extending Beyond for a 3rd grader and organization

[mamafox]

Hi!
I am doing beyond with my 1st and 3rd grade daughters this coming school year and I was hoping for a little guidance as to what I will need to add for my 3rd grader.
I will obviously add her math
and plan on DITHOR
I plan on cursive
But I am not sure about spelling and grammar.
I was really hoping not to buy the bigger guide yet as we are on a budget.

Also any advise as far what binders/notebooks I'll need for organization would be great. I tend to do better with separate contained 'workbooks' for each subject, so I was thinking composition books for each...?

Thanks for any advise you can share

[blessedmomof4]

I'm not sure what programs you have been considering to fill those slots, but you may actually find it economical to buy the Bigger guide for spelling (via dictation), math (lessons for Singapore 2A and 2B) and grammar (Rod and Staff 2). Plus you will be able to use them again with the next child. When they are both in Bigger, you can use the extensions for the older child, and the Preparing guide for grammar, dictation and math for her as well. By Preparing, you will not need the next guide because Preparing offers schedules for 2 levels of grammar, and 3 levels of dictation and math, plus extensions as well for the older child.

[mamafox]

hmmm that is a thought...
Especially if I could find it used.

So spelling and dictation are in the guide? Not separate?

[blessedmomof4]

Correct-spelling/dictation are in the guides. Beyond has in the appendix spelling list 1 and 2, and spelling lessons in the daily plans. Bigger has in the appendix spelling list 2 and lessons in the daily plans, and the first level of dictation, which takes the place of the spelling list from that point on for teaching spelling, punctuation, and a whole group of other language skills. Your third grader would likely be ready to skip the spelling lists and begin with the first level of dictation (directions how to do studied dictation are also in the appendix). Your younger child would probably use the first spelling list. If you wanted to use HOD's recommended grammar, you would also need a Rod & Staff 2 Student Textbook, and if you wanted to do the Singapore math, you would also need student workbooks 2A/2B. Both Rod and Staff and Singapore become advanced pretty quickly, so the level 2 is appropriate for most 3rd graders. If you want to be sure with singapore, there is a free printable placement test at the Singapore math website. Lastly, Bigger schedules Cheerful Cursive or Italic Cursive, so if you wanted to use one of the recommended choices you would need to buy that as well.
For organization, I used at the Bigger level:
3 composition notebooks (grammar, dictation, copywork)
2 sets of index cards (Bible memory verses, spelling words for one child who was using list 2)
2 binders or sketchbooks for science notebooking and history notebooking (I think Beyond does not do notebooking but you could have your older child do this if you wanst)
A box/file to keep art/history project

[mamafox]

Thanks so much for your help!!