Who uses bigger for fifth grade?

[Maadrose]

Planning on using bigger with my soon to be 9yo and my 10yo starting in August. 10yo saw the cover today and said, "I'm not 7-9." lol small laugh from me. But I told her it has "extensions" which make it appropriate for up to fifth grade. What do you think? Is it truly appropriate for fifth grade? I will use most of the extensions but not all and I feel like I'm stretching it with her because in all honesty, she places in CTC.of course she will do her level of math and DITHR 4/5 and first language lessons 4. we studied ancients this year and I truly can't afford to purchase it now. Plus I don't want I spend another year on ancient history.

[MicheleW]

I am just finishing using Bigger for my 5th grade DD this year. She is 10 (will be 11 in July.) She is a bright girl and reads at or above grade level. We started our first year with HOD (her 4th grade year) in Preparing. I knew she placed better in Bigger (for writing and narrations), but I was trying to combine with an older brother (save money) and I thought I could tweak it. It was a frustrating year (even the science notebooking assignments were too difficult--too much writing and drawing). Preparing is a fabulous curriculum and I am so sad that used it when she wasn't quite ready. Anyway, I knew she could not move on to CTC for 5th grade, so I decided to go back and do Bigger. We hadn't done any American history and had done quite a bit of ancient history in other curricula. (I did get the protest about the "7-9 year olds" on the cover, but I dug out the catalog and showed her that the extensions make it for 10-11 year olds and she was satisfied.)

She does Abeka for math, so we moved on to 5th grade there. We studied the poetry in Bigger and she liked that. She did R&S 4 and reading & Storytime books on her level. For science, I had her read the science books, but we didn't do the experiments. We added Apologia Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day and did the projects out of that. (I had noticed that Astronomy is used in RTR, Land Animals in CTC, and CTC also studies birds and plants, so I decided Swimming Creatures was the book to do.) She did most of the history and science readings on her own. I read the Apologia book and the extension history books. We did dictation out of her brother's RTR book (she's just starting level 5). She does Awana for Bible, and we also added Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. Most of the activities in the guide (history projects, art, geography...) were beneath her. She already knew all that, so we just skipped those. She does an art class at co-op and geography is well covered in other guides.

We learned a lot about American History and I am glad she was able to get that introduction to it, so that it will not all be brand new when she gets to Rev2Rev. I am also glad that she will be in middle school when she gets to CTC. I have heard such great things about that guide and am excited that she will be more mature when she gets to it.

The only thing I wish I had done differently was to either add in written narrations (which preparing on up does) or add in a separate writing program, but she does oral narrations and I am sure next year she will "catch up" on her writing. Otherwise, it was a great year and I think she learned as much as any 5th grader. All in all, I probably would have preferred to do Bigger for 4th grade, but like I said, she had a very full year and I am so glad we did Bigger rather than finding some other curriculm to fill in before CTC.

HTH,

[Maadrose]

Your year sounds like it was very profitable. I will be adding in IEW writing for my 10yo. It was encouraging to hear about how you tweaked the program to fit your daughter. Thank you!

Anyone else use bigger for grade 5? I'd really love to hear your experience!

[sahervey]

I'm not sure how helpful I'll be, but here goes. I combined three kids into bigger this year for our first year of homeschooling. (Gasp!) I had a 10 yr 5th grade girl, 9 yr 4 th grade son, and 7yr first grader. My 5th grader could've been in 6th grade and my 1st grader could have been in 2nd grade. They both have late August birthdays.

I thought it went well, as far as the 5th grader goes. I don't think she was bored and I think she learned a great deal. You will know if it isn't enough or if it's too much for your child. We know you want the best for your kids, you will adjust as necessary. We did the extensions with the older two and I'm glad. They both love to read, so it worked. The only thing I need to work on is making sure they come to me to narrate what they've just read. we sort of got out of that habit pretty quickly.

feel free to email me with specific questions if you like. Sahervey@notmail.

[my3sons]

I think this makes sense, unless your soon to be 9 yo places in PHFHG. Then, I would try to combine them in PHFHG, even just starting with the Economy Package. HOD is wonderful about working out payment plans, so that would be something to consider if PHFHG is a better placement overall for both of them. If, on the other hand, your younger of the pair fits squarely in Bigger Hearts, and you want to combine the two of them, then using Bigger Hearts with the extensions for your older is a terrific plan! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[leimarie]

We'll be using it for my 5th grader starting in the next month or so. We had started Preparing with him last fall but with our year being what it was we needed to give him a step back (we completed 6 units of Preparing) so that we could have a solid foundation of the CM methods. We will be using the extension suggestions as well as a few additions that the whole family participates in. In having all the guides in front of me I see that I can easily make it work very successfully for 5th grade without it being "too much" and certainly able to keep him appropriately challenged.

[Maadrose]

This is my dilemma my soon to be 9yo does place in preparing! I'm only going with bigger because I worked so hard to collect it all for the 9&7yo only to discover it will be too much for him. So he will be in beyond. I just don't want to short change the 9&10yo. KWIM? I do have the history portion so maybe over the summer I could slowly collect the rest? Or get lucky and find one to borrow! LOL

[leimarie]

My 10yo (was 9 when we started Preparing) did technically place in Preparing, but once we actually started it the CM methods that were new to him, like written narration and dictation, were a little bit more of a challenge than I felt were really necessary at this point. I prefer to take it a little easy with a consistent but not overwhelming challenge so that I can help him really enjoy the work instead of just dragging his feet through it, so for us Bigger is the best choice. I feel like the extension options are going to do well to ease him into the expectations of Preparing. You do know your child best though, pray over the decision and He will help you make the right one. If it is to go with Preparing His provision will come.

[my3sons]

My 10yo (was 9 when we started Preparing) did technically place in Preparing, but once we actually started it the CM methods that were new to him, like written narration and dictation, were a little bit more of a challenge than I felt were really necessary at this point. I prefer to take it a little easy with a consistent but not overwhelming challenge so that I can help him really enjoy the work...

This is an excellent point worth real consideration! Whether dc are familiar with CM methods or not makes a difference in placement within HOD as well. Great thoughts!

In Christ,
Julie