Feeling a sigh of relief and now ?? re: PHFHG & BHFHG

[tiffanieh]

Okay...I think I have come full circle. I was pretty determined to return to HOD this fall, and continue to combine my children who will be (9 & 11...3rd and 5th grade) in PHFHG. However, I must admit that I had a gnawing feeling inside of me that I just could not make peace with (Holy Spirit...I hear YOU!!!) Anyways, We started Bigger (both boys) fall of 2010, but sadly only made it until about unit 10 and we let it fizzle. Sooooo...I'm thinking that I do PHFHG for my 5th grader (with extensions) and pick back up Bigger for my 3rd grader starting at Unit 10. I like the thought of starting at Unit 10 as well simply because we are doing a 4 day school week, and that will fit nicely with the amount of Bigger we have left. However, since it's been so long since we did Bigger, will this be a hurdle for my son to overcome? I'd really rather not re-study everything we did, but I will if you think it is very necessary.

Secondly...since neither program is really fully independent, how do I do each guide to it's fullest and not end up schooling 8 hours per day, or must I? I know my 5th grader will have science and independent history on his own, but the only thing I can think of that my 3rd grader can possibly do on his own will be his cursive...even that I really need to sit by him, coaching him to form the letters correctly. So I'm trying to wrap my brain around jumping back and forth between boys and guides effectively.

Also...I'd really like our bible time to be together. In that case, should we just do Preparing's Bible time together? And if so...would my younger son just always follow big brother's bible into CtC too (when he is then do Preparing) and so forth??

[frankesense]

Have you considered putting them both in Bigger right where you left off, only now adding in the Bigger ext. for the older student and having him still do LA, dictation and math at his own level? The extensions for the Bigger program are written for 4th and 5th graders, so your oldest son could still fit in that guide. You could also make some of the Bigger guide more independent for the older one by having him complete the science portion on his own as well as the extensions.

Stephanie

[tiffanieh]

Thank you for your response. I thought about that for a nanosecond however, I just purchased ALL Preparing, REALLY feel that it is the level my 5th grader should be at (really don't want him going "backwards" in his capabilities...really think he could do CtC, but I bought all of Preparing thinking we were going to do that combined, and think it would be a good year helping him to get better at written narrations before moving forward to CtC) So I say all that to say, that I really think my son would do best in Preparing, although it would certainly be easier for us to do Bigger.

[tiffanieh]

Bump! I'd really love some more thoughts...

Also...after looking at Bigger more deeply...I really think I want to do the Character studies in the Bible...I guess perhaps I should do separate bible for each?? hmmm

[deltagal]

Bump! I'd really love some more thoughts...

Also...after looking at Bigger more deeply...I really think I want to do the Character studies in the Bible...I guess perhaps I should do separate bible for each?? hmmm

The Bible in my Bigger still remains one of my all-time favorite HOD experiences. It is sooooooo good.