Using Bigger Hearts for multiple years

[wlisaxj]

Hi! I will be beginning Bigger Hearts this September for my 7 year old daughter and was hoping to use it again for her next year. My question is will I reuse all the recommended science, history, geography, books the second year? Also, will I be repeating the same lists provided in the appendix? Thanks! Lisa

[StephanieU]

When people use one guide for more than a year, they just spread everything out to half pace. So, instead of finishing two pages in the guide in a day, they spend 2 days per page. I don't think going full speed through the guide twice would work very well, as it would be the same thing over again. If you are confused about the 3 year recommended age, it is because some kids are ready for the guide earlier than others. So, they give a range of ages the guide can be used for.

[luv2homeschool]

You should not repeat a guide with the same child. When you finish one guide, you move into the next guide. If you need a guide to last for two years then you would use the guide at half-speed.

[mom23]

Were you hoping to use it again so that she didn't hit the next guide too quickly? One thing you may consider is to start the Bigger guide half speed like the others have said, and then maybe halfway through (or at whatever point you realize that she's needing more) you can finish it full speed ahead. Then you'd start Preparing half speed and run it the same way. That would spread those 2 guides out over 3 years. The reason I'd recommend that is because each guide really prepares you well for the next guide, but only if they are running it full speed, as written. To go from Bigger at half speed for 2 years to Preparing at full speed all of a sudden would be a very hard step to take.

[MelInKansas]

There are definitely enough options as far as the reading, spelling, math to address multiple different levels and where you would not be repeating. But you would repeat the history, science, poetry, and Bible study. That seems like it would not work. Some people repeat a guide in the very youngest ages, because the retention is not that good. But Bigger Hearts you could not repeat the core of the guide. You would take it 1/2 speed if you feel she needs more than a year to do it.