Me again!!! More placement questions

[Mumkins]

Sooo, if you remember, I was trying to figure out what to do with my kids and was thinking of putting my grade 2 and 4 kids next year in Preparing but I was worried that it would be too much for the grade 2 boy. Though he is very bright. He just turned 6 in Oct and is about to start his grade 2 math book right now. He's also only spelt one word wrong on a spelling test the entire year.

But I was wondering if I should either just go ahead and put them both in Bigger, though DD is going to miss the last 2 books.

Or if I should put her in Preparing and put the middle two kids in Little Hearts.

Or if I should do three seperate programs, which will eventually turn into 4 seperate programs.

Do you think any of those sound better than putting them both in preparing?

[my3sons]

Hi Mumkins! Have you checked out the placement chart with a fresh look in mind? That may help. Personally, just from the ages, I'd lean toward combining the 6 yo and 8 yo, and then eventually combining the 1.5 yo and 4 yo. The program I'd suggest depends so much on the placement you'd give them according the chart, since age is only 1 determining factor in placement and you know your dc best, and I don't know anything about them other than what is shared. I know we've chatted about this before, but I also know the span of time can really make a difference in placement. If you could share where they'd each place individually, then we can chat options better, with the thought in mind you'd like to combine.

In Christ,
Julie

[Carrie]

Mumkins,

I'm just popping in to agree that placement will really depend on where your 6 year old (especially) fits as far as reading, writing, and listening goes.That will tell us whether that child fits better in LHFGH or Beyond. Then, the next most important child to weigh would be the 8 year old as to where that child fits best, all combining scenarios aside. Then, we can tell if that child would fit better in Beyond, Bigger, or Preparing.

If you get a chance to pop back in with more details on those two kiddos, we can give much better advice on possible scenarios. I was also thinking that you're Canadian, which I know makes a difference in what you're desiring to cover as well.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mumkins]

I looked at the placement charts.

My kids do a different Math, LA and Handwriting programs. My 6 yo, who will be 7 in the fall and grade 2 in all but math, he's a year ahead, can listen for about 15 minutes before he starts getting fidgety. September is still 7 months away, so he'll mature some. My oldest will be 9, 4th grade, but a year behind in LA. She could probably do more, but it's an advanced program. But as I said, we do a different program. She could sit an listen the entire day. She loves being read to. She works well independently. DS reads well independently and does fine with short worksheets on his own.

I'm really wanting to do Preparing if possible.

[sharonb]

I have a 6 year old who won't be 7 until August, but he'll start 2nd grade in late May or early June because we school year-round. He sounds a lot like your ds- very bright but fidgety! I also have an 8 year old who will be starting 3rd grade. I am planning on putting both of them in Bigger.

BUT, if the 6-year-old just can't seem to handle sitting still and listening to the readings in Bigger, I will have him join my 5-year-old in Little Hearts instead. Regardless, he will still do all of his math and LA at the appropriate level. He would just switch gears for Bible, science, history, etc.

So, I have a back-up plan for the 6 year old! I really think he can handle Bigger, but I'll be fine with him joining in with Little Hearts instead, if need be.

I just wanted to share what we are doing, in case that helps you! And by the way, if you get Bigger for your oldest 2, you could get the extensions for your 4th grader. (That's one reason I'm not worried about the possibility of putting my upcoming 2nd grader in Little Hearts; I know that in a couple of years he'd be able to do extensions (starting with Bigger), so I won't have to feel like he's "behind").

[my3sons]

Mumkins - I think from what you've shared, academically Bigger Hearts is the best placement for your dc, especially in light of your desire to combine. I'm still not sure where they each place individually, but Bigger Hearts seems to be the best meeting place for the 2 of them, especially considering the age of your ds and your dd's being a year behind in LA. I'd be even more cautious about having the 2 of them do CTC the following year if they did PHFHG together this year, since CTC is the ancients time period and steps up the LA requirements (even within history, science, etc.) in a big way. However, you are totally in the driver's seat here , as you well should be as your dc's teacher. So, the final decision for placement is entirely up to you - so if you are really wanting to do PHFHG, than that I'm not going to say you can't do it, because you surely can! You can give it a fair shot knowing it's probably not the perfect placement but also knowing it is what you truly want to do and just strive to make it work. These are all just ideas we throw out here, but you are well able to make a decision separate from advice because you certainly know your dc and your goals the best. So, I'll pray for you as you decide this, knowing the Lord certainly has the best guidance of anyone.

In Christ,
Julie

[Mumkins]

I've been flipping through Bigger. I'm just not getting a desire to do it. The reading about US stuff would be fine. But it seems even most of the activities and I don't have the time to go through it and make it Canadianized. I've been pushing myself to go through a program I don't like this year. We got WP, the animals one for DD as she's an animal fanatic. But week after week of nothing but animals and I'm just tired of it.

I am concerned about DS. While I'm sold out on his LA (McRuffys), I am thinking of switching DD to R&S. I'm ordering 2 and hoping to get her through that to start her on 3 by September.

I'm either going to do Preparing or SL 1&2 and catch Preparing next year. But they share a same core book, so I'm trying to figure out what to do about that. If I don't do Preparing this with oldest DD, whe wont get all the guide's in before high school.

We're probably going to have a 5th baby, but will likely end up being 3 school years behind #4. Number 3 and 4 are 3 school years apart too. Should I put oldest alone in Preparing and combine my my middle two? I'd hate for her to go alone the next several years though. Especially if we have a 6th that could partner with #5.

[my3sons]

I've been flipping through Bigger. I'm just not getting a desire to do it. The reading about US stuff would be fine. But it seems even most of the activities and I don't have the time to go through it and make it Canadianized.

I know you have a different situation to consider because you are Canadian. So, I just had an idea. What if you did PHFHG half-speed stretching it out over 2 years? Would that work? You could do daily LA and Math, which would be great because it would boost those skills and better prepare your duo for CTC, plus it would give them one more year to get ready for it. Or, I do think you could have your oldest just do PHFHG full-speed now, and partner your next two together. My oldest loves being on his own for school. We've tried some things together, but he really loves the independence of doing his own school and not having to wait for little brother to catch up to him. However, I know that could just be our situation. If you were to combine your other 2, where do they place in the placement chart? That may make a difference too. We'll keep chatting here until you have your plan in place. I do think one of these options would work well (since you are not wanting the BHFHG combo), but you will know what is best.

In Christ,
Julie

[8arrows]

You clearly want to do Preparing. Mom's preference will matter in the attitude of the school year. I would not opt for the Sonlight/Preparing two years in a row with the same spine. If your oldest is ready for Preparing, why not try it with both next year. If the second child can't do it, you can either slow it down to 1/2 speed or pair the next two children. If he just can't do all the writing, he can at least listen to the reading. My children are loving A Child's History. We have fond memories of doing it with my older two years ago.

[Mumkins]

Hmmm, half speed might be a good idea. Also, my DD does like independent work so maybe going solo would be good. My next two would be hard I think, if I think about skill. She turned 4 only in Dec., only recognizes about 7 letters, can count past 10 but not much further. My son is a fluent reader and ahead a grade in math. He can do copywork and construct a few sentences on his own. But he still mixes in capitals and lowercase, though he knows to begin with a capital. I wonder if we finish Beyond then move onto Preparing would work, going as slow as needed. We only went in 10 weeks ad still have about 7 left with our current program.

I definantly want to do Preparing at some point forsure, I think I need to order the manual and take a better look.