My name is Heather and am so happy to be here. I have 3 bright, wonderful, creative boys. They are almost 4 (July bd), almost 7 (July bd) and 8 1/2. In terms of grades they are entering pre-K, 2nd and 3rd for the fall.
We are just completing our first year of homeschooling. I formally taught elementary school and never dreamed I would homeschool my own children! After just a couple years of having my children away at school all day, the Lord brought clear conviction to my husband and I to bring them home. I can hardly describe what a miracle it was that He broke through my stereotypes and wrong thinking in regard to education and homeschooling. It was like I had blinders on and He so kindly removed them so I was finally able to understand His vision for discipling our boys at home. Thank you, Lord!
Overall, it has been a good, yet challenging year. I used MFW's Adventures for both my two oldest boys this year. They were in 1st and 2nd grade. We have really enjoyed studying American history in depth and really seeing God's providential hand in the formation of our nation. However, my middle son at times has balked at the work (especially dictation and copywork) and my oldest son has been under-challenged. My middle guy is so very bright, though young for his grade (summer birthday). I think a lot of the problems have stemmed from me expecting the same level of work from him as I did from my oldest (BIG mistake looking back). I should have used the 1st grade curriculum for my middle guy instead of pushing him to play catch up in Adventures.
My original plan was to proceed with MWF next year and do ECC together, again. Then I was introduced to HOD at the Kansas City convention. I so enjoyed getting to visit with Julie and observe Carrie in action. I purchased LHTH for my little guy and DITHOR to use regardless of other curriculum decisions. Now that I have spent time looking deeply into HOD, my heart is drawn to this curriculum and it's writer. I need help figuring out what to do for next year. Let me describe where my boys are and what my concerns are:
almost 7 year old son (2nd grade in the fall): very strong natural speller, has completed Growing with Grammar level 1, completed Singapore math 1A and 1B, very strong in mental math and math concepts, loves read aloud (with or without pictures), strong independent reader (enjoys Ramona books, Boxcar, etc. with good comprehension), very good at memorization, doesn't really like copywork, narration or dictation
, he can copy 2-3 sentences without a major fuss, has a lot of trouble summarizing for a good narration. He is a bundle of energy, never without an idea to share, strongly dislikes sitting still for extended periods of time, loves to talk, talk, talk. 
He seems to need my attention the most of all 3 boys.my 8 1/2 year old son (3rd grade in the fall): average speller, completed Growing with Grammer level 2, excellent at narrations and copywork, average at dictation, completed Singapore math 2A and 2B, loves read aloud (needs no pictures!), voracious reader (would spend 3-4 hours reading alone a day if I let him). He's really into historical fiction, missionary biographies and reading his bible. He keeps one bible in the back of the van and reads 4-5 chapters a day just as we're driving around!, very strong in history and science-he reads so much independently I often don't know what his background knowledge is on a subject anymore! He is very hard on himself, very driven and often unaware of those around him. He is my easy child who is easy to unintentionally overlook because he is so independent and responsible
My hope is to get the boys in the same program, eventually. However, looking at the chart is looks like my middle son would be Bigger and my oldest son would be Preparing. I would love to do Preparing for my oldest next year as it seems right up his alley. He would LOVE the independent work boxes! And I want so much to give him something that challenges him more appropriately this year. However, I just can't convince myself that my middle son could handle Preparing. If I forced him into Preparing it would be another year of trying to keep up for him. No fun!
I have 2 concerns about using Bigger next year with middle son. #1 is we convered much of the exact same material this year in Adventures. I don't know if he or I would enjoy a repeat of history. #2 if I start them off in different guides how would I ever get them back together? Maybe they're far enough apart in ability I should just keep them apart. But I hate not to do the learning through history page together. I would like to conserve time and energy while teaching.
One thought I had is to just wait on HOD for a year. Stick with my original plan and use MFW's ECC for both boys next year. Then in another year put them both in Preparing. By that time my middle son should be ready for it. However, is that fair to my oldest who seems ready now? My husband has suggested doing BOTH- ECC and then Preparing with just my oldest. I don't think doing two full curriculums sounds like a good plan, do you?
Can anyone help me? I'm sorry I have typed so much! I have been thinking and praying about this since the Kansas City conference a month ago. I want to do what the Lord wants for our family.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond.
Blessings, Heather
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but it is a thought. Then you'd just start them in Preparing the next year.
We did Bigger without the exensions and it has been plenty to challenge him (even though on the placement chart I could have put him in Preparing in some areas). I'm confident that if you did it and added the extensions for your oldest to read independently that it would be a full year of learning for him, and fill his love to read. The activities in Bigger have been the highlight of the year for my ds. 
) The balance of sitting and listening and talking and writing and doing has made for a very enjoyable year for us. 
If you're wanting to combine your boys, Bigger with extensions is the option I would suggest.