We love HOD! We're almost finished with Beyond. I think we're ready for Bigger, but I have a couple of concerns. First, I understand that Bigger requires much more writing--the only part of his schoolwork he absolutely detests and fights me on every day! I guess I could start him out at half speed and increase gradually, but I'm concerned about slowing down. We took our time with Beyond, so he's only starting Singapore 2A. I don't want to slow him down in Math.
My other concern is my daughter. She's been listening in on Beyond for a long time now. I had planned to start her in LGFHG this coming August, but I would love to figure out a way to combine them.
Thanks for your help!
ready for Bigger?
ready for Bigger?
Kelley
Peter (12, Res to Ref)
Betsy (9, Preparing)
Peter (12, Res to Ref)
Betsy (9, Preparing)
Re: ready for Bigger?
I think I'd start Bigger Hearts half-speed, and let ds ease into it. 
It is surprising how dc's writing comes on with time. You can do full-speed math using the plans for 2A/2B in Bigger Hearts daily plans, and when you finish, you can use the Textbook/Workbook schedule in Bigger Hearts Appendix for 3A/3B.
Bigger Hearts will be way to hard for a 5 yo, so I'd just enjoy some special time with your dd doing LHFHG with her. We have found it easier to do separate guides when dc are far apart in skills and enjoyed it immensely. You should give it a try - I bet you'll love the special time you will have with each of them, and also be surprised by the time it saves. Yes, you read that right - the TIME IT SAVES! Having dc placed correctly saves time. It helps the older ones cut loose and do some things on their own when they're ready without waiting on the younger dc. It also helps the younger dc finish school in a less amount of time more appropriate for their age. It gives little ones the needed time to work on their 3 R's as well.
If you were going to combine, you could do so more easily in LHFHG than in Bigger Hearts. However, if your ds did well with Beyond, he is probably ready for Bigger Hearts. What do you think?
In Christ,
Julie
It is surprising how dc's writing comes on with time. You can do full-speed math using the plans for 2A/2B in Bigger Hearts daily plans, and when you finish, you can use the Textbook/Workbook schedule in Bigger Hearts Appendix for 3A/3B. Bigger Hearts will be way to hard for a 5 yo, so I'd just enjoy some special time with your dd doing LHFHG with her. We have found it easier to do separate guides when dc are far apart in skills and enjoyed it immensely. You should give it a try - I bet you'll love the special time you will have with each of them, and also be surprised by the time it saves. Yes, you read that right - the TIME IT SAVES!
Having dc placed correctly saves time. It helps the older ones cut loose and do some things on their own when they're ready without waiting on the younger dc. It also helps the younger dc finish school in a less amount of time more appropriate for their age. It gives little ones the needed time to work on their 3 R's as well. If you were going to combine, you could do so more easily in LHFHG than in Bigger Hearts. However, if your ds did well with Beyond, he is probably ready for Bigger Hearts. What do you think?
In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
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creativemommy
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:01 pm
- Location: USA
Re: ready for Bigger?
Just wanted to try and encourage you to use two guides since we're using Bigger AND LHFHG at our home now. I tried to combine my two oldest with other curricula in the fall as I knew it wouldn't work to combine them with HOD. It was a mess - too easy for my ds or too hard for my dd. I came to the realization that I will do two HOD guides and when my youngest begins school we'll be doing 3 HOD guides. It works. As crazy as it sounds (like Julie said in the previous post) it does SAVE time! And I will add your SANITY, too!
Since being back with HOD our school days begin around 9 a.m. and are finished by 12:30 p.m. This is the total time for LHFHG AND Bigger run back to back. I am so thankful that my dc are getting exactly what they need without me going cRaZy planning, tweaking and second-guessing all the time.
I also LOVE having time with them separately and I can tell (by their improved behavior) that they enjoy my one-on-one attention with them each day! 
Your ds reminded me of my ds! He detested writing and complained daily about writing when we were doing Beyond. However, he has really grown in a few months time. He no longer complains. We make his dictation a game and that makes the writing, dare I say...FUN! He also enjoys writing on 3x5 cards for his vocabulary (scheduled to go along with history 1x per unit in Bigger). He's really been getting involved in his science notebooking, too! He just told my dh today that his favorite "subject" is science - this is after an experiment & quite a bit of writing yesterday! Yippee!
Since being back with HOD our school days begin around 9 a.m. and are finished by 12:30 p.m. This is the total time for LHFHG AND Bigger run back to back. I am so thankful that my dc are getting exactly what they need without me going cRaZy planning, tweaking and second-guessing all the time.
I also LOVE having time with them separately and I can tell (by their improved behavior) that they enjoy my one-on-one attention with them each day! Your ds reminded me of my ds! He detested writing and complained daily about writing when we were doing Beyond. However, he has really grown in a few months time. He no longer complains. We make his dictation a game and that makes the writing, dare I say...FUN!
He also enjoys writing on 3x5 cards for his vocabulary (scheduled to go along with history 1x per unit in Bigger). He's really been getting involved in his science notebooking, too! He just told my dh today that his favorite "subject" is science - this is after an experiment & quite a bit of writing yesterday! Yippee! ~Beth
Used & Loved LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, & Bigger
Used & Loved LHTH, LHFHG, BLHFHG, & Bigger
Re: ready for Bigger?
Thank you, Julie and Beth. Your responses helped reassure me that doing two guides really is best. They will both be properly placed and get more one-on-one with Mommy. Plus, Mommy needs to open and go! And I feel much better now about moving up to Bigger now that I can see how easy it will be to do math every day even though we're moving at half speed at first. Julie, you and Carrie think of everything. You girls amaze me!
I love everything about HOD! I love the curriculum itself, the ease of use, the helpful moms on the board...I tell everyone I know about y'all! Thanks again, ladies.
Kelley
I love everything about HOD! I love the curriculum itself, the ease of use, the helpful moms on the board...I tell everyone I know about y'all! Thanks again, ladies.
Kelley
Kelley
Peter (12, Res to Ref)
Betsy (9, Preparing)
Peter (12, Res to Ref)
Betsy (9, Preparing)
Re: ready for Bigger?
This made my day - so here's a thanks headed back your way!creekmama wrote:...I love everything about HOD! I love the curriculum itself, the ease of use, the helpful moms on the board...I tell everyone I know about y'all!...
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend! In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie
Re: ready for Bigger?
Kelley,
The ladies have given you such good advice! Aren't the ladies on this board truly encouraging!?!
I agree that it would be wise to start Bigger half-speed and ease into the writing. You probably won't have to do it that way all year, but it is good to give little ones plenty of time to grow into the needed skills. We did my third son, who has difficulty with the motor skills of written work, at half-speed in Bigger for about 5 months. Then, we found he was ready for full-speed. You'll have to see what you discover with your little sweetie.
Blessings,
Carrie
The ladies have given you such good advice!
Aren't the ladies on this board truly encouraging!?! I agree that it would be wise to start Bigger half-speed and ease into the writing. You probably won't have to do it that way all year, but it is good to give little ones plenty of time to grow into the needed skills. We did my third son, who has difficulty with the motor skills of written work, at half-speed in Bigger for about 5 months. Then, we found he was ready for full-speed.
You'll have to see what you discover with your little sweetie.Blessings,
Carrie