Can't make up my mind..

[Shannon C]

So dd will be 7 in August and ds will be 5.5. We are starting LHFHG next week with both kids. I am wondering if I should start Beyond left side(she'll be doing right side starting next week) in the fall--we'll school through most of summer--or if I wait until we are done with all of LHFHG history first. My main concern is that we'll miss something chronologically if I jump into the the Beyond history. She'll still be listening into LHFHG history with ds, but will this be confusing if she's doing 2 time periods of American history at once or does it somewhat overlap? I feel like this sounds confusing. If anyone understands me, please advise! Also, we are very science oriented around here so I know dd will be more interested in Beyond science unless I add in something else like Apologia to the LHFHG. I would probably just choose to do Beyond science with both, skipping LHFHG science. I guess it's mostly history I'm concerned about. I just don't want to miss something or confuse my kids by leaving anything out!

Choices: Complete all of LHFHG with both kids together, dd doing only right side of Beyond, start Beyond with both whenever LHFHG is done

Start LHFHG with both kids next week, switch to all Beyond with dd in fall with dd continuing to listen in to LHFHG history

* most likely, the Beyond history would be done in the evening with dd after ds goes to bed so he would not always be listening in to Beyond which would mean that he would either skip Beyond and go into Bigger with dd the next cycle or we'd have to keep them separate

[Shannon C]

The other option would be to start dd in Beyond next week while also listening in with ds as long as history lessons aren't confusing. This might be ideal for us. I just realized that she may need that. We've gone through MFW 1st grade and she also did BJU 1st grade Heritage studies so she should be caught up on what is learned in LHFHG, but she'll catch it by listening in if she's missing anything.

[lmercon]

Hmmm...that's a lot to consider. I'm doing Beyond now. I checked back at the history for LHFHG and it looks like you could go up to around unit 23 before there would start to be overlap. Beyond spends a little time with early explorers and the Jamestown colony, but spends most of the time studying the pilgrims, which is early American colonization. You could do LGFHG with both until you get to American colonization, and then split them up from there. That would give her a good overview of history up to that time and then study more in depth with Beyond. I think after that it might be confusing for her to listen in to LHFHG because that program moves faster through time than Beyond.
hth,
Laura

[my3sons]

So dd will be 7 in August and ds will be 5.5. We are starting LHFHG next week with both kids. I am wondering if I should start Beyond left side(she'll be doing right side starting next week) in the fall--we'll school through most of summer--or if I wait until we are done with all of LHFHG history first. My main concern is that we'll miss something chronologically if I jump into the the Beyond history. She'll still be listening into LHFHG history with ds, but will this be confusing if she's doing 2 time periods of American history at once or does it somewhat overlap? I feel like this sounds confusing. If anyone understands me, please advise! Also, we are very science oriented around here so I know dd will be more interested in Beyond science unless I add in something else like Apologia to the LHFHG. I would probably just choose to do Beyond science with both, skipping LHFHG science. I guess it's mostly history I'm concerned about. I just don't want to miss something or confuse my kids by leaving anything out!

Choices: Complete all of LHFHG with both kids together, dd doing only right side of Beyond, start Beyond with both whenever LHFHG is done

Start LHFHG with both kids next week, switch to all Beyond with dd in fall with dd continuing to listen in to LHFHG history

* most likely, the Beyond history would be done in the evening with dd after ds goes to bed so he would not always be listening in to Beyond which would mean that he would either skip Beyond and go into Bigger with dd the next cycle or we'd have to keep them separate

Hi Shannon! I think you should do LHFHG with both for a week (finishing whatever you're doing for dd for LA and math), and then reflect on how that went. Or, if you are at a stopping point - or just ready for a change for dd with LA and Math anyway - get the Beyond Little Hearts guide and do the right side of those plans with dd right away, keeping ds and dd together for the left side of LHFHG. You could just do the LHFHG Storytime with them both.

Your dc will need to have separate LA and Math always anyway, so if you are wanting to keep them together, you'll want do do that through doing the left side of LHFHG this year, and the left side of BLHFHG together next year. I do not think your ds will be able to make the leap from LHFHG to Bigger Hearts for His Glory - that is truly a big leap! So, if you want to combine, looking ahead, you'll probably need to do the left side of LHFHG together.

Now, if you don't want to combine, you could just do LHFHG with ds and BLHFHG with dd. Your dd could just listen to the LHFHG history readings but not do the activities with them, up until Unit 23 - thanks, Laura, for laying the guides side by side and taking the time to figure that out! At that point you'd have covered the previous history before BLHFHG.

So, that brings me back to the first idea of trying LHFHG for a week (either with your own LA and math for dd or with Beyond's right side of plans), and see how that feels. If it seems way too young for dd, then you can separate them and order the rest of Beyond's materials.

These are just ideas - I have prayed for you to know what's best for your situation, and I have also prayed for strength for you when dh is away. You will know what is best!

In Christ,
Julie

[Shannon C]

Thanks so much for your thoughts and thank you, Julie for the prayers. I've been thinking about it and we just got done with a lot of Bible history in MFW 1st and a lot with Columbus, Pilgrims, etc in Heritage studies I've always done dd by herself so I guess I could go ahead with her in Beyond and spend some time alone with ds on LHFHG history or let her listen in if she want s to. He wakes up at least an hour before dd anyway. We could spend that time together doing history. That would probably make him feel special since I've spent so much time with dd's homeschooling these past few years. Then I can combine science and devotions. Separate for LA and math. Then when LHFHG is done, I will just start him with Beyond history/LA/math on his own. I could maybe take that opportunity to do something in the interim with dd until he's ready for Bigger,maybe a time of geography, unit studies or something. It's hard to tell because ds is still a little squirrely and is not as interested and serious about learning as my dd. He's been delayed in motor skills/speech and often seems more like a young 4 than the 5 that he is. He still prefers to play over sitting and learning and has sensory issues too. He does like to be read to though. Dd on the other hand, has been inquisitive and eager to learn history and science for years. I'd say she's a bit advanced in that area, though she on target for reading and math. All of that to say, that I thinkI will end up keeping them separated for now, aside from science,devotions/Bible lessons and read alouds. If I have to stretch things out b/c of time constraints, I will. Whew! I feel a bit more clear on it now, but I still may see what a combined week looks like.