Beyond for a 4th grader

[momto5blessings]

Hello there,
Would Beyond be too easy with a 4th grader? I tried to do the Bigger with her earlier this year, and the History was just too much, she couldn't usually answer the questions, or narrate. (We are working on her narration skills). Will Beyond be a bit easier for here? I have thought maybe the biographical aspect would be easier than the strictly historical aspect of Bigger. (Or should I just try Bigger next year.) We would just do the Economy part of the guide. What do you think?
Thanks so much
Pamela

[kvmck]

I can't really speak to your situation but I'll tell you ours I started my 7 and 8 year olds out with Bigger last year and after 2 1/2 to 3 months we switched to Beyond. All of the handwriting was the big issue for both of mine! I think that the history reading in Bigger is significantly more difficult than in Beyond. My dd was quite bored with Bigger because she just wasn't there yet but LOVES Beyond. I think my daughter relates much better to the history stories in Beyond, she is very excited about what happens to the children. I honestly don't think that doing just Beyond would be challenging enough for a 4th grader, its been a good fit for my 7 1/2 year old but my now 9 year old would not be challenged enough with just doing Beyond. He is doing Bigger LA and starting DITHOR plus he does additional history reading (his favorite subject) and we have also added more science on just because we all love science.

[lmercon]

Is this your first year with a CM-type curriculum? I ask this because those skills you mentioned can be difficult for children to get if they have not been learning that way in the past. I agree with the pp about Beyond probably being too light for a fourth grader, but you could supplement it. Are you using Bigger for her LA and math studies as well? You could just continue using Bigger for those areas, as well as Science. Add in DITHOR for reading, and I think you would have a nice fit.
hth,
Laura

[momto5blessings]

Thanks so much for the input!
Yes this is the first year that we have worked on the CM skills that are so important...I am going to use other L Arts, Dithor and just the history portion of Beyond I think. The content is SO rich in Bigger (I really was surprised) and my 10, almost 11 yob and I are getting tons from it. (I am also using a different L Arts, Math, etc with him). I just wanted to be sure that Beyond wasn't way "lower" as far as content for her. Because we live overseas, I have really neglected American history with my kids, not good I know! So we are working on it this year!

Thanks so much
Pamela

[my3sons]

It sounds like you've figured out a plan that fits your goals, so I'll just ditto that CM skills take awhile to teach, but they are outstanding and worth spending time to do. When you get to Bigger later then, you can add the extensions if you'd like.

In Christ,
Julie