Did I order the right program?

[Aimee]

After days of walking around reading, thinking about and, well, obsessing over my HOD catalog, I finally ordered Bigger over the weekend for my littlest, who will be 8 next week and is finishing second grade. We love CM schooling, but he has some processing and language delays and attention issues that have made AO hard for him to focus on - books like 50 Famous Stories retold, or Our Island Story were too formal in their language for him to process well. I was told HOD was great for this sort of fellow, so here we are. I ordered now, hoping to get a jump-start this year, and stretch out the program, as we do a four-day school week. However, now that I've ordered, I'm worried about whether I've made the correct placement. For background, littlest:

- reads well, and can find his place in a Bible and read a section easily
- is working on Explode the Code book 5 and doing well
- loves Primary Language Lessons and completes the lessons easily, doing copywork regularly
- has not done much independent writing, as per our interpretation of CM's philosophy, and his LA book (he dictates to me, then copies what I write)
- struggles with narration; sometimes needs materials read a paragraph at a time to be sure he's attending and understanding; however does well with shorter passages like Aesop's Fables, or with materials written in more modern English - and does better when he reads himself
- loves science and experiments
- learns best with anything hands-on, visual or with illustrations

I THINK he places best into Bigger, which is why I chose it, and some of the Beyond materials look a little young for him. I know he will love the science experiments and books in Bigger. However, I'm worrying about whether the Eggleston books will be a stretch for him - and a stretch is ok, just as long as learning will happen - and whether his skills are on target for what is required in the program. Any opinions? Thanks so much for any input!

[my3sons]

After days of walking around reading, thinking about and, well, obsessing over my HOD catalog, I finally ordered Bigger over the weekend for my littlest, who will be 8 next week and is finishing second grade. We love CM schooling, but he has some processing and language delays and attention issues that have made AO hard for him to focus on - books like 50 Famous Stories retold, or Our Island Story were too formal in their language for him to process well. I was told HOD was great for this sort of fellow, so here we are. I ordered now, hoping to get a jump-start this year, and stretch out the program, as we do a four-day school week. However, now that I've ordered, I'm worried about whether I've made the correct placement. For background, littlest:

- reads well, and can find his place in a Bible and read a section easily
- is working on Explode the Code book 5 and doing well
- loves Primary Language Lessons and completes the lessons easily, doing copywork regularly
- has not done much independent writing, as per our interpretation of CM's philosophy, and his LA book (he dictates to me, then copies what I write)
- struggles with narration; sometimes needs materials read a paragraph at a time to be sure he's attending and understanding; however does well with shorter passages like Aesop's Fables, or with materials written in more modern English - and does better when he reads himself
- loves science and experiments
- learns best with anything hands-on, visual or with illustrations

I THINK he places best into Bigger, which is why I chose it, and some of the Beyond materials look a little young for him. I know he will love the science experiments and books in Bigger. However, I'm worrying about whether the Eggleston books will be a stretch for him - and a stretch is ok, just as long as learning will happen - and whether his skills are on target for what is required in the program. Any opinions? Thanks so much for any input!

Hi Aimee and welcome to the HOD Board! Thank you for sharing about your ds. He sounds like special little guy, and I can tell you know him so well! He sounds like he is doing well for his age and is developing some real loves of learning. I am thinking he could place in Beyond Little Hearts, or Bigger Hearts. These statements you made make me wonder if Beyond Little Hearts would be a better fit...
- learns best with anything hands-on, visual or with illustrations
- struggles with narration; sometimes needs materials read a paragraph at a time to be sure he's attending and understanding; however does well with shorter passages...or with materials written in more modern English
- has not done much independent writing

Beyond... is more hands-on, has less writing, uses resources with more pictures, introduces oral narration very well, and uses shorter passages. I wondered if these links that describe the amount of writing in Bigger Hearts would be helpful?

Amount of writing in BHFHG:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3005
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1516&p=11829

I think in some other areas he may fit in Bigger Hearts, but in the above areas, he would fit better in Beyond. I know HOD has a wonderful return policy, so you could easily return Bigger Hearts and get Beyond instead if you are thinking it would be a better fit. I think it is nice to go into a guide solidly having the skills in the placement chart for that guide, as it just makes the whole year go smoothly. But, could you share your thoughts after checking out the above links and let me know what you are thinking? We can talk more then, and I know others will join in too. HOD is an awesome curriculum to use - whatever guide your ds ends up doing! This board is a wonderful place to get advice and encouragement too. I hope something here helps, and I am looking forward to getting to know you here!

In Christ,
Julie

[Aimee]

Hi Julie, and thank you for your input. I felt pretty sure about Bigger, and speaking to Mike eased some of my concerns. Still, it is the amount of writing that had me concerned about Beyond, and reading the links you shared reinforces that concern. With my boys, I often take a copywork approach to writing until they are at least 8 and ease into more independent writing at 9 or so, with them dictating their narrations to me and then copying them over. I'm not sure if Bigger's writing load would be way beyond what he could tolerate right now; it does sound like perhaps a bit much. At this point, he is used to copying 3-5 sentences per day, or a stanza of a poem, or a paragraph from one of the books he's reading. He also does handwriting using Cheerful Cursive every day as well. Is this much less than Bigger requires? I'm really not sure how long those history or science narrations or reports are required to be.

The science looks much lighter in Beyond, and this is what he really loves! I want to be able to tap into his strengths and interests, and not frustrate him by placing him either too high or too low. Can you please share what activities or materials might be good for him in Beyond, as you see it, if that still sounds like the better fit? We do have the science text used in that program, and haven't found it to capture his interest, though I'm sure we're not using the sort of activities Carrie's scheduled in Beyond.

Thanks so much, I do appreciate it!

[my3sons]

... At this point, he is used to copying 3-5 sentences per day, or a stanza of a poem, or a paragraph from one of the books he's reading. He also does handwriting using Cheerful Cursive every day as well. Is this much less than Bigger requires? I'm really not sure how long those history or science narrations or reports are required to be...

Thanks for sharing more here, Aimee! After reading this, I am wondering if maybe the best fit would be to go ahead and begin Bigger Hearts, but maybe start it half-speed to ease into it? We did that with our ds at the start of Bigger Hearts and really loved it. I enjoyed taking the time to help him learn how to do each box of the plans well, and we didn't feel rushed about anything. It also gave him a little time to grow into the writing, as it made that a little bit less for him to do each day. Taking into account all that you have shared now, I am thinking that Bigger Hearts half-speed would be a really good fit. Then, at any point, whether it's 2 weeks into it or 6 months into it, you can move to full-speed. You would definitely know when to do that. I could tell with my Riley when he began begging to do more school each day. What do you think about this idea?

In Christ,
Julie

[Aimee]

Sounds like a good idea, Julie. The program should be here soon, and I can't wait to look through it. Mike also suggested doing the guide at half-speed at first, so perhaps we will give it a try that way. It could be a nice way to ease into the guide for the next few months, and littlest will have a few months to grow and play this summer, before we ease into it again.
Thanks again.

[my3sons]

Sounds like a plan, Aimee! Be sure to share your box day here with us - we like to help you celebrate!
In Christ,
Julie