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I'm using Beyond this year with my 2nd grade son and using Bigger next year for 3rd grade. This year there was no English text recommended (just the spelling and grammar in the guides) and I noticed that English 2 is recommended for Bigger but then English 3 or 4 is recommended for Preparing. My son will be in 4th grade when we use Preparing but only in English 3. Is that okay? I just want to make sure I shouldn't have done English 2 this year to keep up with the grade levels by R & S. I also have a daughter that will be doing Bigger as a 2nd grader...should I start her in English 2 or wait until her 3rd grade year? Thanks for your help!

There is no rights and wrongs I think when it comes to placing your kids where they fit. My dd is doing Preparing and is using R&S 3 (both 3 and 4 are scheduled in the manual) and my ds is doing Beyond with the once a week grammar as scheduled so he will be the same (2 in Bigger and level 3 in Preparing), but I know a few parents on the board here have children ready for more grammar earlier so they use R&S 2 in Beyond etc etc.
One of the great things about HOD is the flexibility it gives within each manual to place your dc where they are at and it guides you all the way! Love it.

Enjoy....

I just wanted to add that I am thinking that it is because Carrie has metioned that Rod and Staff 7 and 8 are sufficient for highschool level grammar. I am doing this with my own son who is in the 9th grade. He will do level 7 for 9th and 10th grades then finish by doing Rod and Staff level 8 for 11th and 12th grades. So it is just a matter of pacing the Grammar where your child would hit level 7 by the ninth grade if you plan on using Rod and Staff through highschool. I am not sure what Carrie has planned for those level HOD guides? Oh I am also using Rod and Staff level 3 with my 4th grade son, because I was planning on doing the same with him. I think you would be doing just fine to leave your little one in level 2 for 3rd grade in BIGGER! I also have a 10 yr old son that will be doing preparing next year for 5th grade and will do Rod and Staff level 4, whoowee... I just have it planned so that we will do the same as his brother and fall into level 7 for the nonth grade.

My DS did R&S 2 with Bigger (2nd grade) and is now doing R&S 3 with Preparing (3rd grade/the rest next year for 4th--we are doing Preparing for 3rd and 4th grade) and it has been a perfect fit for him! I think Bigger for 3rd paired with R&S 2 and Preparing for 4th with R&S 3 is a great combo too! I have had to make some of the R&S oral and do odds or evens for him so it isn't too much writing or he would absolutely struggle with it -- I say that b/c you may find your DS doesn't even need to do that and will be able to do it all since he will be a little bit older! Like PP said, there is no "right" or "wrong" to the level -- whatever fits your child best!

Both of my sons did R & S English 2 with Bigger Hearts. I liked having the intro to the basic parts of speech first in Beyond. It was a nice way to begin grammar, and then R & S English 2 worked well to move into next. In general, HOD advises to work through R & S English 6 by the end of grade 8, as R & S English 7 and 8 are high school credit worthy. Your son will easily be able to accomplish that with the pacing you are on. Sounds like he's doing just fine!

In Christ,
Julie

Oh, good...I see now! I guess I wasn't looking far enough ahead. Thanks so much!