Bigger Extension Pack with Beyond

[my3good&perfectgifts]

We will be starting Beyond soon, and I am wondering if the Bigger Extension Pack will coincide with the Beyond guide. I am trying to figure out a way to combine my boys for while. I don't want to skip Beyond with my soon to be 2nd grader, so I can't do Bigger yet. But I need to beef up Beyond for my soon to be 5th grader. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[jjcmehl]

I think they will coincide nicely. The only consideration is your future plans once your youngest is ready for Bigger...what will your oldest do...be in Bigger with him (and then what extensions would he use).

I understand your dilemma. For the upcoming year, I think your idea is logical. I think you may want to beef up science a bit more (for your oldest), as well.

[my3good&perfectgifts]

Thanks Christine. I wasn't sure if they would work together or not. I didn't want to have to come up with my own booklist for my oldest. I'm not very good at that sort of thing, plus Carrie always picks great books.

My oldest ds is actually halfway through PHFHG right now. We love it and are learning so much together. I just really need to cut back on my workload for a while. My ds doesn't work independently very well. He tries to get away with doing as little as possible. There are a few other weaknesses that I need to work on with him and I can't do that and teach three guides right now. I will also be doing LHTH full speed in the fall with my youngest ds. Hopefully after 6 months to a year, my oldest ds will be more mature and reliable. We will then move into CTC. I do plan to continue with some of the LA in PHFHG while doing Beyond. He will need those skills to do CTC. We will probably do the read-alouds in PHFHG as time permits, so he won't miss that part of history. He will also be doing the science part on his own.

My middle ds is in LHFHG and I don't want him to miss any guides. He will have the benefit of finding HOD early on in his schooling. Combining in Beyond is the only thing I can come up with that will work. I don't know what to do. It is so hard to make these decisions. When I really look at it, we will still be doing quite a bit of PHFHG. Oh well, at least I know we will definately be doing one of the HOD guides. Just don't know which ones and in what order.

[Carrie]

Beth,

I am wondering how far into Preparing Hearts you are? If you have quite a bit left, you could downsize Preparing Hearts to half-speed for the year (and use that as your oldest son's core program) yet still let him listen in to the readings in Beyond. In that way, you'd cut your teaching time back and still get to have them together for some things. Just a thought. This past thread has some suggestions on doing Preparing at half-speed if you go that route: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5431

Another thought, if you're already almost through Preparing, would be to do both Beyond and CTC at half-speed for the upcoming year (or do Beyond at full-speed but CTC at half-speed). This would keep both kiddos moving forward steadily but would really cut back your workload.

Blessings,
Carrie

[mskogen]

I would like to second Carrie's option of doing Preparing half speed or even CTC half speed when done with Preparing. I had always combined my oldest sons, only 18 months apart. This seemed to work great. However as we got further into Bigger I started noticing some things that made me think I should split my boys up. My oldest is very independent, whereas my second ds is not. He loves to have his hand held through out all his work (he is going to be 8 this month). DS #2 would also let ds #1 answer all the questions and talk. To make a long story short I split them up @ Unit 17 in Bigger. My ds #1 is going full pace and is now on Unit 27 doing GREAT!!!! He is loving the independence and thriving. His work is the best all year (can u tell his personality type). My ds #2 is thriving too. He is on Unit 23 at half pace. His days are lighter now. We take 2 weeks to finish one unit. 10 days to finish 5!!! This has been great for him. He is more comfortable and actually learning to be alittle more independent. I do not spend as much time with him b/c his work load is cut in half. He is retaining more and feeling more confident. I plan to do Preparing half pace with him as well, probably until Unit 17. Since doing Bigger half pace with ds #2 I have been able to get LHTH done everyday with my ds #3. Which has been a true blessing for him and I! He will strart K in the fall and wanted to learn to read (which he is doing now). I wanted to let you know I understand the need to lighten the load. I have 4 children, 3 of them officially in school come July. I was wondering how I was going to add ds #3 with Little Hearts. It would take me all morning to do Bigger and individual lessons with the first two sons. Half pace with my ds#2 has been the answer. He is still were he should be in the guides and progressing. The converstations we have been able to have one on one has been super. Wouldn't trade for the world.

I think slowing down to half pace would be less work for you then trying to beef Beyond up for your 5th grader. I know this has been long but I hope it helps you. If you have more questions or concerns please ask.

Have a blessed day!

[my3good&perfectgifts]

Thanks for the suggestions Ladies. You know, we did Preparing half speed in the beginning and it worked out well for us. I don't know why I didn't think of that now. I like the idea of doing PHFHG half speed and doing Beyond with both boys. I guess doing it half speed just makes me feel like I am always behind. I think most children my son's age (he's 11) are already in CTC. I worry about him not being where he needs to be for his age. He is such a challenge to teach. Thanks to all of you for your help. Please pray for me to become the quiet and gentle mother and teacher the Lord wants me to be.

[Carrie]

Beth,

I think that steady progress forward is so important when we educate our kiddos, so doing Preparing half-speed will accomplish that very important goal. In the public school, we lost the first 9 weeks of every school year just figuring out each child's levels and personalities (and this is time that you do not lose each year). Don't worry about comparing your son or yourself to anyone else, as steadily doing Preparing will help "prepare" him very well for CTC and future learning. Just keep on moving forward steadily at half-speed and ENJOY your days as you go. You will see the fruit in your son. Remember that the only important finish line is the eternal one! I'll say a prayer for the Lord to give you His peace with your progress.

Blessings,
Carrie