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Do you just skip the 1st grade fine motor and handwriting when you get to BLHFHG? Don't they usually sort of need that extra practice? Should I move on to BLHFHG and add on those fine motor and handwriting workbooks? Should I try to squeeze them in somewhere BEFORE we start Beyond because that practice will help with skills needed in Beyond? Is it possible for me to ask any more questions in this question-only post??

I'm just amazed that this never crossed my mind. Great question. I'm not using K options with DS but may do so with one of his siblings at some point.

Well, I don't know how it was intended, and I really never asked this either, but I did use LHFHG with K options last year and we just went on to Beyond. I do have to slow down some of the fine-motor (the copywork) for my DD just so its a manageable amount for her to write. If she were a 2nd grader I think she could write more. But otherwise her skills are right on in Beyond and I think she's doing great with it! My interpretation was that the fine motor and thinking are still addressed in Beyond, just in different ways. I think adding those workbooks on top of it (unless your child just really likes doing seatwork) would be too much.

Both the K and the 1st grade handwriting options would be lower levels of fine motor skills than those that are planned in Beyond, as the K level involves practicing letters and words, and the 1st grade level involves practicing words and 1 sentence. MelInKansas has a great thought here...

MelInKansas wrote:...My interpretation was that the fine motor and thinking are still addressed in Beyond, just in different ways...

Beyond addresses fine motor skills by providing daily written language practice through copywork. Four days a week dc are directed to copy a portion of the poem being studied in the unit, working up to copying the poem in its entirety across the span of the 4 days as able. One day each week students copy a sentence or list of words related to the grammar, usage, or mechanics concept covered in the unit. Dc also write words or sentences through the spelling plans in the LA box each day. You can certainly do the 1st grade options from LHFHG along with Beyond, but it is not necessary. My middle ds needed to brush up on the proper formation of letters, so we did "A Reason for Handwriting A" during Beyond. I only had him write a few good letters/ words each day in ARFH A though, as it would have been too much along with the rest of the Beyond plans in the area of writing. Critical thinking and comprehension skills are incorporated into the daily plans in virtually every subject area in Beyond, so that is not needed unless you'd enjoy adding it. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks, all!

We are doing LHFHG at a reduced speed (three or four lessons per week, depending on the week) and I think I will just do the workbooks as I've been doing phonics and math... Every day. At that rate, we should get through the 3 K workbooks and partway through the grade 1 workbooks. Now I won't stress about finishing before moving on. In fact, I could just put the unfinished workbooks in a file for doing while we're out and about or on a rainy day! Perfect.