Bigger with 8 and 10 year-olds?

[wertzeemom]

Hello again! I was on the board last year. We were going to homeschool, but circumstances changed at the VERY last minute, unfortunately. Well, we are on board (God willing) for next year and very excited! I had planned on using BHFHG this year for my 7 and 9 yo daughters who are now in 2nd and 4th grade. My DH and I were really into the US history and liked the program overall. I would LIKE to use it next year for my girls who are now 10 (March birthday) and 8 - 3rd and 5th grades - with extensions for my older daughter. She is an excellent reader, but it takes some pushing to get her to read much. My 8 yo struggles with reading, so I think that going any higher than Bigger would be difficult for her. Has anyone combined their kids in Bigger at these ages, and how did it work? Are the activities enough and are the extension books challenging enough to interest a 10 1/2 yo (would-be 5th grader)? Thanks in advance!

[my3sons]

I'm so glad you are going to get to homeschool this year, and Bigger Hearts is sure to satisfy! I'm on my second trip through Bigger Hearts with my middle ds, and enjoying it still. Bigger Hearts is a meaty program and will be just fine for your 8 and 10 yo. I have not done the extensions, but I remember thinking they were way above my oldest ds's head when we did Bigger Hearts with him, and he was a very early reader and writer. I would have your older do the extension follow-ups suggested at the start of the Appendix, and up the LA and Math as needed, possibly by using the right side/Appendix of PHFHG for your oldest if need be. But, I think your kiddos will be just fine with BHFHG!

In Christ,
Julie

[inHistiming]

We used Bigger when my dd and ds were 8.5 and 10.5 and it was great! I read some of the ext. aloud to both of them and had him do some on his own...either way it went well. They both loved the stories, history, science, etc. I would say you should be fine.

[wertzeemom]

Aaah -- so encouraging. Thanks! My husband and I were discussing it last night and we think that's the best path to take, but I wanted to get some input from someone who has actually DONE it! I also have a 3 yo whom I think will enjoy tagging along in the activities. I plan on doing grade-level math and LA, but just haven't chosen them yet. I plan on doing penmanship a year below grade-level next year because they do NOTHING with handwriting in PS - my 2nd grader (and a lot of others I've seen) doesn't even use proper spacing between words. It's all about churning out those test results, truly. I'm also very excited about the poetry in Bigger. There's no poetry appreciation in PS, either . Now I can't wait to get started -- woo hooo!

[Carrie]

wertzeemom,

It sounds like you have a good plan in place for using Bigger Hearts. We pray you will enjoy it as much as we have!

You'll want to make sure to add a higher level of math, dictation, DITHR, grammar, and possibly writing for your 5th grader to make sure to raise the levels of the 3 R's.

Blessings,
Carrie

[3musketeers]

Has anyone combined their kids in Bigger at these ages, and how did it work? Are the activities enough and are the extension books challenging enough to interest a 10 1/2 yo (would-be 5th grader)? Thanks in advance!

Hi wertzeemom,

The other ladies have given you everything you need to begin your Bigger journey. I just wanted to quickly chime in with the encouragement that my boys 10 and 8 did Bigger with extensions for the older this past school year. (we also had a 3/4 yr old that started LHTH mid year) We all could not have had a better school year. You and your children will love it.

My younger son was also a struggling reader. We started him in the middle of the emergent readers (I looked through the selctions and began him at what I thought he could handle then followed the schedule). He progressed through those with flying colors. He enjoyed practicing his reading skills with wonderful real books. Then at the end of the year we tried out a few genres from DITHOR to get him started with that for next year.

My older son who is an excellent reader simply read the extension books on his own and then orally narrated them to me. We tried to do the written narration and notebooking with extensions but found that they were a little too much for my son who was at the young end of the extensions age. No worries for you. All of the extensions are explained thoroughly in the T. guide. They are very flexible. If you feel you want to beef it up, then simply do all that Carrie has suggested (very meaty stuff) if you want to lighten, just leave off a few books or adjust the narrating/notebooking to what your child feels comfortable with.

The books were all well loved. My boys really delved into them and drew out so much with timelining, vocabulary, notebooking, art projects, games, and hands on activities. Each subject is chalked full of wonderful things to be uncovered.

They both did their own math and language arts. I loved the convenience of having them together for Bible, Science, and History.

You will find that Bigger will fit both your dc well. They will learn so much and really enjoy the process.

We are on to Preparing this fall for the older guys and LHFHG for my younger one possibly in January. I look forward to hearing more of your Bigger adventures on the board.

Blessings,
Cindy