Wanting some feedback...

[mom23]

...please . I have two kiddos that I started in late summer with Beyond-dd8 and ds6. I was really wanting to have them together, since this was our first year of homeschooling, and I didn't want to bite off more than we could all chew (mommy included!) Anyway, we're on Unit 9 now-we've taken some short breaks in there to stay with a year-round schedule-and I'm feeling like dd8 is really ready for Bigger right now. She's pretty much been doing the RH side of the manual from Bigger already-math 2A, Rod and Staff 2, Italic D, DITHR2/3... I'm thinking that my son is not really going to be well served by trying to keep them together. Right now, he's handling the things we're doing alright, but I've had to back him up a few times in Reading (to phonics) and Math (restarted 1A, slowly until he could catch on to the concept of adding/subtracting numbers.) Also, I've restarted his handwriting with Italic B, as recommended for the previous guide; we haven't been doing any copywork, as it caused him lots of frustration/tears, and wasn't legible at all. My plan was to have him work only through Math 1A this year, and try 1B next; and move to Emerging Readers next year as well, with copywork instead of handwriting book.

I'd been thinking of ways I could seperate them for next year-have dd8 in Bigger full speed, ds6 in Bigger half-speed, or keep ds6 in Beyond-just repeat the manual basically, but that option left me wondering what to do for his history/science, etc. This morning as I was looking over the bigger manual in more detail, I'm really thinkng he's not going to be able to get everything there is in that guide by next year, maturity-wise, especially, as well as academically since we basically spent these past few months of hs re-laying the Kindergarten that he didn't really understand in ps last year. I think we're just now getting to 1st grade with him. I'd really rather wait until he's more 3rd grade level to tackle Bigger with him.

What would it be like to bump dd8 to Bigger right now, and keep ds6 in Beyond, slowing him down to around half-speed to stretch it out for 1st and 2nd grades? I thought she would be able to fill in the history that she'll be missing from the rest of Beyond as we read it aloud with her younger brother. I'd also wondered about keeping dd8 in Beyond, and moving ds6 back to Little Hearts (I just don't own the Little Hearts guide, and wasn't sure about affording that one right now.) I do have a 3-yr old, and another boy on the way that will eventually use this LHFHG Guide, so I'll need it someday...

What would you all recommend? Any thoughts on these ideas swimming around my mind, or is there a better option I haven't seen yet? Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks,
Becky

[countrymom]

We have finished LHFHG and are doing Beyond at 1/2 speed, and in reading about your ds I would lean towards going into LIttle Hearts. With what you are saying I think your ds would place well in Little Hearts. Beyond at 1/2 speed would help, but I think he would still lose some of the quality. It does sound like you have quite a skill level difference to keep your dc combined. My sons are only 19 months apart, but I cannot combine them without compromising one of them. I am not sure how to advise with your daughter, but if you move your ds down to Little Hearts probably the best at this point is to keep her in Beyond. Hopefully others will chime in with their experience.

[3sweeties]

One thought about your daughter -- since she is 8, she may do great in Bigger, depending on how her independent writing, reading, etc. abilities are. My oldest DS (8.5yo) just finished Bigger and loved it! Towards the end of Bigger (around Unit 25 or so), I started having him do some of the boxes independently, which really helped get him ready for Preparing (he is doing great with it)! So, she may be able to do some of the boxes pretty independently since she is 8. You could also do Bigger half-speed at first with her to ease into it and if she is handling it all really well, go full-speed. We did it half-speed for about 1.5 years, and it worked great for us (just did it 4 days a week instead of 5). I think encouraging her to be more independent with her work will work in your favor once you have your baby -- we have a 2.5 month old and I am soooooo glad I had DS get more independent in Bigger -- it is paying off now and I can trust him to complete his work and do his best (most of the time! )

My younger DS is doing LHFHG (he is 5.5 yo) and LOVES it. We are just doing it half-speed right now, so I think your 6 yo would fit great in it, as long as his skills fit there on the placement chart.

HTH a little!

[my3sons]

I agree! Since you are only 9 units into Beyond, and you can see combining is not such a good fit for your dc (especially looking down the road) I'd go ahead and start LHFHG with your younger child, and do Bigger Hearts (starting half-speed for awhile if you think that's a good pacing) with your older child. You can even just start with the LHFHG Economy Package to spread out buying it. LHFHG is a very economical program though, so that is a good thing, but I'm not sure how much of BHFHG you'd still need to get either. Or, if you're thinking your 8 yo may not quite be ready for all of BHFHG, or if funds permit getting BHFHG now, you can just finish out Beyond with your older child, and move your younger child to LHFHG now. If you do that, after your younger has finished LHFHG, you can go to Beyond half-speed, spreading it out over 2 years, so you have a guide in between your oldest and next child, and you won't be teaching guides back to back then. I think overall, that moving your younger to LHFHG is more important to do than moving your older to BHFHG, if you need to choose between the 2 due to funds. HTH! We did those 2 guides at the same time and loved it. It was nice for my littler one doing LHFHG to be done with school in 1 1/2 hours, and it was equally nice for my older doing BHFHG not to have to wait for his younger brother.

In Christ,
Julie

[Mommamo]

Since you already have Beyond, I don't think I'd switch to both LHFHG and Bigger. What I'd probably do is get LHFHG for the younger one. It seems that he's the one you're having to modify for the most. You might do it half speed for him. I'd just keep doing Beyond with the oldest for now. You can also start teaching her to be more independent in this guide, so that when you add the baby to the mix she is more independent.

[mom23]

Thanks everyone! I think I've decided to put ds into LHFHG (and actually got the okay from dh to purchase it!), and keep dd in BLHFHG. I feel like my daughter is still learning, and there's no reason to push her too hard, and cause frustration for both of us! Plus, when I talked things through with her today, she said that she likes learning about the "pilgrim stories" and also the science, and she doesn't want to quit them . Her main feedback to make school time better for her would be to be able to do more of her math with mom. Not exactly working toward the greater independence, but in all honesty, her brother has been getting way more Mom time, just because he never seems to quite catch on and she's doing so well .

I'm praying that Little Hearts brings some fun to my little boy's school experience. Right now, he says he hates school because it's boring . HOD is such a neat program, I'm really hoping the kiddos can love it as much as I do! Maybe what he's describing as "boring" is frustration for it feeling beyond his limits? Sometimes it's hard to tell how much of his negative attitude is really a behavior issue we need to be working on, and then how to address that...

[Tree House Academy]

I think you made a wonderful choice! I tried Beyond last year with my ds when he was 6 and we had to back him up to Little Hearts after about 8 weeks. Now, he is back in Beyond at the age of 7, and after having finished Little Hearts, and he is doing wonderfully! Placement really is KEY in HOD.

I agree with keeping your 8 y/o in Beyond too. Sounds like you will need to buy the next guide up each year, too, and make sure she stays on target with her right side basics.