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Wow, we're on week 5 of Beyond/Bigger, and I am still on cloud nine. Dd is learning so much, and yet it is so easy for me! It's so easy that when I had appointments this morning, Grandma was able to follow the guide and teach school without preparation. Here are my favorite things:

-- not having to buy anything for science or art!
-- having math scheduled for me so I'm not tempted to push too hard
-- Cheerful Cursive, if I'd learned like this my handwriting would be so much better
-- all the engaging literature that's meaty and yet age-appropriate
-- being able to mix 2 guides for a student who's advanced academically and still emotionally very much a 6-year-old
-- the dictation passages are wonderful, and different each time to keep things interesting for the student

There have been a handful of times in my life when I absolutely felt God intervening and leading me in a certain direction, and switching to HOD is one of those times. I have been under a lot of stress, and it is so amazing to have curriculum planning taken off my shoulders.

Isn't it great to homeschool with such joy and confidence?!
I totally agree with your list too. My two oldest LOVE cheerful cursive. All I remember about learning cursive in elementary school was that it made my hand hurt!

I pray the rest of your school year continues to go well.

What a great report! We feel the same way!

This is good news! DS may be working from two guides next year for the same reasons and due to current circumstances I am SO beyond thankful to have such a thorough and Godly curriculum planned out for me.

Great! I will admit to being curious, however, as to why and how you mix two guides...

I'm guessing they're doing the LA/math from Bigger and the history from Beyond. But that's just a guess.

I'm so glad y'all are having such a good experience! We are having a great year so far, as well. Both my boys have said every week so far, "Mama, is this the last day of school already?" They are having such a good time that time just scoots right on by.

That's wonderful!! We feel the same way about HOD!!

Yes, we're doing math, dictation, cursive*, and grammar from Bigger.

*cursive at a very slow pace, will probably take two years with it

Catbeth - thank you for sharing this, as it is important those of us doing several guides encourage others who are contemplating it! I often feel that homeschooling moms receive the message over and over again from all different places that they must combine or they will never make it in homeschooling. We have to get the message out that with HOD you truly can do either - combine or not combine - depending on what's a good placement for dc - and still ENJOY and be SUCCESSFUL with homeschooling! I thought your points you shared were wonderful, and hats off to grandmother! My parents - even my Dad - have used HOD when I've been gone or had health concerns. It is such a blessing. Thanks for letting others know that doing 2 guides is not difficult when dc are placed right!!!

In Christ,
Julie

Catbeth - thank you for sharing this, as it is important those of us doing several guides encourage others who are contemplating it! I often feel that homeschooling moms receive the message over and over again from all different places that they must combine or they will never make it in homeschooling. We have to get the message out that with HOD you truly can do either - combine or not combine - depending on what's a good placement for dc - and still ENJOY and be SUCCESSFUL with homeschooling! I thought your points you shared were wonderful, and hats off to grandmother! My parents - even my Dad - have used HOD when I've been gone or had health concerns. It is such a blessing. Thanks for letting others know that doing 2 guides is not difficult when dc are placed right!!!

In Christ,
Julie