Beyond for 1st grade? Singapore question too...

[Rwandalove]

I am trying to place my kiddos for next year in HOD. This year my dd is in K. She just turned 6. She seems to place into Beyond...she is doing a 1st grade phonics and reading program this year (Rod and Staff) but technically she will be in 1st next year. I see that many people are using Beyond for 2nd grade. Is Beyond too advanced for 1st grade? The only area she is sort of advanced in is reading. I'd say in writing, math, and everywhere else she is at a Kindergarten level right now.

Also, if we use Singapore math, do I need to get the TM? Is everything I need to do and say spelled out in the guide? Is Singapore 1a fine for a 1st grader to use?

[ALB]

Hi, I don't have any experience so I can't really give you advice! Just wanted to say that we are planning on using Beyond for first grade, but we are also doing LHFHG for K, which may or may not make a difference in preparing my dd for that. Hopefully more experienced moms can answer your questions!

[Candice]

Hi Amanda,

I think you will find that quite a few moms are using Beyond for their child's grade 1 year. If your kiddo places in Beyond as far as the placement chart on the HOD website then, you are good to go. I think the placement chart is the key to determining correct placement for your individual child.

Singapore 1A is fine for 1st grade if that is where your child places. If you were to use the Beyond guide along with Singapore 1A, you will have a schedule and lesson plans (which include hands-on activities that correlate with 1A) written right into the guide. So, no you would not have to get the TM for 1A, everything you need to say or do is indeed spelled out in the manual...I am assuming you mean the Home Instructor's Guide when you refer to the TM??

[jenntracy]

We are using Beyond right now for 1st grade. My son turned 7 the end of October. He is a little ahead in the reading area and and math. We use math-u-see at our pace and he is in 2nd book for the DITHOR reading. We had a few emerging readers to finish up when we started school year .
Next year i will use Beyond for my daughter who will be 6.5 when we start the school year. she will probably be somewhere in the emerging readers, too.
I don't think it is too tough a program for them. and i know it will not be for our third child who watches big bro and big sis doing school.

Jenn D.

[Mommamo]

We used Beyond for first grade and it was absolutely a perfect fit. My dd was not quite 6 when we started. Everything for Singapore is in the guide, you just have to buy the Singapore workbooks. 1A/1B was perfect for my dd in first grade. We are now in Bigger and almost through with Singapore 2A. I thought that Bigger would be too challenging but it honestly hasn't been. Everyone says that the guides build well on each other, and they do. I've been concerned about hitting Preparing in 3rd grade with a young 8 year old, but I'm not worrying about it anymore because the guides really are written for the ages listed, and they really do build well. Hope that helps!

[Rwandalove]

Thank you all so much! I feel much better about it now! She definitely places into Beyond on the chart. I feel good about doing Beyond with her after hearing your comments. Now to make some final decisions for my oldest.

Thanks!