Placement - bigger vs preparing?

[Themooreheads]

My 8 year old is third grade. We didn't do HOD last year so I decided to put her in Bigger (the one she didn't do last year)so that she wouldn't miss American History and also because it seemed like there would be significantly more writing in Preparing, which is challenging for her. We are doing Singapore 3AB, DITHOR, dictation rather than spelling. I'm finding the English a bit easy for her (this is our first week). I am rethinking my decision to put her in Bigger rather than Preparing. Can I do English 3 or should I just move her to preparing since we are essentially trying to make Bigger more challenging while covering American History?

[StephanieU]

Don't slip ahead in Roof and Staff! Level 2 is fairly easy. Level 3 isn't hard. But Level 4? That is middle school level! It includes diagramming prepositional phrases, etc - things I learned in honors 7th grade English in the late 80s/ early 90s. My daughter made it through Level 4 last year for 4th grade, but it wasn't worth the struggle! I wish I hadn't pushed her ahead in Rod and Staff. Doing Level 4 over 5th and 6th grade like Carrie has planned (and then level 5 in 7th, Level 6 in 8th, Level 7 for 9th and 10th, and Level 8 to finish out high school) would have been better. It is my plan for my other kids!

[Rice]

I agree with Stephanie. Enjoy easy for a while. Nothing wrong with review and having one subject be easier, laying a great foundation for something that ramps up quickly. Much better to enjoy it (freebie!) than to get to a point where it's too hard and is a frustration later on. HOD's goal is to finish R&S 6 in 8th grade. If you count backwards from that (with or without taking 2 years for Level 4), then you'll be on track or even ahead a year if you do Level 2 for 3rd.

Blessings,

[Nealewill]

I also wouldn't necessarily worry about putting her in level 3. Like the other ladies mentioned, level 3 isn't hard. But level 4 is a jump and level 5 is even more so. In addition, the higher up in level you go the more writing assignments they have. I would just use level 2 this year since it goes nicely with Bigger. Your dd is well placed in that level and she will finish all the grammar on time anyway.

[Themooreheads]

Thank you for your advice, it is very much appreciated!!!