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Julie, My older dd did do Preparing while we used it for the 8 weeks or so with the extensions. I just became frustrated because ds was just letting my older dd answer all of the questions and there were times we had to wait for him to get his stuff done (it took him much longer) before we could go ...

I thought that my 2nd child ds (will be in 4th grade) would probably do better in Bigger this next year after not doing so well in Preparing last year (we quit after week 8-9)but after going over the placement chart and the samples I'm thinking that this year he fits better into Preparing. There is ...

Thanks Beth! That actually does help. I have looked at the samples but have not had the chance to get my hands on a Bigger manual to be able to look through the whole thing for myself to see everything that is covered and the progression that it makes to prepare the kids for the next year in Bigger....

Tried Preparing (only got to week 8) last year but it seemed a little too difficult for my ds (at the time was 9 and in 3rd grade) who struggled with narrations and written narrations. Even though it is a year later, I thought it would be better to start in Bigger this time in order to build up the ...

Are there any in the archives? I tried looking but was unsuccessful.

It's good to know that for most it only takes about an hour. With a 4th grader, a 1st grader, and a 3-year-old, that does not seem too overwhelming. I also like the fact that it is training the kids to work independently which is so important for those days when mom is sick or has to take another ki...

Thanks Ruthann. Just needed to know how much I would be needed in this program.

Thanks for the input. I thought it looked pretty good for a 7th grader but wasn't sure. I actually bought Apologia General Science for next year but am very concerned that we will end up in the same boat as you did with your 7th grader. I want to challenge my children without overwhelming. That can ...

Would this be sufficient for a 7th grader? My dd is not particularly the "sciency" type and just wondering if this would be enough or would we have to supplement...

For those who have used CTC with an older child, Bigger with another, and have a 1st grader doing his own work (this year, we are just going to really concentrate on the 3R's with this child), what does your schedule look like? Just wondering how doable something like this is? We tried Preparing wit...

At this level, about how much teacher time should I expect if I were to do this program with my dc? With having 4 kids, it is very important that I have enough time to spend with them all throughout the school day. Thanks!

We use Abeka, simply because that is what I have taught before and am comfortable with, although this year when teaching my dd to read I ditched the teacher's manual and just used the Handbook for Reading, the Letters and Sounds Workbook, and the little Kindergarten readers. It was easier and less s...

Wow! Job well done! She has a very creative mind.

and also using Preparing. The times in the DITHOR manual seem so long.

Thank you Julie and Carrie! I will check those sources out. I could read her some books, but after reading for school and to my other children, my voice tires so easily and I become hoarse very quickly. The lady who reads for Secret Garden does an awesome job really speaking in the Yorkshire brogue ...