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AHHHH! Even after a few other responses to another post I wrote, I am STILL unsure about whether to use BHFHG or PHFHG for my 9 yr.old son going into the 4th grade. He's been going to a Christian School using Abeka, so homeschooling will be new to us both, as will the Charlotte Mason style of teaching. It looks like I am going to have to use the English 3 and the level 3 dictation offered in PHFHG and POSSIBLY Math 3, so a little part of me just thought maybe I should go with Preparing (& he does place on the chart to be in this level). But yet, putting him in Bigger kind of "eases him into" everything. I am really wavering...

So what do you think? If I put him in Bigger this year and move up one level every year, he will always be at the top age for each level. I don't want to use extensions every year (including this one) ...will Bigger on its own (w/ no extensions) be enough of a challenge? Will Preparing be too much?

Thanks, I hope to order curriculum this week, for my son and daughter (she was the EASY one to place in a level! ) Any help (or encouragement) would be appreciated!

Jennifer
p.s. I think maybe I just have "new to homeschooling syndrome" .... wanting to pick the perfect level...don't want to ruin my kid's education, etc. etc. etc. I know next year I (hopefully) will be much more relaxed!

I just tested him, he will be in Singapore math 2A/2B! So, he really will be only using the higher English/ Spelling. If I use Bigger w/o extensions for everything except English and Spelling (and use Preparing guide for those)...will that be enough do you think? This is what I felt I should go with anyways, I've just really been second guessing myself. I want to be obedient to what God is telling me, just hard because I am so new to this, and want to be sure his year is challenging enough. But if this is what God is telling me, then He already knows what's best for my child, right? Thanks sooo much for this message board. It has been helpful for me working through my own thoughts, and getting the encouragement to do this. I CAN do this, because I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me!!!

It sounds like Bigger Hearts will be the way to go. You will have the wonderful hands-on activities in the guide for Singapore 2A/2B. Since HOD is new for your son, try out the dictation in Bigger, being sure to follow the directions in the appendix. He will have to study the passage, taking note of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. When he is ready, you dictate to him one clause at a time without giving any hints, and he repeats what you say then writes it down. If he does not reproduce every element correctly, you have him erase what he got wrong and copy it correctly from the model, then he repeats the same process the next day he has dictation assigned, for however many days it takes until all elements are reproduced correctly. If he has not done studied dictation before, it may be best to start him off simple. If it turns out the dictation in Bigger is way too easy, you can try dictating sentences from books he is reading instead, or get the Preparing guide and use the next level of dictation.
Bigger Hearts' target age range is 7 to 9, so he is still in the right age group. I would suggest trying Bigger as written, and only adding in the Extensions if it becomes apparent he needs more challenge The Extension books range in level from about 4.5 to 6.7, are to be read independently by the student, and a schedule with follow-up activities in in the appendix.
As for English, HOD recommends you do most of each lesson orally or on a whiteboard and assign one portion to be done in writing in a notebook. This eliminates "busywork" and keeps lessons short I had a 9 year old 4th grader in Bigger a few years ago and used R & S 2, but she had not had any formal grammar previously. It sounds like your son would be good with R & S 3 since he has had grammar before. Just do a lesson a day 4 days a week and that should work out fine!
Bigger Hearts will be a great intro to HOD and CM for the both of you

Lourdes gave excellent advice already! I too think Bigger Hearts sounds like a great fit for your ds for many of the same reasons already mentioned. I'm really glad you will be able to do Bigger Hearts with your ds. We have enjoyed this guide so much, and I have found putting my teaching time in Bigger Hearts helps the following years to go so smoothly, as my dc have gradually been taught the skills to gain independence successfully in the latter guides. Charlotte Mason methods are taught so well in Bigger Hearts, and as are other skills needed for gradual acceptance of more individual responsibility for learning. The books in Bigger Hearts are so good - the dc loved them, and I did too! I think you have a good plan here.

In Christ,
Julie

My vote is for Bigger Hearts!!

ESPECIALLY since he is not only new to homeschooling, but new to the Charlotte Mason method. As you know Abeka is so traditional it would be good to ease him into charlotte mason like you said. Too much too soon may overwhelm him and you. I was "sold" on the charlotte mason method upon beginning homeschooling, and it even took me quite awhile to get used to it.

I don't think he'll be behind at all using Bigger. Don't worry about the age range too much. It is okay if he is on the "older" end of the guides. I just make sure that math and language arts are done at the right level for the child's skill level, even if that means deviating from the box directions in the teacher's guide a little. For example, I don't follow the math box with my two older children, as I've really needed to tailor math to their skill level AND pace.

Hope this helps a little!! Happy ordering!

Bigger sounds great!

Welcome to homeschooling and HOD!

Jennifer,

I agree that Bigger Hearts would be the way that I would lean with your son, especially since he will be new to homeschooling and new to CM! There is definitely a period of adjustment when coming home to school, and while he may able to handle Preparing Hearts this year, it's good to look ahead and think whether he'd be able to handle CTC the following year. With the extensions it is always possible to extend a guide, but it is very difficult to water one down and still retain the skills that a child will need to succeed in each successive guide.

Blessings,
Carrie