Well I was pretty positive that Preparing would be just the right fit for us, but I am now having 2nd thoughts and am sooo torn about where to begin. Let me give a little background. I have ds who turned 10 last Oct. and dd who turned 8 last Dec. We began hs'ing in K using A Beka for everything. Grammar, phonics, reading was heavily covered until last year --our first "fun and happy" year of homeschooling when I gave up my "type-A, school-at-home" style of homeschooling and made the switch to MFW using Exploring Countries and Cultures. We used Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Languages Lessons, which most of you prob. know, is a HUGE change from A Beka Language. But, we enjoyed the gentleness of it and it allowed for us to all really "enjoy" one another again and the time we spent doing school. I thank God for MFW in that respect. Now, I'm feeling that HOD will be a better fit for us in the upcoming years. Here are my concerns btw Bigger and Preparing:
-Bigger would give us a year of American History that we have not been able to thoroughly delve into before. I worry that if we wait to cover it, well the wait will be a long one before we do! lol
-Bigger may be closer to 8 yr.old dd's grammar level than Preparing is as she has not had much coverage of basic parts of speech yet, though she is an AVID and EXEPTIONAL reader and actually LOVES to write -in cursive -dictation, copywork, etc. and does it very well. However, her last formal grammar experience was using A Beka Language in 1st grade and some A Beka 2nd grade level.
-I'm wondering if Bigger may be too light for 10 yr. old ds. in terms of work-load??? Not that I want to weigh him down with work, but I do want to keep him challenged.
-Bigger seems to be more on ds's emotional/mental level than Preparing. I have one of those kind-hearted, wear's his heart on his sleeve, sensitive boys that get's easily disturbed about the harder issues of life. I had to paraphrase A LOT in many of the topics we covered during ECC because, if I didn't he would dwell on it and worry about it for days afterwards. I wonder if the reading material in Bigger may be a better fit for him in this level.
-On the flip-side, ds is super sharp in areas like Science, Math, Geography. For example, in MFW-ECC, he LOVED Properties of Ecosystems, which is an upper grade level book. He already new all of the names and locations of all of the oceans and continents before we started and now knows all of the countries. He just eats that stuff up. Most of it, he just came along with us for the ride.
He's currently using Teaching Textbooks Math 6 in the 4th grade. Again, I worry that he won't be challenged enough.So that's my dilemma...Do I sound incoherent? LOL Any help and suggestions would be sooo appreciated!
