when to do guides

[sally525]

we are now doing beyond with my 7(1st) and my 9(3rd) my question is do i go on to bigger or wait a year? see i would like to keep them together, using the extensions with my older. everyone seems to think it is best to start preparing when in 4th grade i do not want to rush my younger one, beyond was a perfect fit for him. and i think he will be able to handle bigger with no problem. any suggestions?

[deltagal]

Keep on moving forward, but move to 1/2 pace. There are quite a few posts on Bigger 1/2 pace.

[8arrows]

I would just keep going until (and if) there is a problem. You could slow down at that point. Why fix something that isn't broke? I really like having mine combined too. I tend not to worry so much about the "perfect" fit, but instead focus on the best fit for my family. Deltagal has a great plan if you start Bigger and sense that it is too much for the younger one.

[Robbi]

I'm doing Bigger next year for 2nd grade with my DD, she'll turn 8 just before. We are going full speed in Beyond right now but only 4 days a week so it'll be oct/nov when we start Bigger and plan on doing it 4 days a week too.

[psreit]

My daughter will be doing Bigger in the fall. She will be 9(grade 3). It's the best fit, so that is where we are. We probably will do half speed to start and see how she does, but, if need be, I will keep her half speed and take two years(3rd and 4th grades) to do it. So, don't worry about grade level. Like the pps said, do what is best for your child.

[MomtoJGJE]

I've said before that I believe Bigger is a good 3rd grade program and Preparing 4th, etc. With that said, because we school year round, I just go from one guide to another because the guides prepare them for the next one.

So my current 8yo has been doing Preparing since January. She's technically 3rd grade, but I tell her she's doing 4th grade work. My second started Beyond just after Christmas, right about the time she turned 7, and will be starting Bigger before she's 8 (early 2nd grade).... so she'll be in CTC likely around the time she starts 4th grade.

The only thing I make sure of is that for the last 10 weeks or so of every guide they are able to complete ALL of a days work in a day, without cutting out anything. (in other words all the copywork, all the vocab words, everything) Then I start the first couple of weeks in each guide half speed so they can learn what to do with each box.

[Carrie]

The ladies have given you great advice! I agree that one guide prepares a child well for the next guide in line. If Beyond has been a good fit for your pair, then it is likely that Bigger will be too. You may wish to begin Bigger Hearts at half-speed for a couple of weeks to train your kiddos in the new aspects of the guide.

Then, you can bump up to full-speed. Since you have a 7 year old, you could consider doing Bigger just 4 days a week with both kiddos. This would mean that you would go 9 additional weeks into the next school year to finish Bigger, before beginning Preparing. This would allow your young one to grow up a bit, without holding your older child back. Plus, you'd get a free day every week, which is a huge blessing!

I'd love to hear your thoughts when you get a chance!

Blessings,
Carrie