Planning for What to do Next

[Mommamo]

We started LHFHG with my then 4.5 in May. I was planning on going slowly, one side a day, for a while since she is so young. Well... we actually ended up going full speed since it was such a perfect amount for her and math is her favorite subject so she didn't want it just every other day, and she really enjoys the Burgess books, and she wanted those every day too. So here we are in Unit 20 and it's just October! I'm starting to plan for what I'm going to do next. We are for sure going to do Beyond... so that's not even an issue. We're planning to do year 'round school since my dd (who has SPD, ADHD, and some anxiety issues) does WAY better with a routine. Even a week off REALLY throws her off, because she's never knowing what to expect. So since she will be SO young (this isn't even technically supposed to be her K year because of her birthday), I was wondering if you wonderful ladies thought it might be reasonable to try doing Beyond at half speed. As far as the math goes, I'll just do a game with her on the days we don't technically have math (we're doing RightStart, so there are lots of games there!) and she'll probably still want me to read her the story..... But I thought this might help to keep the workload at what we're used to with LHFHG and that way we could make this last a little longer! This way she would start bigger sometime after she turns 7.

I'm not worried at all about content, or attention span, or what have you. She's perfectly able to keep up with all of that. You wouldn't even believe the kinds of things she was interested in when she was only 3! I'm mainly just not wanting to rush through things. I also don't want to be in a position where she's 7 and has finished all the way through Bigger...! I also don't want to switch to anything else because I LOVE HOD, and she does too! She always wants math first but then she immediately ask if we will be doing Little Hearts next. So sweet!

If this plan doesn't sound good, please feel free to give any suggestions you can think of.

[inHistiming]

I think if your dd is able to handle the pace, with understanding, then you're probably fine. If you do get to a point where that changes you can always slow down again. Also, if you finish LHFHG or Beyond...earlier and don't want to move on to Bigger..yet, you could add some unit studies on some her favorite topics..animals, foods of the world, history-related topics, famous composers, a state(s) study, etc. Many times you can find FREE ones online. As a matter of fact, I've downloaded many for free and they are just sitting on my desktop in a folder, waiting for a time when we can use them! Just my thoughts.

[mamas4bugs]

We started Beyond with my ds when he was 6 1/2. He absolutely loves it. I think he would have been fine to use it at half speed when he was 5 1/2.

The language arts is the part he would have had a hard time with at a younger age, I think. The children do copywork--copying part of a poem every day. They also have spelling words. Once a week they are very gently introduced to grammar. So far we have talked about commands, questions, fragments and complete sentences, subjects and predicates, capitols and punctuation.

A few of the science concepts (like surface tension) might have been over his head. We are not doing the history in Beyond (he's following along with his brother in Preparing), so I'm not sure about that. You pick your own storytime books in the 9 genres, and the reading box gives you the option of using your own phonics program if you would like. There is some gentle geography, and of course the Bible study. There is art, which I think my ds would have been fine with last year.

HTH some. I'm sure others will have suggestions.

[my3sons]

We also did Beyond... with my oldest ds when he was 5 1/2. He was an early writer and thus enjoyed doing the writing in Beyond... even though he was younger. If your dd enjoys writing already, that's great, but if not, you could just require less of her in that area in Beyond... until she grows into it. Maybe she could do half the spelling words, and half the copywork (or none) of the poetry, etc.? Doing it half-speed is a great idea and will give you a chance to tailor it best to your dd as needed. I think you have a great plan, and your dd sounds like she will love it! That is the beauty of homeschooling - we can do whatever fits our dc best based on their needs - not on their ages.

In Christ,
Julie

[Mommamo]

I like the idea of having some time to do unit studies at some point, just here and there. I too have some saved on my computer! I'm glad to hear that it sounds like it will be easily tailored to fit her. It's funny, I always hang back from giving her writing to do because she never liked coloring or anything like that, and she totally likes the writing, so by this spring, when we'd likely start Beyond... she'd probably enjoy that aspect of it! If not, we could cut it back a little bit.

I'm glad to know that doing it half speed might work. I was even thinking about doing it half speed for a while, and then finishing up at full speed. That way she'd ease into the workload required in Bigger... My fear was just getting to Preparing... when she was only 7! But she won't always be going at this kind of pace either. She is a hard one to keep up with!

[Carrie]

Ashley,

The ladies have done a great job of brainstorming options with you! I agree that if your daughter is doing fine with LHFHG, she should be able to go right into Beyond when she finishes LHFHG (as the programs in HOD do a good job of preparing children for what comes next).

You could easily start Beyond at half-speed, and then work up to full speed when she feels ready. If her 3 R's are advanced, then she'll do fine in Beyond at an earlier age than what is recommended.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Mommamo]

Thanks for all the help everyone! I realize that it's still a few months until we'll be done, but I like to be able to budget for what we're going to do.

I'm so glad that you ladies think this will work! And she definitely is advanced in the three R's. She gets on to you if you use poor grammar like saying "You did good" instead of "You did well," or you do things like call children "kids." Now that you ladies have given me reassurance about Beyond.... I think it will be a great fit. And I can always tweak the writing down a bit if I need to. I have a really hard time with going on to a 1st/2nd grade curriculum when she will only be 5.5, but that's the beauty of homeschooling-we can adjust things for our children in order to get the perfect fit! Great. Now I'll start either saving up or buying a bit at a time.