What order for Beyond?

[Alison in KY]

I'm just starting Beyond with my 3 kids. I'm trying to get into a "groove" and give everyone attention and still get this done a bit after lunch. Is there a certain way the blocks should be ordered to be done? I didn't know if you started on the left page and went clockwise, then to the right, etc...or if you just do what you want to do...and if that's the case I just can't figure out the best way to begin.

Anyone have any ideas?

Alison in KY

[Carrie]

I know more moms will be along to answer your question, but in the meantime I'll link you to a scheduling thread that (while a bit overwhelming) is a real help too! Just look for the schedules pertaining to Beyond:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Blessings,
Carrie

[scrapsmith]

Alison,

I think when you begin a new program it is wise to "play around" with it a bit to see what works good for your family!! Here is what has worked well with my two...We begin with the Bible portion and then move to the history reading and finish out the left side of the plans...I then get my 6yo started on his math and then focus on my younger (doing LHTH). We then do our math activity, spelling words and poetry section. Usually, while ds is finishing his copywork, I finish with the youngest and LHTH. I then have a little break to tend to my 7mo old and then finish with our Emerging reader selection...Depending upon time, we either do our storytime then or often we do it right after lunch as has been a tradition since the kids were really little!!

I love this curriculum!! We just started with Beyond in January, so the first few days were a little tricky until I found a flow that works for my dc!! The best part is there is no "right" way to it!! Just fabulous content that you can order in whatever way fits your homeschool!! Enjoy!!

[Patience]

HOD is so nice because you can do the boxes in any order that works for you. I just started Beyond and am still tweaking it a bit, but generally this is what we've been doing. We work in chunks with breaks in between.

Block 1:- During or just after breakfast: Bible, History Reading, Poetry (reading, no writing).

Then clean up and then my older practices piano. Little-ers play.
(I allow some free time here so I can do some chores, and if I have important phone calls or work I need to do I will take some time here)

Block 2: Kids "warm up" with handwriting & 1 page of Miquon math.
I sit down at the table and we go through Language Arts (spelling, Reading lesson, english, poetry tablework) then do the Lower Left Box (Geography/Art/Science)

LUNCH & some free time either before or after, depending on the day. Littlest goes down for nap.

Block 3: Math, Storytime, Reading (my youngers will look at books, or sometimes I will read to them), my older will do her Dithor reading.
Outside time.

I hope this is helpful!

[Kathleen]

Hi Alison!

One thing that I learned from the moms here this year as we started out is that it's a good idea to "ease into the year". When we started out the year, I tried to do everything in the plans everyday, but sometimes it seemed like a bit much since we were new to a lot of it coming from a textbook background. I saw someone reccommend starting half-speed even for a little while. That helped us tremendously! (Even for just a couple of weeks.) I was able to help my ds learn the new skills he needed to learn, and know what was expected during the day. Now we're grooving along and have a good routine working for us!

We order our day quite similar to Eryn and Patience. Usually my oldest practices the piano and does something else independent (depending on what time he gets home from feeding calves with his dad at the farm). We have breakfast at 8ish. Then I take my oldest and do our history reading, poetry, Bible, & Hymn. Then we come downstairs and do the bottom left box in the plans (unless it's something that we can do on the floor upstairs, which in that case we do it right away). I do the math activity with him and he starts math, and does copywork & English, too. I leave him to work and do LHTH with my little 2. When that's done my oldest practices violin, the little 2 clean up the house and then they all get free time while mom exercises! (In the winter...when it's warmer, I start the day this way.)

Lunch

Phonics with the Allison while boys play.
Nap time for Alli and Garret, Grant and I do science, storytime, and DITHOR.

I know I'm not doing Beyond, but Bigger, so I hope this still helps you some. I think they still have many of the same "boxes".

Kathleen

[Alison in KY]

Thank you so much. One thing I've noticed with mine is that I really need to get those tough things done first while they are more attentive, so I know what I kinda need to get on with...but it's that juggle of having 3 non-independent kids and trying to get everyone balanced so one is working one on one with me while the others are doing something worthwhile. It's probably the hardest thing about homeschooling is setting my schedule and chore time. Anyway, does anyone else have any ideas? How do you fit in extras? It seems like I'm almost doing too much and my day is taking too long, so maybe I'm going overboard on some things. I'll try tweaking this week. Do you just fit in extras like typijng and foreign languages as they come, or is a foreign language scheduled in the program in the later grades.

Thanks for the nice responses, my power has been off for a week, so I'm just thrilled to be typing this

Alison in KY

[Carrie]

Alison,

This past thread may really help you:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2184

Blessings,
Carrie

[Patience]

Alison,

I'm not sure how old your kiddos are...Are they all in Beyond together? That might help us give you more specific advice

[Alison in KY]

Woops, they are 9, 7, and 5. I'm beefing up a few things for the 9 yr old...adding in abeka 3rd history and doing lots of reading. that's all I can think of right now.

Alison in KY

[inHistiming]

I'm not sure what extras you're adding, but I would not try to do all of the extras every day. Meaning, if you are doing a foreign language, typing, and nature study...I would rotate. Maybe do typing Tues. and Thurs., foreign language Mon. and Wed., and save nature study for Fridays. When you try to add too much it does make your days longer and I know for myself then I feel like I haven't accomplished much. As for chores, we each have our own chore chart. I have everything broken down for each child by time of day...or at least block of time. Like this:

DC 1:
A.m.
Shower
dress
eat breakfast
make bed
laundry
load dishwasher

P.M.
jammies
vacuum LR
brush teeth
sweep kitchen

There are chores that they do daily, then an extra chore or two each morning and evening. Right after morning chores are done my older 2 are supposed to go ahead and begin working on their english, math, and handwriting...because they just do a lesson a day in these subjects anyway. It may work differently for you if your dc is less independent. This allows me to work with younger ds or play a game with him, plus do chores, check email, etc. Obviously, this is our 'paper' schedule and it does not always flow as smoothly as I would like. Once they finish their independent work, we move into the rest of Bigger with the history readings, story time, notebooking, spelling,etc. Any of the things that involve me. Hopefully this will give you an idea of how you can do it. And I'm sure others with more experience and better suggestions will be along to help soon.