Using Bigger for a 10/11 year old? What about 12/13?

[fullhands_fullheart]

Anyone using Bigger for a 10/11 year old? Originally I was planning on having her in CTC (we did half of Preparing last year-didn't make it through due to circumstances), but I am thinking it would be easier on me to combine her with her (almost)9 year old brother in Bigger. We are probably going to go a different route with her level of LA (maybe Abeka video) and her level of Math. WE took on 3 young foster children and I just have too much on my plate right now. I am very overwhelmed and don't even want to homeschool but I know this feeling will pass with time.

Just wondering if there is a way to beef it up more for an independent working 10 (almost 11) year old.

What about a 12/13 year old? I was going to have him do CTC with his sister. But none of my kids have had an American History class so it might be good for him too, if I can get it up to his level...

What do you think? Advice?

Thank you...

[Nealewill]

Just in reading your reply, I did have a few thoughts. And please forgive me if you disagree but was just thinking and thought I would share.

From what I could read, it sounds like your 10 was half way finished with Preparing already. Have you thought about having him finish Preparing? Also, was your 12 year old doing Preparing with that child? One thing I thought of that might save you some time is does your 12 year old read well? Would your 12 year be willing or able to read the History Box and Story Time box out loud to the 10 year old. That would give them both history. The second half of Preparing has some American History in it.

Another thought I had is what about having the 10 year old do Bigger with the 8 year old and do the extensions but then have the older child complete R2R? Does the 12 year old place in the guide? HOD is really written to be grouped by skills and I think the 8 yo and 12 yo are going to differ significantly. R2R is very independent and your older child might enjoy it more is JMHO. Also - I know that EIW is a great writing program. But what if (because the 10 yo should probably have some writing too) did writing with big sis? That would save you time from teaching 2 writing programs. And since you already mentioned not doing R&S, Abeka is pretty involved. I think your kids will spend much more time on grammar with Abeka than with R&S. R&S is scheduled twice a week with R2R, Abeka would be every day. What if you had your 10 yo and 12 yo do the same level of R&S? Or you could have your 8 year old and 10 year old do the same level. I don't know how well that would work but maybe it might be a better fit?

Also - what do you do for math? I do like Signapore but I wasn't sure how far along your oldest is in math? I think we will probably move to Foerester's but I still waiver a bit and contemplate VideoText. I know several busy homeschool moms who have loved this program and found it to be a great for them and their kids.

I do think CTC is great - my oldest is enjoying the guide this year. But there a few things we are spending more time on than I thought. I shared in another thread that my oldest has a lot of dyslexic tendencies. I have had her tested but she had a very hard time learning to read and understanding math. We got her started ons pecialty products early on but she struggles with following directions. So for the poetry I have to be right there with her. I also have to still go over EVERY box every day to make sure she understood what she is supposed to do. And while she can read, it is just a harder for her, she isn't a fast reader but she has learned tools and techniques that have helped her get where she is today. So she just takes longer than others. But with you having the little kids running around all day, I am not sure how easy it would be to get the art projects done this year. I don't think R2R has the weekly painting. So for you oldest, she may enjoy having the year to herself and learning on her own. I would anticipate that if she is placed correctly, you would probably only need to spend about an hour or so with her. And I think at her age with R2R, she may be able to read the story time books on her own (although I don't know that this is something HOD recommends, it is just a thought).

The last thought I had was - has your 8 year old completed Beyond? That is a little bit less work and it might be better for your schedule. Then you could have the 10 year old finish Preparing, move the 12 year old to R2R, and then do Beyond for the younger one. That combo would probably lighten your load the most.

[MelInKansas]

I would definitely look at combining somewhere to lighten your load a bit on read-alouds and things like that. But I do not think combining all 3 in Bigger would really work. The extensions in Bigger would not reach up to your 12-13 year old's level. Usually they really discourage you from choosing a guide based on the period of history it studies. The history will come around again the JH guides, and you really want something that challenges them at their level. Also with the older guides I think you work in the independence they need and you can even ask them to do some of the T or S boxes on their own occasionally if needed. So 2 in Bigger and one in a higher guide (wherever they place) seems like a good idea, or the 1 in Bigger and 2 in CTC if you think that the 10 year old will be ready to tackle CTC and do the independent parts independently.

[MomtoJGJE]

I think I would combine the two olders. Right now I'd combine in the rest of Preparing (with extensions for the older) and then after Christmas start both of them in CTC (again, extensions for the older). Unless of course your older finished Preparing last year. In which case I think I'd probably combine both of them in CTC. I think you'll find that it would work better that way because they can be more independent.

And I was also wondering, did your almost 9 finish Beyond? If not, that would probably be an easier way to shave off some time in your day. Either that or do Bigger half speed for a bit. Could also do the older ones half speed , but 5 days per week. That would help you a bit too.

I just think that your older ones would probably be more likely to be closer to the same skill level (since your 10/11 was working on Preparing last year)

[Carrie]

Kindra,

I agree that you will want to work toward a combining scenario, but to help us know which scenario would work better we need to start by figuring out where your kiddos are skill-wise according to the first page only of the placement chart. So, setting aside combining scenarios for now, can you share where each of your kiddos place as individuals on the first page of the placement chart only? Reading, writing, following written directions, independence, math, and grammar are the most important things with placement. Here's a link to the chart: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php

That will help us in fine-tuning ideas a bit, and the ladies will pop back with more advice.

Blessings,
Carrie

[fullhands_fullheart]

Thanks!
So my 8.5 year old places squarely into Bigger, my 10 year old in CTC, and my 12 yr old CTC/some RTR.

We are actually leaning towards sending my 12 yr old to full-time school at the Christian school, so let's just look at my 8 and 10 yr old.

Thanks!
Kindra

[Nealewill]

If those are the guides your kids place in, then I would have the youngest do Bigger and two older children do CTC. But if you have the oldest child go to school, then I would just do Bigger with extensions but update math, grammar and spelling, and then add in Ignite Your Write for a formal writing program.