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I have been reading all the posts and looking at the placement chart and I am leaning towards beyond, but i still think I don't have a big enough picture of it to decide. My dd will be 7(2nd gr) and ds 8(3rd gr) in fall. We have been using Abeka and I am sorry to say that ,really this year so far we have still mostly been focusing on the 3 Rs as my husband has been unemployed for a 1.5 yrs, I had to return to work(I am a nurse and can find work thank God for that) so my wonderful husband has been hs'ing our little ones this year and like I said he has really focused on the 3 Rs and has done some US history, not much, some copywork we are starting now. My 7 yo is emerging reader. My 8 yo is fairly independent and very bright, but does not enjoy writing at all. He writes very neatly and takes his sweet time..so both can copy sentences, but it's not their favorite. In fact the workbook way we are seeing is not their favorite at all, which is why we are switching to a more Charlotte Mason approach, literature approach. We were trying to stick with Abeka because, if we plan on sending the kids to the Christian school where our 11th grader goes that is the curriculum that they use, of course that is a ways away.
Anyhow, I have been babbling here..my point is I think bigger may be ok for them, but then being that they are only 16 months apart, I could always use bigger the following year when they are 3rd and 4th graders. Is Beyond going to be too young or easy for my ds or would it be a good place to start because they have not had alot of history this year. For my ds I could order separate the math and cursive at his level and the reading and do Beyond. I was just not sure if it would be a good fit for him as he is very bright and does need some challenge. But again they have not had a really good base of history yet??? I am so thankful for boards like this to ask experienced people questions....sorry for carrying on so.
Thanks, Kristen in Michigan
From what you've said, I think it sounds like Beyond would be the better fit for your family. (But if someone more experienced than me says otherwise...go with them!) You'll be new to several CM skills, so I don't think it will seem simplistic to your 8 yo. You'll want to be doing math and LA on his level. I'd highly reccommend doing Drawn Into the Heart of Reading with him. You should have more time for that if you start in Beyond. It sounds to me like you were saying that if you start with Bigger it may be just a little out of reach for your daughter. I'm sure there will be more moms who come help talk out the best fit for your kids. (This is the hardest part, but very worth it!)