Bigger Hearts Age Question

[Sophie]

Hi everyone!

What is the youngest age you used this package with? I know the catalog says 7-9, but my son is in Grade 2 materials coming schoolyear and finished his phonics by then. The books seem to be allright for his level, just wanted to check, what ages you all have been using this with.

Thank you,

Sophie

[arstephia]

Look at the placement guide and go with that. It is really skills based placement more than age. The placement guide is pretty accurate.

[cirons]

I agree with the above post. More important than age is the skill level of your ds. If you have just finished phonics, it sounds like the emerging readers and Beyond might be more appropriate, but the placement guide on the home page will be a good indicator. Some of the books might look easy, but it is the skills that Carrie marries with the books that is so important to get a good foundation with (eg. narrating, comprehension etc).

All the best.

[my2guys]

We will be using Bigger in the fall for 2nd grade. My ds will be 7.5-8.5. We're doing Beyond this year for 1st, and we've done the emerging readers with Beyond, but the emerging readers are also a choice for Bigger, if you feel your son places better there in all of the other areas. Definately check out the placement guide

[Sophie]

Thanks, this has helped a lot. We're now using CLE LA 1 and I wanted to move him into grade 2 next year. But on the placement chart it didn't match with his skills So I had to do some adjusting.

My plans:
2010/2011 - Finish this year CLE 1
2011/2012 - Beyond Little Hearts + CLE 2/R&S 2
2012/2013 - Bigger Hearts + CLE 3/R&S 3 (in package this is R&S 2)
2013/2014 - Preparing: R&S 4 is an option in the package :p
and than just go on with HOD as normal.

I'll have to skip the math part all together, as he is more advanced with that Well, I'm happy for him, but I would have liked to use the program

[my3sons]

I'm so glad you used the placement chart, that has been the winning ticket with our dc! Oh and welcome to the HOD Board. This is a great place to meet like-minded Christian homeschool moms. I think your plan looks very good. As far as the math, you could always give the free Singapore math placement test at www.singaporemath.com, and see where ds places. It's considered about a year advanced, so you never know, he may actually place in a different level than you'd think. Some moms get the next HOD guide for the math plans too, so that's an option to consider. Of course, you can easily sub in a different math if that is your desire. I'm glad your ds will get to do Beyond Little Hearts! It is an excellent program and great training for BHFHG - plus, it's neat to have the first part of American history and then the last in BHFHG. I'm looking forward to getting to know you here!

In Christ,
Julie