Yes, Bigger Hearts is a very full program! Have you seen the first week of plans? Here is a link to that:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/BHFHG-first-week.pdf
You could get a great feel for what your dc will be doing in Bigger Hearts by printing off the first week of plans, as well as the "Introduction" which is at this link:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/pdf/BHFHG- ... -07-11.pdf
Even though I've been using HOD for 8 years, I still reread the "Introduction" for guides I've already taught as it reminds me of all that we will accomplish in a year.
I get so excited then - we do so much with HOD! Nothing is a throw away assignment. Each and every part of each and every box meets either an academic or Biblical goal! I know many books introduction's are kind of ho - hum, not so enlightening, but HOD's Introductions are worth a careful read. For example, when you look at what's included in a guide and see Storytime read alouds, you may think, 'oh I know what that's all about, me just reading some books out loud, but when you read BHFHG's Introduction you see the academic goals of the Storytime box:
*Day 1: introduce and study different types of literature
*Day 2: model narration to foster comprehension
*Day 3: identify and analyze a different story element for each genre
*Day 4: relate personally to one Godly character trait, compare Biblical and book characters, and make a bookmark as a reminder of the trait
*Day 5: practice narration by retelling the story
That sheds a whole new light on what read alouds in Bigger Hearts are all about!
Every box of plans is that way. HOD does not waste a minute of our time.
Yes, BHFHG will be enough for your 9 yo. If you have an advanced, independent, avid reader, you could have your 9 yo do the Extension Package readings and assignments, but I'd probably start without it and add it if you wanted to later. You could have your 9 yo do R & S English 3 if that student knows basic parts of speech and is ready for diagramming. Likewise, you can give the free Singapore Math placement test at
http://www.singaporemath.com to see which level to use. Your older student can do dictation instead of spelling, and the poetry copywork as well. Just be sure to look at the placement chart carefully, and if your dc place in BHFHG, then by all means, it will be more than enough.
HTH!
In Christ,
Julie