FALL 09
5th grader: Preparing (with extension pack for 5th graders)
2nd grader: Beyond ????
I didn't really want to do Bigger with my second grader because I'm doing Bigger NOW with my fourth grader (extension pack included ). Is Beyond still an appropriate place to put a second grader?

Does this sound doable with a baby and a toddler??? Any suggestions?
Thanks a ton!

[Leslie in TN]

Absolutley do-able and very little stress! We are using both of those now, and still get everything done in 4 hrs (at the very most).

BTW, I think Beyond works perfectly for a 2nd grader!

[Patience]

I'm using Beyond this year with a 1st and 3rd grader and I think it's perfect for your second grader. (I find it a bit easy for the 3rd grader)

[hugsathome]

Thank you, thank you!

I really appreciate your comments.

[inHistiming]

I wanted to add that we used Beyond... with my dd when she was in 2nd grade and it was perfect! She loved all the readings, did well with the spelling and grammar, enjoyed the music, poetry, and copy work. I think it's a great fit for 2nd grade...but you will need to check out the placement chart to see where your dc falls.

Here is the link: http://heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

Looking forward to 'seeing' you here on the boards more!

[my3sons]

I'm so glad you are LOVING Bigger with the Extensions! We had a great time doing that last year - though not with the extensions. We are also doing Beyond and PHFHG right now, and we are done in about 4 hours too. We have a toddler - a very wonderful - but extremely boisterous boy! I think you'd do just fine with 2 HOD programs. Since Bigger w/ext. was a great fit for your oldest, I know PHFHG with ext. will be a great fit next year. It's your other little one I'm wondering about. Could you take a look at the Beyond Little Hearts part of the placement chart? Then, share if there are any areas in reading, writing, grammar, math that might be too easy or too hard. That will help us give you advice specific to that child. I completely understand the concept of alternating programs each year - I like that as well. I think Beyond will work, but if you need to customize it a bit, we can all help you figure that out. For instance, some ladies use the dictation from Bigger with Beyond, if they find the spelling words are too easy in Beyond. Little things like this can make a better fit for each child's needs - and you already own the Bigger manual anyway. Here's a link to the placement chart:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

In Christ,
Julie

[Mom2Monkeys]

I'm using Beyond with my advanced 2nd grader and we're loving it! If your 1st grader is doing Abeka, she may be on about the same level as my dd when she entered 2nd. We chose to do just the grammar in Beyond since we already did R&S 2 but will pick up on R&S 3 in Bigger for 3rd. I also do the math from Bigger and we have used the 2nd spelling list in Beyond as a "fun and easy" confidence booster for dd since she is doing some more challenging work in other subjects. We love Bigger and I'm confident it is plenty for her for 2nd grade!