Advice from the experienced please

[ninipelley]

Loving HOD this yr...
My dd is 7 1/2 , started Bigger. I think "A 1st book in American Hx" and "Science in Colonial America" seemed pretty dry and hard to grasp for her.
She's in 2nd grade. We never did Beyond so I went to Beyond for now, LOVES history but the rest is too easy so now we are using Spelling and Math from Bigger.
So here's my question....does the Bigger History/Science get better or more used to the style? We love the Small Square Series. Should we stick with Bigger?
Or use Beyond for History and Science and all the rest Bigger? Will it make a difference down the road to be on different books?
Please help ladies!!!

[Kathleen]

I'd stick with one guide for the history, its related activities/skills, science, Bible study, poetry. But, then it's really easy to use another guide for the basics - math, English, spelling/dictation! For this year, if you go with Beyond and then use the math, English, dictation from Bigger, you'd be just fine. The following year, you'll have the math schedule already in the appendix of Bigger. You'd need the Preparing guide for the next level of dictation and the English sechedule. THEN, the following year in Preparing, you'd have everything you need a level up either in the daily box or appendix. So, you're set! Does that make sense??

There are a lot of moms who customize this way - especially when they're wanting to combine kids.

I really think that with a little time, you'll love the readings in Bigger, too. You'll have the best luck with that if your child is placed correctly though, so another year may be just what you need. They do require a higher level of listening, but we loved them here! Bigger was our 1st HOD experience with my oldest, and we made some wonderful memories! Science in Colonial America was probably our least favorite science book in Bigger, if we were going to rank them. I personally LOVED the Pioneer Sampler. And Grant would probably have picked John Audubon as his favorite. I think you'll really enjoy the science, too!

Kathleen

[water2wine]

Agreeing with Kathleen. Bigger is an acquired taste at first with some of the older reading. But I will tell you those are the books my kids would not let me put away when we were done with the program because they wanted to read them again on their own. I think some of it is being of the right maturity to acquire the taste if that makes sense. Bigger is a great program. I would not miss it but make sure you are ready for it when you get there. We are doing Bigger again this year with the next set of kids.

[Tree House Academy]

I agree... have her stick with Bigger overall and I bet you will come around to loving the history readings. Do you read them to her? If so, you can always stop to explain in more common terms for her. My older son did Bigger when he was 10 and it was not an issue for him. He loved the readings. My younger son turns 7 today and I know he would no be ready for Bigger yet mainly due to the older readings.

[Tansy]

I would stick to one guide because Carrie uses the History as the backbone for much of science, poetry, geography etc. So much sticks to it. I would keep it together. As for the reading I'm doing them Now with my 8 year old. Her grasp of the english language is good but it doesn't contain all these extra words! So one i Stop when ever I think she won't know and explain what the word meant and 2 she can interrupted me when ever she doesn't understand something or can't figure out what it means. Its been working fine that way if a bit choppy.

[Carrie]

ninipelley,

The ladies are doing a great job of helping you! One thing I'm wondering is whether the skills that go along with the history readings in Beyond seem too easy for your daughter, or whether those seem to be about right as well as the readings. The reason I ask is if the entire left side of the Beyond guide seems to be a good fit, then you should remain there and just beef up the 3R's with the Bigger Hearts language arts and math. If, however, the skills on the left side of the Beyond guide seem too easy and the skills on the left side of the Bigger Hearts guide are a better fit, then it would be better to move back to Bigger Hearts and let her grow into the Bigger Hearts readings (knowing the skills are on target).

Typically, with a 7 year old, I'm inclined to suggest Beyond Little Hearts to give kiddos a chance to grow in the writing and listening areas that are so important for Bigger Hearts. However, if you have a child who is very strong in the 3R's and doesn't mind writing, then Bigger may be fine too.

Let us know what you're thinking when you get a chance!

Blessings,
Carrie