Preparing or Bigger

[billswife]

I'm trying to figure out where to place my son. He will be ten years old and in fourth grade. This will be our first year homeschooling. He's been in the public school. It's a little hard to tell where he would be. If I ask him if he knows something he will say yes and then not be able to figure out the example I give him(especially in language arts). He is very smart and at the top of his class. He loves math and science. I'm thinking he is probably up to the challenge of Preparing, but I don't want him to get frustrated right away. He's already not to thrilled about homeschooling. Any advice?


Thanks

Ann

[inHistiming]

Ann,

I'm wondering, have you looked at the placement chart? If not, here is the link: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-your-child.php
This will help you to 'see' where your child falls with his abilities, and where he would place best.

I will be using Bigger... with my 8 and 10 year olds when we start our new school year, probably mid-summer. I ordered the extension pack to go with it (for 4th and 5th graders learning with younger siblings) that includes extra reading on his level in Science and History. My son probably could have fit into Preparing...but I wanted to keep my two oldest together so I would only be doing 2 programs as opposed to 3. My younger ds is doing LHTH already. If your son fits into Preparing... on the chart then that would be best for you. I just wanted to point out the extension pack (in case you had not seen it) if your son happens to fit into Bigger... after you look at the chart. HTH

[Carrie]

Ann,

I'd also love to see where your son fits in the placement chart on the link that InHisTiming gave you. I know it can be hard to know what your son can do placement-wise since he's coming from PS, so here's a few other things that would help us out.

For math, it would really help to give him the Singapore placement test found here: http://www.singaporemath.com/Placement_Test_s/86.htm

As far as reading, if you can share the names of a few books that your son is currently reading independently that would help us understand his level in reading.

As far as writing, is he able to copy sentences without frustration, or is he able to write paragraphs or write creatively yet?

Since he's coming from public school, he'll need a little time to decompress, so I'm thinking that the pace of "Bigger.." would probably be more well-suited for that. But, your answers to the questions above will help us know for sure.

If you get a chance to pop back in with a little more information, we can help you better! Just trust that using HOD is the easy part, once we get the correct placment out of the way.

Blessings,
Carrie

[billswife]

Carrie,
I had him take the Singapore placement test. He would start at 3a. He is currently reading "On My Honor" by Marion Bauer. He chose this book for AR at school. He likes to read Magic Tree House books and easy books about science for fun. He can copy sentences(doesn't like to). He does write creatively. He makes up his own short stories and books. I think you may be right. He will need to decompress a little bit.

Ann

[Kathleen]

Ann,

I don't think I've welcomed you yet, so welcome! I don't have near the experience as some of the other moms here do...as I'm pretty new to homeschooling, too. I did preshool with my oldest and then sent him to a small Christian school for 2 years and brought him home again this last year. He would have loved doing HOD this year. We are planning on doing Bigger whenever I decide to start up again...later this summer or fall. It looks great, and I'd lean towards making school really enjoyable for your son this year. I think Bigger would probably have a lot that your son hasn't covered in school, too, but the pace may be more easy-going. Although, after what you've shared about your son, Carrie may say he would do better in Preparing. (I'll stop now as I'm sure I'm NOT helping you... )

Glad you're here! And, what a blessing that you found HOD at the beginning of your homeschooling!
Kathleen

[my3sons]

Hi Ann - Welcome to the HOD boards! I think that starting with Bigger... would be a good idea. We're doing Bigger... now, and I think your son would really enjoy it! It's got so many wonderful hands-on activities balancing out the reading of great living books. I think the hands-on part is often missing in ps, and that he would really love that especially!

Also, you can choose whatever books you want to have him read for the reading part, using Drawn into the Heart of Reading, which is a reading choice for Bigger... There is a book list you can look at for ideas in choosing the books, but that will allow you to keep him challenged in his reading without having to challenge him too much with writing.

I know you are going to enjoy homeschooling with HOD so much! He'll learn to love it - just give it a little time! Bigger... takes around 3 1/2 hours to do, so he'll have plenty of time for being outdoors, playing, and exploring his interests. He'll love that part of it too!!! Keep on posting here - we love to get to know you and help out!

In Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

Hi Anne. I pulled four of my kids out of ps two years ago. One thing I found was that we really needed to back track. There were a lot of big holes in their learning I had no idea were there. For instance my dd whose last grade level was third could not multiply or regroup yet she always got great report cards. I spent a fair amount of time trying to find what they did know. We back tracked and that really helped. You do eventually catch up and even excel grade level, so it is really worth taking it slow.

Also since public schools tend to teach social studies, the how does it feel to be, more than actual history that can be weak also. So Bigger would be a great place to start. It is in no way a weak program. My kids are loving it! And can I just say congratulations for finding such a great place to start right off the bat with HOD. We floundered and would have been so much better off if we had started with HOD.

[Carrie]

Anne,

From what you've shared, I also agree that doing "Bigger..." is a good place for your son. It will give your son a little time to decompress as well. The schedule for Math 3A/3B is the Appendix of "Bigger...", so you'll just follow that.

You could also look into the Extension Pack readings, if you think your son is up to reading that level of books. We have the level listed under each book on the packages page, linked here:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/bigger-hearts-packages.php

Otherwise, you can do "Bigger..." without the extension pack too. It just depends on how much your son likes to read. If it's a battle, then I would omit the Extension Package. If he devours books, I would get the Extension Package.

You'll also want to add Drawn into the Heart for Reading..... You will most likely want to start in Level 2/3, and move into 4/5 next year after you've gotten used to DITHR.

Depending on how much formal grammar your son has had, you may want to move up to Rod and Staff 3 for English, although that does begin diagramming. So, if you want a gentler start, you could just do the Rod and Staff 2 as scheduled. It is considered advanced in its scope and sequence.

I would also have your son do the studied dictation passages in the Appendix of "Bigger..." for spelling. Even if they seem simple, the practice of studied dictation is very helpful in overall spelling. My son knew most of the words in the passages, yet I put him through the passages this year to get the skill of it down and to have practice fixing words in his mind. It's better to be successful, then to jump ahead and frustrate kiddos.

If your son needs review in cursive, you could also have him do "Cheerful Cursive" as scheduled.

Ask, if you have other questions, the ladies are tremendous about helping one another!

Blessings,
Carrie